Veteran Issues Digest Number

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1. Soldiers trapped in limbo


Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:32 am (PST)

LINDA BILMES
http://www.boston. com/news/ globe/editorial_ opinion/oped/ articles/ 2007/03/21/
soldiers_trapped_ in_limbo/

Soldiers trapped in limbo

By Linda Bilmes, Boston Globe Columnist | March 21, 2007

ON THE fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, one of the lasting images
for Americans remains the squalid conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center. Who can forget the pictures of soldiers recently returned from the
battle, trying to recover from horrific wounds while forced to keep fighting
against dirt, mold, and bureaucracy?

The seeds of the Walter Reed scandal were sown in weak leadership, heavy
reliance on outside contractors, and a failure to foresee the sheer number
and severity of casualties. But the real culprit lies in a lack of trust
between the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. When a soldier
is injured, the military decides whether he or she is fit to return to duty.
If not, a second level of evaluation determines just how unfit he is.
Soldiers awaiting this second level evaluation -- including those at the
Walter Reed outpatient clinic and scores of other military bases -- are
often trapped in limbo between military and veteran status.

Of the 1.4 million of service members deployed to the Iraq and Afghanistan
wars, about 53,000 were officially listed as wounded or injured. Tens of
thousands of others suffer from less visible wounds, such as traumatic brain
injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and debilitating chronic pain.

The military does not have enough healthcare practitioners to evaluate all
soldiers before discharge. Some simply stay in the military, knowing that if
they leave, they lose valuable housing and healthcare benefits, especially
for their families. Others go to a VA hospital for an evaluation, either
because they gave up waiting or they aren't satisfied with the military
evaluation and hope the VA will do better. As a consequence, the transition
from active duty to veteran status becomes a quagmire instead of the
seamless process desired by both departments.

This bureaucratic turf war extends beyond the wounded. More than 200,000 war
veterans have already been treated at VA hospitals and clinics. But a
penchant for privacy and outdated information technology means the Defense
Department is unwilling and in some cases unable to provide medical records
to the VA and thus to provide a continuity of care. Even when the VA gets
the records, it often insists on repeating all the medical procedures and
diagnostic tests before disability status can be granted. Many veterans
travel 90 miles or more to reach the nearest VA medical facility. Even
veterans already in a wheelchair must endure this prolonged, costly, and
redundant process.

Soldiers injured in theatre are supposedly able to apply for disability
benefits before they are discharged. But to take advantage of the program a
soldier must know when he is going to be discharged. Unfortunately, much of
the force doesn't know when it will be discharged because of repeated
deployments and "stop-loss" orders. Furthermore, National Guard and Reserve
soldiers are excluded from the pre-discharge program.

The bureaucratic fumbling between the Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs also diverts the VA's stretched medical
resources into claims processing and away from providing prompt, needed
treatment.

Here are some simple lessons from the Walter Reed scandal that will improve
the lot of the 900,000 servicemen who are still deployed into the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars:

First, the military should be required to give everyone a medical exam
before discharge, and the Department of Defense should promptly transfer all
records to the VA to expedite delivery of medical care and disability
benefits.

Second, Veterans Affairs must hire thousands of additional mental health
professionals and triage nurses, and double the number of local "veterans
centers," which offer readjustment counseling in convenient neighborhood
locations.

Third, the departments must work together to make the successful "Disability
Benefits at Discharge" program into a workable option for all war veterans.
This means sending more benefits experts to military bases, and expanding
the program to include Reservists and National Guards.

Finally, the lack of planning that has characterized the war has led to
overcrowded veteran facilities, waiting lists, and a backlog of pending
disability claims. Needs of returning troops must be immediately analyzed
and plans made for their return.

It may be too late to secure the peace and democracy in Iraq this war was
supposed to achieve. But it is not too late to make sure the government
provides decent welfare to the troops who have borne the burden of combat.

