VA has extended the presumptive period to Dec. 31, 2026 for qualifying chronic disabilities rated 10% or more resulting from undiagnosed illnesses in Persian Gulf War Veterans to ensure benefits established by Congress are fairly administered.
If an extension of the current presumptive period was not implemented, service members whose conditions arise after Dec. 31, 2021 would be substantially disadvantaged compared to service members whose conditions manifested at an earlier date.
Limiting entitlement to benefits due to the expiration of the presumptive period would be premature given that current studies remain inconclusive as to the cause and time of onset of illnesses suffered by Persian Gulf War Veterans.
VA presumes certain medically unexplained illnesses are related to Persian Gulf War service without regard to cause, including, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, functional gastrointestinal disorders. Also included are undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to abnormal weight loss, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders and sleep disturbances.
Persian Gulf War Veterans who are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above and other unexplained medical issues are encouraged to file a compensation claim for them.
Learn more about VA and Gulf War Veterans.
Topics in this story
More Stories
The “Increase Your Credit Score” workshop will be a live event with credit experts whose aim is to help you bolster your credit score and financial stability.
Tax filing season has become a popular time for scammers to target unsuspecting taxpayers through multiple communication avenues. VA wants Veterans to remain vigilant against cyberattacks aimed at stealing personal and financial information.
The VA Health and Benefits mobile app is modernizing how Veterans access and manage their health care and benefits information.
2002 I filed a claim. It went into someone’s circular file. In 2018 I file another claim for tinnitus and hearing loss. The VA payed attention I was granted 10% plus hearing aides. Then I refiled for my original claim with ALL the necessary paperwork again. So now it’s a wait again. Then I was sent to two different doctors to confirm my last 44 years of doctor appointments.
A couple months after my last VA doctor visit my VA rep called me into his office and gave me the news that I was rated at 90%. Be patient if you have a no BS claim.
I waited nearly 20 years from my first claim till I was rated at 90%. Thank God and my VA rep.,both are on your side.
I filed a claim for the Mad Cow decease when I was station in the UK and was told i would need to find my own a doctor. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
Spent 24 years in the Army. Go to a dermatologist every 3-6 months and every time have some form of skin cancer. VA lists all kind of cancers that were caused by Agent Orange but not skin cancer. They recognize Agent Orange causes cancer inside the body but refuse to agree it can also cause cancer outside the body. They won’t give me any compensation but Biden wants to give illegal immigrants $450,000.00. Makes no sense to me.
GET ALL YOUR MILITARY RECORDS, to include MEDICAL
Contact https://www.usa.gov/military-records#item-35657
I fought VA for 7 years and finally got to 50% service connected. Continued fighting them for several other issues, and denied, but I had to work to support myself and kids because 50% doesn’t pay the bills. I eventually missed appointments and cases were closed. Trying to refile afterwards, with my primary care VA doc, with the same complaints I was told by VA that to reopen my case I had to have “new” information to reopen it not same complaints. How do I get new information, not same old complaints, to reopen a case with different complaints? Go figure. Still haven’t gotten an answer about that one.
It’s sad. The more benefits the government extends additional benefits for veterans, the more the veteran service representative deny those benefits inspite of veterans having clearly service related disease or injury. Fortunately the VA Appeals Modernization Act was written. Unfortunately I had to appeal my compensation claim to The Higher Level Review with a request for an Informal Conference call. The senior reviewer was competent and experienced enough to recognize my disease and or injury was service related. I would say the Veteran Service Representatives need more training and oversight of each claim decision.
I don’t understand how they can deny me anything after sending me to an Air Force base and be operated on by Navy Dr’s who botched my surgery. The knee surgery they did on me hurt so bad that I favored my right leg to the point of hurting my left leg up into my hips and back. Now I can’t stand for long periods of time and I can’t do the job I went to college for. They tell me it was a pre-existing condition and continually deny me.
Hello Victor, I understand your frustrations. I’m retired Navy, and I had knee surgery too. Whatever you do, make sure that you are getting help to file your claim…whether it’s DAV, a lawyer, or an independent agent. Make sure that are you are seeing a knee specialist, a back specialist, and hip specialist…whatever ailment you have.
Get the details of your knee surgery, and make sure it’s documented. Make sure that you document the fact that you can’t work. Whatever happens, don’t give up. The key is getting seen by specialists, and combing thru your medical records for ailments, sick calls that led up to the knee surgery.
I’m dismayed by the fact that we have to fight the same people we were protecting for services that should be no question about. When you work around or near a running jet engine for 20 plus years and have some breautric office rat says your hearing loss is not service connected. When your own reference says for Navy job of ADJ, ADR, AD say highly likely. Leaves with saying your a useless government organization full of useless breautic.
Knock on wood, knock on wood, knock on wood: So far my experiences with the area covered by the Wilmington, Delaware, VA have been excellent.
Various offices have been very attentive and rapidly responsive. They have been positive-minded and courteous.
To qualify for VA healthcare, contact a mobile services unit or area medical center. For disabilities, contact a Veteran Services Officer. The outstanding VSO with whom I dealt was from the VFW. I think American Legion has VSOs also. To the best of my recollection, one does not have to be a member of one of these organizations to get assistance. Some years ago, I contacted the offices of the VA that dealt with gravestone markers on behalf of a fallen comrade to get his marker corrected and that office provided excellent and quickly responsive service also. I believe that office was in Quantico, VA. Additionally, several of my relatives deal, have dealt with over many years, with the VA in Sioux Falls, SD, and swear by that outfit – excellent service all the way around. Best wishes to those fellow veterans who are seeking assistance.
