VA recognizes 'presumptive' illnesses in Iraq, Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 24, 2010) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs is taking steps to make it easier for veterans to obtain disability compensation for certain diseases associated with service in the Persian Gulf War and in Afghanistan.
Eric K. Shinseki, the VA secretary said the steps mark the beginning of historic change for how the VA considers Gulf War veterans' illnesses.
Following recommendations made by the Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Task Force, the VA is publishing a proposed regulation in the Federal Register that will establish new presumptions of service connection for nine specific infectious diseases associated with military service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War, or in Afghanistan on or after Sept. 19, 2001.
"We recognize the frustrations that many Gulf War and Afghanistan veterans and their families experience on a daily basis as they look for answers to health questions and seek benefits from VA," said Shinseki. -->-->-->
The way they wrote this up if you just read the above cut you get the impression that, this is the results coming from the "Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Task Force" that it was just covering the first Gulf War and added Afghanistan, untill you read further down and run into this:
Because the Persian Gulf War has not officially been declared ended, veterans serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom are eligible for the VA's new presumptions. Shinseki decided to include Afghanistan veterans in these presumptions because NAS found the nine diseases are prevalent in that country.
Which clears it up for the Gulf War Vets, OEF and OIF Veterans!
No comments:
Post a Comment