Gulf War Presumptive Illnesses - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Gulf War

Presumptive Illnesses

William Genochio, VBA Coordinator

Dept. Service Officer

Cleveland, VARO

Gulf War Veterans who are they?

Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable who served in the 

Southwest Asia theater of military operations

,

which includes the areas specified by regulation, but not Afghanistan, may be entitled to disability compensation for certain undiagnosed illnesses, certain diagnosable chronic disability patterns, and certain presumptive diseases.

Southwest Asia theater of Military Operation

For VA benefit purposes, Gulf War service is active military duty in any of the following areas in the 

Southwest Asia theater of military operations

 at any time August 2, 1990 to present. This includes Veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2010) and Operation New Dawn (2010-2011).

Note:

 Service in Afghanistan on or after September 19, 2001, is considered qualifying service for disability benefits associated with certain presumptive diseases.

VA offers Eligible Veterans a free Gulf War Registry health exam to find Possible long-term health problems related to Gulf War Service

Eligibility Requirements

Qualifying undiagnosed illnesses or diagnosable chronic disability patterns, that appeared either during a qualifying period of active service or prior to December 31, 2021, must meet the following conditions:

Must be no other cause for your disability or illness than service in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations.Your disability existed for 6 months or more, AND

If your disability or illness did not appear during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations, then it must have appeared prior to December 31, 2021, to a degree that is at least 10-percent disabling (for VA rating purposes).

Gulf War Presumptive Illnesses

Undiagnosed illnesses

. These are illnesses that may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances.Functional gastrointestinal disorders. A group of conditions characterized by chronic or recurrent symptoms that are unexplained. These disorders may include but are not limited to irritable bowel syndrome, functional

dyspesia, functional vomiting, functional constipation, functional bloating, functional abdominal pain syndrome, and functional dysphagia.

Gulf War Presumptive Illnesses Cont.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

: A condition of long-term and severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions.Fibromyalgia: A condition characterized by widespread muscle pain. Other symptoms may include insomnia, morning stiffness, headache, and memory problems

Gulf War Presumptive Illnesses

Certain presumptive diseases, which will be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by service even if there is no evidence of such disease during active service. With three exceptions (see asterisks), one of the following must have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within 1 year of the date of separation from a qualifying period of active service:

BurcellosisCampylobacter jejuniCoxiella

burnetii (Q fever)Malaria* (if not 10 percent or more within one year of separation, may be 10 percent or more at a time when standard or accepted treatises indicate that the incubation period commenced during qualifying period of service)Mycobacterium tuberculosis* (no time limit)Nontyphoid Salmonella

ShigellaVisceral leishmaniasis* (no time limit)West Nile Virus

Medically Unexplained Illnesses

A prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.VA refers to these illnesses as "chronic multisymptom illness" and "undiagnosed illnesses." We prefer not to use the term “Gulf War Syndrome” when referring to medically unexplained symptoms reported by Gulf War Veterans. Why? Because symptoms vary widely.

Benefits Overview for Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses

VA offers health registry exams, health care, disability compensation and other benefits to eligible Gulf War Veterans. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits.Gulf War Registry Exam Health Care Disability Compensation for VeteransSurvivors Benefits

How to Apply!

Visit your Local American Legion Accredited County Veteran Service Officers in one of the 88 counties.

Or by visiting the Department Service Officers located at the Anthony J.

Celebreeze

Federal Building located in Cleveland Ohio.

You can also visit the Department Service Officers field offices located at the Dayton VAMC, Cincinnati or Columbus.

Fill out the VA Form 21-526EZ listing the Illnesses requesting as result of Gulf War Presumptive.

Evidence needed to File

The evidence must show you served in the Southwest Asia theater of military

operations,or served in Afghanistan on or after September 19, 2001, for benefits associated with certain presumptive diseases.Medical evidence of treatment of the claimed disability or illness.If there is no medical evidence that you have been previously treated for a disability pattern and the only significant evidence is a lay statement describing the disability pattern, a VA examination may be needed

Evidence needed to File Cont.

• For undiagnosed illness claims, the evidence may be medical evidence or nonmedical indications that can be independently observed or verified such as lost time from work, changes in appearance, changes in physical abilities, and changes in mental or emotional attitudes (

Note: Independently verified means it must be possible for VA to obtain verification of the nonmedical indicators from an independent source).

Gulf War Registry Health Exam for Veterans

This comprehensive health exam includes an exposure and medical history, laboratory tests, and a physical exam. A VA health professional will discuss the results face-to-face with the Veteran and in a follow-up letter.

Important points about registry health exams

Free to eligible Veterans and no co-payment

Not a disability compensation exam or required for other VA benefitsEnrollment in VA's health care system not necessary

Based on 

Veterans’ recollection

 of service, not on their military records

Veterans can receive 

additional registry exams

, if new problems develop

Veterans' family members are 

not eligible

 for registry exams

Additional Information

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/publications/This link will provide a list of VA publications and or newsletters pertaining to Gulf War and other VA related material.

Contact Information

William (Bill) Genochio

Department Service Officer Cleveland Veteran Affairs Regional Office1240 East 9th St, Rm 923Cleveland, Ohio 44199william.Genochio@va.govgenochio@ohiolegion.com216-522-3504

Resources

Gulf War Illnesseshttps://benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-gulfwar.aspGulf War Registry Exam https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/benefits/registry-exam.aspGulf War Presumptive Public Health https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/publications/gulf-war/gulf-war-winter-2016/gulf-war-presumptives.asp

VA Environmental Health Coordinator

Ohio

Environmental HealthCoordinators

Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center420 N. James RdColumbus, OH 43219

Reva Jordan(614) 388-7727Reva.Jordan@va.gov

Chillicothe VA Medical Center

17273 State Route 104

Chillicothe, OH 45601

Kathy Keeney

(740) 773-1141 x6449

Kathy.Keeney@va.gov

Fax: (614) 257-5637

Cincinnati VA Medical Center

3200 Vine Street

Cincinnati, OH 45220

Janie Thompson

(513) 475-6973

Janie.Thompson3@va.gov

Fax: (740) 772-7061

Dayton VA Medical Center

4100 W. Third Street

Dayton, OH 45428

Sheryl Yarbrough

(937) 268-6511 x1073

Sheryl.Yarbrough@va.gov

Fax: (937) 267-3978

Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

8787 Brookpark Road

Parma, OH 44129

Nadine Lawrence

(216) 739-7000 x838 2504

Nadine.Sanders@va.gov

Fax: (216) 739-7094

Contacts to Schedule

Veterans Gulf War

Health Exam.

Questions ?????