Linda Bilmes, an assistant secretary of Commerce in the Clinton
administration, teaches public finance at the Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University. Her recent paper, "Soldiers Returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan: The Long-term Costs of Providing Veterans Medical Care and
Disability Benefits," is available at
<http://ksgnotes1. harvard.edu/ Research/ wpaper.nsf/ RWP/RWP07- 001>
ksgnotes1.harvard. edu/Research/ wpaper.nsf/ RWP/RWP07- 001.
<http://cache. boston.com/ bonzai-fba/ File-Based_ Image_Resource/ dingbat_story_
end_icon.gif>

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2. A Rash of Drug Overdoses at a VA Hospital, West LA

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:36 am (PST)

From: CFVR [mailto:cfvr@sbcglobal. net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:30 PM
To: coloneldan
Subject: Newsweek WLA VA article

A Rash of Drug Overdoses at a VA Hospital
A rash of drug overdoses at a Veterans Administration hospital in California
raises new questions about the quality of military health care.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Jonathan Alter
Newsweek
Updated: 4:58 p.m. CT March 20, 2007

March 20, 2007 - The poor conditions uncovered at Walter Reed Army Hospital
may be only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sub-standard treatment
of veterans. At the Veterans Administration hospital in West Los Angeles,
hospital administrators confirmed to NEWSWEEK and NBC News last week that
five veterans there died of overdoses of illegal and prescription drugs in
less than three months this winter. After learning that family and friends
of a dead Iraq War veteran were about to go public, VA administrators
ordered major policy changes at the 660-bed facility.

Toxicology reports and multiple investigations are still pending, and Dr.
Dean Norman, chief of staff of the hospital, says that details of the five
overdose deaths vary by case. But veterans treated at the hospital say that
lax supervision of prescription drugs was a serious problem, particularly in
the domiciliary, the dorm-like residential halls the VA uses to help
veterans make the transition to life outside the hospital. "They were
handing the meds out like candy," said Joe Romo, a member of the local
AMVETS post.

At least one of the deaths, that of 28-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Justin
Bailey, was the result of over-prescription of methadone, a highly addictive
drug that has traditionally been used to treat heroin addiction but is
increasingly prescribed for pain relief. After suffering a groin injury in
Iraq, Bailey was operated on at the VA hospital. When the pain did not
subside, he was prescribed methadone. After being given a 30-day supply,
Bailey suffered a nonfatal overdose in December.

Hospital records indicate that Bailey's parents then alerted the hospital
that he should be watched more closely. He was suffering from post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), which resulted, in part, he told friends, from
having taken part in accidentally killing civilians in Iraq. After the first
overdose, VA doctors reduced his prescription to a 14-day supply, which he
self-administered in combination with at least four other prescription
medications. On Jan. 26, Bailey was found passed out in his bed in the
domiciliary and he died shortly after. "The man suffered from PTSD, and this
was a terrible tragedy," said Norman.

Last November, the Food and Drug Administration issued an "FDA Alert"
warning of "Death, Narcotic Overdose, and Serious Cardiac Arrhythmias" as a
result of unintended methadone overdoses and urged physicians to "closely
monitor" methadone patients. When asked if he had seen the FDA Alert,
Norman said, "I haven't seen this particular alert, but I know, in recent
weeks, there's been quite a bit on methadone, questioning its use in chronic
pain."

Although there has been no indication of a systemwide problem in the VA of
accidental overdoses, the experience at the L.A. facility is expected to
cause other hospitals to review their practices. The VA says it generally
trusts patients in the domiciliary to take their own medications in order to
help them prepare for life at home without direct medical supervision. But
when another patient, a Vietnam-era veteran, died just a week after
Bailey--bringing the total to five in 10 weeks--Norman changed policies.
Because at least two of the other overdoses involved illegal narcotic use,
he beefed up security, implementing law-enforcement sweeps, complete with
drug-sniffing dogs. And hospital administrators say they will no longer
routinely offer multiweek supplies of methadone, especially for new
patients. "Our idea initially would be to give them a single-day supply, and
on the weekends a two-day supply," said Norman.

The facts in this case were brought to light thanks to Dmitris Rentzis, a
production assistant on the television show "King of the Hill," who met
Bailey when the veteran was working in a sandwich shop near the studio.
After Bailey's death, Rentzis was so appalled by the VA's handling of his
friend's case that he collected first-hand accounts of efforts to alert
seven different nurses and doctors to Bailey's condition. "I prepared a
nine-page declaration that documents at least 17 attempts by me, his mom and
by other patients trying to alert the staff, and they were totally ignored,"
Rentzis said. The declaration includes the names of the hospital personnel
and the dates on which they were warned that Bailey was abusing his
prescriptions.

