Our Sustained Commitment to Care for Gulf War Veterans

June 18, 2013 by Robert Jesse

Twenty-three years have passed since the start of the deployment and combat operations known as Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. These two military operations comprise the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Since then, many Veterans of that conflict have suffered from adverse health consequences.

We’ve come a long way in recognizing the illnesses suffered by Gulf War Veterans, and we have rejected the notion the symptoms result from mental health issues like post-traumatic stress.

That’s why in the years following the first Gulf War, VA has continued to provide quality healthcare and benefits to those Veterans, and to invest in research to understand and treat Gulf War Veterans Illnesses, including Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness and related health areas. In 2009, Secretary Shinseki directed the formation of the VA Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force, previously led by former Chief of Staff and Gulf War Veteran John Gingrich, to better synchronize department-wide efforts to serve Gulf War Veterans. The VA’s Interim Chief of Staff, Mr. Jose Riojas, also a Gulf War Veteran, continues this work.

The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses (RAC) has led the way on crucial initiatives ever since. As a result of their work, VA has more than doubled the number of requested research projects on specific Gulf War areas of study. Additionally, VA has funded all proposals for Gulf War research that have met scientific and quality merit review standards. We’ve done that by increasing R&D funding directly obligated for Gulf War research to $7.3 million this year —a nearly $2 million boost from 2011.

In 2010, Secretary Shinseki recognized nine new diseases as associated with Gulf War service, reflecting a determination of positive association between service in the region and those diseases.

VA has relied on the RAC to provide expert advice to the Secretary on optimizing VA’s Gulf War research portfolio. The most technological and current scientific tools are being deployed to better understand these complex illnesses. Recently approved research initiatives include investigations regarding biomarkers, imaging diagnostics, and clinical treatment trials, which have come from committee recommendations. The Committee’s work has been invaluable to bring these issues to light and ensure they are high priorities within the Department from the top down.

As the Committee has matured, changes were made to the RAC ‘s charter to align it with similar VA charters in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the requirements of Public Law 105-368, § 104, for example Women Veterans and the Rural Health Advisory Committees.  VA completed a departmental review of the charter in October 2012. One notable issue was that membership terms have expired so there will be also a rotation of some Committee members.  Chairman James Binns has been asked to stay for another year to help in the transition of new members and oversee the completion of the RAC’s major scientific review, a critical report that assists VA in setting Gulf War research priorities.

Make no mistake—the momentum the Committee has achieved to bring sweeping and lasting change to the research and treatment of Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses will not falter. We have turned a corner on this issue, and there is simply no going back. VA is continuing efforts to be responsive to the Committee’s recommendations by increasing senior leadership engagement between the RAC Chairman, myself and Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Policy and Services.

VA knows we must continue the progress we’ve made together for our Gulf War Veterans. We must ensure every Gulf War Veteran is aware of the disability and health care benefits to which they may be entitled as the result of their wartime service and to assist them in accessing these services.

Since its inception, the RAC has been the catalyst for change and unquestionably guided VA to deliver on its core mission to care for our Nation’s Veterans. They have my greatest confidence in continuing that mission, and we look forward to working with them to achieve our mutual goals.

For more information, read VA’s recently released Gulf War Research Strategic Plan and the Task Force’s Draft annual report.

Dr. Robert Jesse is the Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Share and Enjoy:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

1. Stefani Ceballos says:

   Your comment is awaiting moderation.
   

   June 19, 2013 at 11:16 pm

   There is absolutely no sustained or any other type of commitment to Care for Gulf War Veterans. The very same day that the results of the PLOS One Study showing that Gulf War Syndrome is not an idiopathic, undiagnosed illness but, in fact, brain damage hit the Associated Press. Secretary Shineski announced his intentions to gut the Gulf War R.A.C. – a little retaliation there? He espouses the use of eBenefits as the best way to submit claims. However, when the system isn’t “down for maintenance”, it is completely non-functional. My profile has not been updated since February.

   And even though I submitted DBQ’s for most of my conditions, my doctor’s insistence that my generalized anxiety is a result of PTSD – the simple act of clarifying the condition on my claim sent it back to square one.

   I received a response from ISIS last week that it would be at least 8 months before they would be able to look at my claim and then what, another 2 or 3 years for a C&P examination? I have waited for 22 years for any benefits – can you honestly tell me, Secretary Shineski, that you actually care about Gulf War Veterans or are you just continuing the tradition of bold-face lies that the VA has become so adept at telling the soldiers that put their lives on the line for this country?

   REPLY

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/9644/our-sustained-commitment-to-care-for-gulf-war-veterans/#comment-86286

Forever My Buddy, I Will Always Be There

Barely too young to take care of myself, I was given a buddy;

taught to have your back.
Through combat and hard times; so much more than friend;
Far from our families; sometimes fearing the end.

