Story Created:
Mar 18, 2010 at 2:31 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Mar 18, 2010 at 2:31 PM CDT
WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs is making it easier for veterans to obtain disability compensation for certain illnesses.
In the heels of recommendations made by VA's Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Task Force, a piece of proposed legislation will establish new presumptions of service connection for nine specific infectious diseases associated with military service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War, or in Afghanistan after September 19, 2001.
"We recognize the frustrations that many Gulf War and Afghanistan Veterans and their families experience on a daily basis as they look for answers to health questions, and seek benefits from VA," said VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.
The proposed rule includes information about the long-term health effects potentially associated with the nine diseases: Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis and West Nile virus.
If the veteran has a non-presumptive condition, a veteran is required to provide medical evidence that can be used to establish connection between military service and a specific disease.
With the proposed rule, a veteran would only have to provide proof of service in the area and a current diagnosis of one of those diseases.
Because the Persian Gulf War has not officially been declared ended, Veterans serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom are eligible for VA's new presumptions. Secretary Shinseki decided to include Afghanistan Veterans in these presumptions because NAS found that the nine diseases are prevalent in that country.
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