"Our staff is denying that they received these multiple warnings," Norman
said.

Bailey's father, Tony Bailey of Las Vegas, Nev., feels betrayed by the VA.
"I always thought they [the VA] were good health care," he said. "It
shouldn't be just a place to hand out drugs."

The fact that four of the five drug-overdose deaths occurred among
Vietnam-era veterans points up the continuing problems facing veterans of
that war, which ended 32 years ago. Thousands still suffer from PTSD and
substance-abuse problems. One resident of the VA domiciliary, Mike Vasquez
of Los Angeles, says the experience of Vietnam veterans--who make up a
sizable part of Los Angeles' homeless population-- should give the public an
indication of what lies ahead. "If you want to know what's going to happen
to the Iraq veteran," said Vasquez, who has served time in prison on drug
charges, "look at the Vietnam veteran."

Stephen McCarthy contributed to this report.

URL: http://www.msnbc. msn.com/id/ 17709628/ site/newsweek/

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3. House OKs vets' suicide prevention bill

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:28 pm (PST)


Note: Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., Below was elected to Rep Lane Evan's old seat

House OKs vets' suicide prevention bill

<http://www.armytime s.com/news/ 2007/03/military _veterans_ healthcare_ 070321w/
>
http://www.armytime s.com/news/ 2007/03/military _veterans_ healthcare_ 070321w/

By <mailto:rmaze@atpco. com?subject=Question from ArmyTimes.com reader> Rick
Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 21, 2007 20:58:15 EDT
The House of Representatives passed three veterans' bills Wednesday,
including a suicide prevention measure aimed at getting faster and better
mental health counseling for returning combat veterans.

A second bill expands disability compensation for veterans with vision
impairment in both eyes that is not entirely connected to military service.
The third bill sets the stage for a cost-of-living adjustment in veterans'
disability and survivors benefits in December, although the amount of the
increase will not be known until fall.

The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, HR 327, would require the
VA to create a comprehensive mental health program that includes annual
screenings of veterans who suffer from depression or alcohol abuse or have
other risk factors, and also would require a suicide prevention counselor
for every veterans' medical facility.

Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., one of the bill's cosponsors, said action is needed
because "the mental health needs of our returning troops have been ignored
for far too long."

"Not all wounds are visible," said Hare. "As a former Army reservist, I
understand that sometimes our veterans are too proud to seek out the
treatment and counseling they need."

In addition to more screening at veterans' hospitals, the bill would
establish a 24-hour counseling hot line for veterans in rural and remote
areas.

The bill is named for a 22-year-old Iraq war veteran from Grundy Center,
Iowa, who died Dec. 22, 2005, slightly more than a year after he returned
from an 11-month deployment with a military police unit to the war zone.
Omvig was widely considered to have post-traumatic stress syndrome.

A key provision of the benefits bill, HR 797, is aimed at unusual situations
in which service members are losing or have lost sight in both eyes, but the
vision loss is not entirely connected to military service.

Under current law, a veteran with service-connected blindness in one eye can
get additional compensation for being blind in the remaining eye even if it
is not for service-connected reasons - but this only applies to blindness,
not vision impairment.

Under a precedent in use for hearing loss and organ loss, the bill would
allow vision impairment to be covered by disability benefits even when there
is no direct relation to military service. About 13,000 veterans have
service-connected disabilities for the loss of one eye, and about 5 percent
have vision impairment in the remaining eye that is not service-connected,
according to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee staff.

The third bill, HR 1284, provides for a Dec. 1 increase in disability
compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation that matches whatever
increase is provided to Social Security recipients and military and federal
civilian retirees. The amount of the increase is linked to the Consumer
Price Index, which has been rising at a rate of about 2.2 percent so far
this year.

However, the cost-of-living increase will not be set until October because
it is based on a comparison of the cost of goods and services in the last
quarter of this fiscal year, July through September, to the same period last
fiscal year.