Nights we talked of returning ‘to the World’ and how great it would be.
Too often, when it finally happened we would see we had lost the old you and the old me.

So when times get hard, you feel all alone and hang your head, your heart in despair;
Remember, forever my Buddy, I will always be there.



- S. Ceballos

A Tragedy Beyond Comprehension

This is off topic but in light of today's events, I feel compelled to offer my thoughts and condolences to the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut. 

Where do you find the words try and make any sense out of the unfathomable tragedy of the loss of 27 lives in Newtown, Connecticut?  I think of 20 little children whose only care in the world should have been what Santa will be bringing them and how such a horrific act has taken the innocence of hundreds of other children that were witness to something no one should ever have to see. 

It makes so much of what we complain about seem so senseless. 

Tonight, as I pray for the lost, their families and the community of Newtown, I also appreciate my many blessings, hold my family a little tighter and tell them that I love them. For we never know when may be the last time.

I Recently Filed Bankruptcy and Now I Need a New Car. Can I Do This?

You've just filed Chapter 13 and your old car has finally gone kaput.

Afraid that you'll be limited to paying for another clunker at a Buy Here Pay Here lot?

Isn't there a better option?

In many cases, the short answer is "Yes".

Under a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the State of Florida, the law states that you may not incur new debt without permission of the trustee or the court.

This is done by submitting a Request to Incur New Debt with the trustee of your case. 

• These requests are routine and frequently granted.

• The request looks at your disposable income and your ability to pay.
• If the trustee signs off on the request, you can buy the vehicle.
• The trustee should approve the request unless he or she decides that you cannot afford the new payment.
• If the trustee denies request, your bankruptcy attorney will file the Request to Incur New Debt with the court and ask the judge to override the trustee's denial. This dictates whether you can buy the car or not.

Rock The Vote

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy

 impairs the security of all. - JFK

Car Dealers Pay Lip Service to Women But Can They Walk the Talk?

by That Car Girl

We all know the statistics only to well…

• More than 85% of women affect all car-buying decisions
• 68% of new car purchase decisions are made by women
• 34% of the marriages where women work, the woman out earns the husband
• 50% of traditionally male products, including automobiles are being purchased by women

However, in my experience in working for a large automobile group, this information has been "garbage in, garbage out". 

Just the other day I was reading about how Honda plans to release a Fit model that the company hopes will attract female drivers to dealerships.  Honda’s Fit She's theme is "adult cute" and will come in pink, brown and white colors that mirror popular eye shadow colors.  However, the "adult cute" theme will not be confined to the car's color.

The car will also have a special windshield that will cut 99 percent of ultraviolet rays to help prevent those annoying wrinkles, and additional technology in its air conditioner system will help improve the driver's skin quality.

It really makes on stop and wonder if the male-dominated, collective Auto industry has heard even one word about their women consumers wants or needs.

Let us just face facts, the fate of female-themed car models, has to this point, been what can only be categorized as a disaster of EPIC proportions.

Case in point: 

The Dodge La Femme - also laced in pink and a few other details. 

I must give Chrysler some credit for their efforts, after all, the La Femme came out in 1955 – a time when the average buyer was very different and less sophisticated than today’s buyer. 

Even then, the La Femme failed to attract a consumer base. After two years, Dodge ditched the pink model, with Edmunds rating it as one of the “50 Worst Cars Ever Made”.

But if this wasn’t enough...

At the Toronto Auto Show in 2000, Ford released a concept Windstar minivan that included (you’ll never believe this) a washer and dryer, refrigerator and microwave.

I don’t know about you, but I spend so much time commuting to and from work each day, the last thing I want to do is to cook dinner and do laundry in my car.

Without a doubt, automakers have been among the slowest of US businesses to appreciate the value of women as decision makers, according to the New York-based consulting group Catalyst. In a recent Catalyst survey of major corporations, just over 11 percent of top executives in auto-related companies were women, compared with more than 22 percent in publishing, nearly 16 percent in pharmaceuticals, 14 percent in railroads and 15 percent in mail and freight delivery.

Society has changed in the past 30 years, and women have far more buying power than ever. And, although studies have long suggested that women influence almost all car-buying decisions, statistics show that women are making more and more of those purchases themselves.

However, this is far from evident in the advertising in the auto industry - almost exclusively male-oriented - dominated by images for cars and trucks.

So far this year, women accounted for 36 percent of all new car and truck purchases, according to the Power Information Network, although some in the auto industry say the figure is closer to 45 percent.  In certain segments, especially compact cars and mid size cars, women make up nearly half of all buyers.  

However, old habits do not die easily and male-dominated car culture will no doubt follow the same suit.

As a woman, what’s your biggest pet peeve about the car buying experience?