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 ID: 927043
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Gulf War Presumptive Illnesses" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Gulf War
Presumptive Illnesses
William Genochio, VBA Coordinator
Dept. Service Officer
Cleveland, VARO
Slide2Gulf 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
Slide4Eligibility 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).
Slide5Gulf 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.
Slide6Gulf 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
Slide7Gulf 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
Slide8Medically 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.
Slide9Benefits 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
Slide10How 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.
Slide11Evidence 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
Slide12Evidence 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).
Slide13Gulf 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
Slide14Additional 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.
Slide15Contact 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
Slide16Resources
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
Slide17VA 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.
Slide18Questions ?????