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4. VA alienating generation, disabled vets warn, Long claims delays, pe

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:32 pm (PST)


VA alienating generation, disabled vets warn

<http://www.armytime s.com/news/ 2007/03/TNS_ va_disabled_ vets_032107/>
http://www.armytime s.com/news/ 2007/03/TNS_ va_disabled_ vets_032107/

Long claims delays, perceived unfairness cited
By Rick <mailto:rmaze@atpco. com?subject=Question from ArmyTimes.com reader>
Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 21, 2007 10:44:18 EDT
Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are warning Congress that a new generation
of disabled veterans feels shortchanged by the government because of delays
in processing claims and a sense of unfairness in how services and benefits
are provided.

Brady Van Engelen, a wounded Iraq war veteran and associate director of
Veterans for America, said veterans and their families suffer because the VA
simply isn’t fast enough in processing claims.

“We may end up with an entire generation of veterans who have no faith in
our VA because those running it — as well as those overseeing it — were
unable to hold up their end of the bargain,” he said.

“We did not prepare for this, and it is painfully evident,” Van Engelen told
the House Veterans’ Affairs disability assistance subcommittee. “My
generation is going to have to pay for this … for years and years.”

Those views have captured the attention of Congress.

“One thing is certain. If we do not fix this problem now, our legacy will be
an intolerable backlog regrettably endured by this generation of veterans,
and inexcusably bequeathed to a future generation,” said Rep. Doug Lamborn,
R-Colo., senior subcommittee Republican.

“We are failing a crucial test here,” added Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif,
chairman of the full veterans’ affairs committee.

VA officials admitted at the hearing that despite years of effort, the
backlog of disability claims is growing, not shrinking.

Ronald Aument, VA deputy undersecretary for benefits, said processing a
disability claim under the best of circumstances takes an average of four
months, and that priority is being given to claims for the most severely
disabled combat veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The average processing time is 177 days, which the VA wants to cut to about
145 days, he said.

The VA handled 774,000 claims last year but received 806,382. The number of
veterans receiving disability benefits has climbed from about 2.3 million in
2000 to 2.7 million in 2006.

Patrick Campbell, an Iraq war veteran and legislative director for the Iraq
and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the VA also has problems
delivering services.

“VA has grossly underestimated the demand for their services, once again,”
he said. “The soldiers are coming home, and they will be asking for care.
The question we must be asking ourselves is: Will we be ready for them?”

There is no excuse for making combat veterans wait for help, Campbell said,
noting the VA’s own standards call for a veteran to be seen within 45 days.

“For veterans coming home, especially with mental health issues, a month is
like an eternity,” he said. “The standard should be two weeks, or at least
broken down into categories.”

Distrusting the VA

Steve Robinson, a 1991 Persian Gulf War veteran and former Army Ranger who
is the Veterans for America’s director of veterans affairs, said new
veterans have trouble trusting the VA.

“Many veterans do not receive their benefits in a timely and accurate
manner,” said Robinson, calling the claims backlog “a disgrace” that adds to
other failures such as a lack of prompt health care.

Another Iraq war veteran, Jon Stoltz, said the situation is akin to what
veterans saw after the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War.

“If you talked to any veteran of Vietnam or the Gulf War, they will tell you
there were serious capacity issues with the VA before Iraq and Afghanistan,”
said Stoltz, the co-founder and chairman of VoteVets.org. “Since the start
of the wars, the Bush administration has failed to adequately increase
resources for the VA to meet the need.”

A Harvard University professor told the subcommittee she recommends an
overhaul that would automatically pay disability compensation to any war
veteran who applies.

Linda Bilmes of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, who is studying
veterans’ health care and disability benefits, said the current backlog of
about 600,000 claims has overwhelmed an already slow system.

And, she said, things are likely to get worse. She predicts 250,000 to
400,000 claims will be filed in the next two years by veterans of the Iraq
and Afghanistan wars, creating a situation that she said “will rapidly turn
the disability claims problem into a crisis.”

She proposed that the VA “should accept and pay all disability claims” filed
by Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, taking “at face value” statements from
veterans that they have service-connected disabilities. Because 88 percent
of disability claims are approved anyway, Bilmes said that some
spot-checking and audits are enough to ensure the system is fair.

She also proposed changing the disability rating system, which now ranks
disability between zero percent and 100 percent in increments of 10
percentage points, to one that used only four ratings: zero, low, medium or
high disability.

