Washington, D.C. — The liberalization of a requirement for a special Gulf War veteran compensation benefit has been adopted as a final rule by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The change, which already was in force under an interim final rule published in April 1997, extends through the year 2001 the period in which undiagnosed illnesses in Gulf War theater veterans may appear and be eligible for compensation. This effectively removes as an issue for determining compensation the length of time after service in which such a condition arises. VA expects that, by 2002, results of ongoing research will have shed enough light on any latency periods of Gulf-related illnesses to allow the department to reevaluate its existing policies at that time.
When the interim final rule was first published a year ago, the change was made retroactive to claims filed as of November 1994, when Public Law 103-446 was enacted. This law, which VA sought, allowed the department to compensate Gulf War veterans for undiagnosed illnesses.
Before the change took place, undiagnosable illnesses must have arisen within two years of leaving the Gulf theater for VA to provide compensation. Unaffected by the change are requirements that the symptoms of any illness be chronic, undiagnosable and at least 10-percent disabling. More than 1,500 Gulf theater veterans have received compensation benefits for undiagnosed illnesses.
Most illnesses of Gulf War veterans, however, are diagnosable. More than 90,000 other Gulf theater veterans are receiving compensation for conventionally diagnosed disabilities that were incurred or aggravated while in service or within specified post-service presumptive periods.
The final rule on the change to undiagnosed illness compensation was published in the Federal Register on March 6.
For more information about compensation, Gulf veterans may call VA toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. In addition, access to VA medical care is liberalized for Gulf veterans, including ill or healthy veterans who would like a free medical evaluation through VA’s Gulf War Registry program. For more information about VA programs, Gulf veterans may call 1-800-PGW-VETS (1-800-749-8387).
###
Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.
