09.08.2011 KATHARINE RUSS
CITY WATCH LA
THE POLITICS OF WAR - The so-called presumptive period for established
diseases and illnesses for Gulf War veterans and those still fighting
in the Gulf will expire on December 11this year unless an initiative
is enacted=A0 to either repeal the date or extend it.
Title 38 CFR 3.317 states in pertinent part, =93The VA will pay
compensation in accordance with chapter 11 of title 38, United States
Code, to a Persian Gulf veteran who exhibits objective indications of
a qualifying chronic disability, provided that such disability:
=93Became manifest either during active military, naval, or air service
in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf
War, or to a degree of 10 percent or more not later than December 31,
2011.=94
It was just March 18, 2010 that General Eric Shinseki, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs added nine diseases to the presumptive list and, most
recently, another disease in August 2011.
More than 697,000 Americans participated in Operations Desert Shield/
Desert Storm that began in 1990.=A0 Research shows that one in four of
those veterans were afflicted with chronic illnesses that are related
to their overseas deployment.
James A. Bunker, Executive Director National Gulf War Resource Center
(NGWRC), noted in his letter, of April 1, to VA Dept of Affairs Chief
of Staff, John R. Gingrich: =93There are many sound and just reasons why
the December 2011 expiration date should be repealed- among them:
=93A) The United States still has troops deployed in the Gulf Region
that are returning with the same illnesses.
=93B) The Department of Veterans Affairs Committee on Gulf War Illness
has testified before Congress that the end date should be repealed.
=93C) As was stated in the Federal Registry (document number E-723545,
pages 68506-68508), the reason for the last presumptive period
extension by the Secretary was because "scientific uncertainty remains
regarding the causes of Gulf War veterans' illnesses." At this point
it is very safe to say that "scientific uncertainty" still remains
regarding Gulf War Illnesses.=94
Bunker said, =93The end date should be removed from the law as Gulf War
veterans are the only group of war veterans who face a deadline like
this. POW=92s have a long list of illnesses that can show up any time in
their life and be service connected. Vietnam veterans have a long list
that is still growing and they do not face any end date like the
veterans who served in the Gulf are facing.=94
Science has no known reasons for illnesses and diseases, no cures or
preventive measures in place and the expiration date will effectively
close the door to benefits for all veterans of the Gulf Region.
Reports have already shown there were more than 29 toxic chemicals in
the Gulf, and any combination of those chemicals could be the cause(s)
of veteran=92s medical problems. Veterans who suffer from traumatic
brain injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will also be
left without benefits, while those who served in previous wars and
developed the same conditions will receive benefits.
Based on a response to his letter from Gingrich on May 16, 2011,
Bunker believes the expiration date will, in all likelihood, be
extended once again as it was four times in past years.
Bunker says veterans want this date repealed, just as the expiration
date for Agent Orange was repealed two decades ago.
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