“This would immediately streamline the process, reduce discrepancies between
regions and likely cut the number of appeals,” she said.

The VA’s solution to reducing the backlog of claims is hiring more claims
processors, an idea the House committee generally has endorsed. In fact,
Democrats and Republicans on the committee have suggested the hiring of an
additional 1,000 VA claims adjudicators, on top of the roughly 500 more
recommended by the Bush administration.

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5. Jarhead Red Wine

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:52 pm (PST)

<http://jarheadred. com/> http://jarheadred. com/ Can order on line and
ship to a lot of states.. but not all states.. pass to your marine friends
JARHEAD RED
California Red Table Wine
$14.99 about $12 shipping for 3 bottles
Introducing Jarhead Red

Jarhead Red is a wine made by Marines, for Marines, at Firestone Vineyard on
California's Central Coast. Net proceeds from the sale of this wine benefit
the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which provides educational
assistance to children of U.S. Marines, with special attention given to
children of fallen Marines. Please consider directly supporting the
foundation at Home - MCSF <http://www.mcsf. org/> .

Adam Firestone - CAPT USMC 1984-91
Winegrower Ruben Dominguez - SGT USMC 1979-84
Vineyard Foreman

Tasting Notes

Jarhead Red is a robust, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged in
French oak barrels for eight months. It offers flavors of plum, cassis and
black currant with fine tannins on the finish. Jarhead Red is available in
750ml (the Rifleman) and 1.5L (the Sergeant). Occassional availability on
larger formats including 3.0L (the Sergeant Major) and 5.0L (the
Commandant).

The Jarhead Red Story

Jarhead Red was conceived in 1999 as a celebratory bottling for the annual
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Birthday Ball in Los Angeles. Since the
founding of the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775, at Tun Tavern in
Philadelphia, Marines have gathered on this date and toasted their comrades
present and absent, and the future of the USMC. Over the years, the wine
gained a following by word of mouth and was enjoyed at Birthday Balls around
the country. To meet this growing demand, the wine was released for
distribution, with net proceeds benefiting the Marine Corps Scholarship
Foundation.

To purchase Jarhead Red or Jarhead Red Reserve, click here
<http://jarheadred. com/purchase_ wine.htm>

_____

From: Robert P. Walsh [mailto:rpwalsh@sbcglobal. net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 6:09 PM
To: gfields499@aol. com
Subject: FW: Hire that man ...

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Good Marketing indeed.

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_____

From: k4cy@comcast. net [mailto:k4cy@comcast. net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 6:22 PM
To: Bob Walsh; Kris Pedersen; Ray McClure; Ty Hughes; Jim Hubbell; Rob and
Jana Furzer; Phil David
Subject: Hire that man ...

The best niche marketing I've seen in a very long time
<http://jarheadred. com/> http://jarheadred. com/

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6. SENATOR CORRECTS DAV'S ANTI-ATTORNEY

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:16 pm (PST)

UPDATE: SENATOR CORRECTS DAV'S ANTI-ATTORNEY

STATEMENTS -- "I believe that veterans are mature,

responsible and capable enough to decide for

themselves whether to hire legal representation. "

The "Attorneys for Veterans" issue remains in the news.

Last week, the DAV sent out a letter and petitions to their Commanders and
members. They were urged to sign the petitions and send them to Congress in
an effort to repeal the "Attorneys for Veterans" legislation passed last
year.

Background on all of this with backlinks can be found here...
<http://vawatchdog. org/07/nf07/ nfMAR07/nf031607 -1.htm>
http://vawatchdog. org/07/nf07/ nfMAR07/nf031607 -1.htm

Now, Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), who favors "Attorneys for Veterans" and who
was mentioned in the DAV's letter, speaks out to correct what appears to be
a "misrepresentation" by the DAV.

As the DAV continues to oppose a veteran's right to an attorney, we can
expect more "misrepresentations " from them.

And, we have commentary from an attorney who represents veterans in the VA
claims process: "I believe Senator Craig wrote a very well reasoned
response to the DAV. The only thing I would have added is since the new law
only allows attorney representation after a denial by the VA Regional Office
and the submission of a Notice of Disagreement, attorney representation
would only occur after a Veterans' Service Organization (VSO) (if the
veteran was so represented) has failed to obtain a favorable decision. I
believe this is a very important point. If the veteran first obtained VSO
representation [from the DAV, for example], and that representation failed
to obtain a favorable result, why shouldn't the veteran then be allowed to
seek other representation, if he or she so chooses?"

