Va To Reopen Gulf War Vets' Files

[Wings]

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Veterans Affairs Department will re-examine the disability claims of what could be thousands of Gulf War veterans suffering from ailments they blame on their war service, the first step toward compensating them nearly two decades after the war ended . . . the VA isn't giving a new benefit to Gulf War veterans, just making sure the claims they submitted were done correctly.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/c...?nclick_check=1

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A law enacted in 1994 allows the VA to pay compensation to Gulf War veterans with certain chronic disabilities from illnesses the VA could not diagnosis. More than 3,400 Gulf War have qualified for benefits under this category, according to the VA.

The VA says it plans to review how regulations were written to ensure the veterans received the compensation they were entitled to under the law. The VA would then give veterans the opportunity to have a rejected claim reconsidered.

The VA doesn't have an estimate of the number of veterans who may be affected, but it could be in the thousands.

Of those who deployed in the Gulf War, 300,000 submitted claims, according to the VA. About 14 percent were rejected, while the rest received compensation for at least one condition but not for other health problems they reported.

http://www.vawatchdog.org/10/nf10/nffeb10/nf022610-6.htm

Edited February 26, 2010 by Wings