The VA anymore conducts the whole operation like an Insurance company to where they do not want to pay claims, trust me I work at one of the VA Hospitals. I cannot stress enough that wording is key, DO NOT let the Dr write down his interpretation of what you are saying, you have a right to read his comments before completing and you tell him if it is not correct. Also- when the nurse calls you in prior to the Dr seeing you, she/he is the one that typically asks why you are there and how you are feeling and so forth and they are the ones who write it in your file, then the Dr comes in and reads that and goes off that. Stay the course, do not try to do all the filing yourself. Go to your local courthouse and ask to see the VSO( Veterans Service Office), they are specially trained on how to do the paperwork and know the proper key words to use, mine did my entire paperwork and was very successful.
If possible, enlist the help of the DAV Office. (Disabled Veterans Administration). They combed through my 26 years of medical records and made sure we listed everything possible. Very helpful.
It has taken nearly 28 years to get the rating that I do have and, I am still fighting to get denials reviewed etc. I have gone from 20% to 40% to 60% to 90%.
It is frustrating. It is clear the V.A. itself is not interested in assisting vets with getting proper care or diagnosis.
You, individually, need to find the corrrect type of help and not give up. Finding the proper forms and filling them out properly is by itself tiring. Then, be aware that answering the Dr’s by using key words and phrasing is absoulutly critical to your case.
It’s a fight. Fighting is what WE DO or DID! If your claim is legit, Dont stop until you get whats owed.
AMEN!! They do not want to help us for sure! When I first filed my claim they told me what I was filing for wasn’t in my records. So I had to refile & highlight & red underline each time I went to the doctor for the symptom & diagnosis. I finally got some ratings & was denied others I am still waiting to go to the board for. Haven’t heard anything in almost two years now & have been working with DAV. Why do we have to fight this hard to get what is rightfully ours? They act like it comes out of their pockets! Unsatisfactory!!!
God and the Veterans Administration have given me more time, and I am doing my best to do good with whatever time I have left. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
If you don’t get any help from the VA try the State VA office. Each State have these and their job is to help file your claims. Also, don’t forget your Congressman and Senators. Use them!
was told my back pain was in my head. returned with xray showing fusion of spinal discs.
I retired from the Military in 1997 after over 22 years active duty. I started filing claims for health issues that were initially denied and kept re-applying or appealing depending on the situations. Finally got 10% rating in 2019 and as of this August up to 55% Service Connected. Still working on several other issues that were denied again. The key it to keep trying and get the supporting documentation including getting letters from current doctors to support the claims. Now working on the Sleep Apnea (SA) issue. I’ve had problems sleeping since the mid 90’s but never diagnosed by any of the military doctors. I started getting things checked with my civilian doctor after retirement and was diagnosed with SA in 2000. It has gotten progressively worse and on both Medications and CPAP therapy through the VA ever since. Still trying to proove it is related to any of my three tours to Saudi Pre, During and Post Desert Shield/Storm. The key is don’t stop and get all you can to support it.
It took me a while and I understand the frustration. Continue to be consistent in your fight.
What about Vietnam Nam veterans ? When my husband was coming home he had a physical before leaving Nam . He had some hearing loss and they wanted him to stay another their three days for more tests . They said his hearing loss was at almost thirty percent . Being young all he wanted to do was go home . He was on his second tour when they were bringing home the troops. We find out now his hearing loss is greater but they don’t have his medical records as they were destroyed. So he is sht out of luck for any disability claim . First no welcome greeting and now no disabilities rating . Thank you Uncle Sam .
The VA is full of bureaucratic paper shufflers. It depends on which one gets your case. I spent a year in the VN jungles and experienced 10 years of health and dental complications. The VA has still done nothing for me.
Have him go to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or the Vietnam Veterans of America…they have liaison officers who will help fill out and file the paperwork.
I had the same problem with the local VA. I went to the county Service office and they helped fill out the paper work and I got 10% disability and VA hearing aids. I live in Minnesota and my records were destroyed also…don’t let them BS you. If you have your DD214…they have to take care of you. Glenn H.
Have him go to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or the Vietnam Veterans of America…they have liaison officers who will help fill out and file the paperwork. That’s what I did and have the hearing aids. The key words are “tinnitus” and “ringing in the ears”…the VA won’t provide help on hearing loss, just the tinnitus.
I was starting to have really bad hearing problems, worked flight line, discharged back in 1975. The AF had lost all of my records as well. Filed anyway, when I had my C&P hearing the audiologist said that not having medical records may seem like a problem but it will work in your favor because they can’t prove that you didn’t have a problem. When everything is 50/50 the vet wins. File! At least file an intent to file, and then get the paper work together. Don’t forget about tinnitus and mental health issues that often accompany hearing problems.
I too have hearing loss from being on flight line 91-93. I have a 0% rating for left ear. Well all these years later I can not hear unless it’s one on one conversation. If in class or meeting setting I have no clue what’s being said or have to continually ask them to repeat!! Also continuously loud tinnitis. I also have difficulty with balance which is based in middle ear. Thankfully I have an appointment Tuesday. Hope they can do something.
I did file a claim. These news releases state “presumptive illnesses” can qualify, but the VA does not honor the “definition” of presumptive. If you were not ill “during” your service time, they claim the illnesses are “not service related” and deny you.
Ran into the same stuff, I think it depends on what region you are in
It’s all about saying the right thing . I don’t think they are medical so they check boxes .
Try to find help and order your c file.
Don’t give up tho.
Took me 7 years for the va to acknowledge ptsd.
Good luck for real ! Get what you earned.
But everyone says they support the troops. Until it’s time for them to do something extra.
Thanks
I’m very grateful to you
You are doing me a great service, and I’m very grateful to you.
Thanks
very thankful
Much better VA. More needs to be added but this is much better.
Thanks