Craig's letter at the web site:

http://www.vawatchd og.org/07/ nf07/nfMAR07/ nf032007- 8.htm

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7. FW: Please asking all to participate and distribute, Operation Deser

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:29 pm (PST)


call your senator... & Rep
a list of key members of congress is at the web site
http://www.ipetitio ns.com/petition/ GulfWarillness/ index.html

_____

From: VeteranIssues- owner@yahoogroup s.com
[mailto:VeteranIssues- owner@yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of DSNurse@aol. com
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:03 PM
To: VeteranIssues- owner@yahoogroup s.com
Subject: Please asking all to participate and distribute

I need all hands please! The hill has not called me yet to pull back the
dogs so it is full steam ahead!
Please I am asking begging to get all involved.
http://www.ipetitio
<http://www.ipetitio ns.com/petition/ GulfWarillness/ index.html>
ns.com/petition/ GulfWarillness/ index.html

WE have limited time to be heard by Defense Appropriations process, it
didn't get done in FY07! WE need this and none of us can do it alone!

It is the first time that we had any participation at all to have ANY input
into the choices on research projects. WE can make it even better. But we
have to get the funds put in the pot now!

Please join forces!

Clarification and simple marching action orders to all---THIS IS CRITICAL
TIME SENSITIVE NOW MAKE THE PHONE CALLS AS REQUESTED GET TO ALL VETERANS
ONLINE TO HELP! Sign the petition, notify others of the petition and make
the phone calls

Operation Desert Storm Veterans are making headway on Gulf War illness and
need help to get House and Senate Defense Subcommittee to listen and to have
funds put in to Congressional Directed Medical Research for Gulf War
illness! WE got 5 million in FY06 that is being used soon re research
proposals were recently reviewed By scientific Merit Review panel. WE got no
money for this in FY07. Right now the Hill is working on FY08
appropriations. ..we need money appropriated and this is happenning now.
WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK MAKING CALLS ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS.
PLEASE HELP YOUR FELLOW VETERANS.

Here is the petition Read it and act call,email, fax the Senators and
Representatives on The appropriations list for Defense Subcommittee at the
end of this message and help get others this info we need pressure on the
phone lines starting in the morning. Email me results at DSNurse@aol. com

IN CARING FOR VETERANS' HEALTH

DON'T FORGET GULF WAR VETERANS

Petition To Congress
DIRECT TO APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES-Defense Subcommittee HOUSE AND SENATE

TIMING URGENT APPROPS in PROCESS NOW!

Petition To Congress

- 175,000 Gulf War veterans still suffer from chronic multisymptom illness
related to the 1991 war, according to the latest Department of Veterans
Affairs study

- There are no effective treatments.

- A $5 million pilot research program open to all researchers and conducted
by DoD attracted 80 proposals to identify treatments and diagnostic tests in
2006, compared to two treatments studied in the previous fifteen years.

- While $5 million will support only a fraction of these studies, this
response demonstrates the interest of the scientific community in improving
the health of ill Gulf War veterans.

- As Congress appropriates needed billions for the care of those returning
from the current war, we urgently ask that it fund this treatment research
program for ill Gulf War veterans at the $30 million level traditionally
funded by DoD for Gulf War illness research before it was eliminated from
the budget in recent years.

- All major veterans organizations support $30 million funding for the Gulf
War Veterans Illnesses Research Program of the DoD Congressionally Directed
Medical Research Program.

-
---30% of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom are also
returning
with ill defined conditions/syndrome Source VA document

- The VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses has
found that evidence supports a probable link between exposure to neurotoxins
and the
development of these illnesses.

- Treatments and diagnostic markers identified through the GWVRP would also
serve to protect the health of current and future military personnel and
civilians at risk of similar health effects.

Denise Nichols
Vice-Chairman National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition
Maj,USAFR(ret)
Operation Desert Storm Flight Nurse
303-422-2962
DSNurse@aol. com