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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave_M,

Dear All,

All gulf war veterans- are going to pull it together!

I well tell you all that you probably will not see too many more opportunities to have on speaking up on Gulf War Illnesses if you all don't get out of your bunkers NOW.

WE have an opportunity this September to make a huge impact! WE have both the Research Advisory Committee presenting a major report on the second day of their Sept 15-16 meeting in DC. This is alot of work from alot of scientist and those on the Veterans Affairs Research Advisory Committee. A group that truly believed in the physical problems! A group that wants to try to find a way to help gulf war veterans.

They have over the last 7 years worked with a focused approach. They have helped to get us off the bad research direction re Stress, Stress, Stress, Psychology to finding answers of what has happenned to our bodies! They have focused the research into finding diagnostic and biomarkers to help prove and guide future research into treatment. They have pushed to get small scale treatment trials that are cost effective to find some treatments for us ....that then could lead to large scale treatment trials and then into changes in the clinical area.

The research is not always next door to you! Some of the projects will help with cost to get there and some don't. We have about 3 that will get going shortly. DR Golumbs out at University of California San Diego is the first one to get started....We will be posting others as they become active. We will also post info on ones that you might try that fall in area of Chronic Fatigue, MS, etc as we find them. I encourage all to give these serious thought.

We have gotten the UTSW Medical in Dallas with a Colloborative Center started. That will hopefully be over the long term(funding for 5 years) for more high level research.

The new advisory committee Gulf War Veterans Advisory Committee will be having their second meeting Sept 24-25 (we are trying to get the date moved up closer to the 15th and 16th so gulf war veterans can attend both on one trip!)

We are hoping for SEPT 18-19th or even 22-23rd. You could help by sending letters to Secretary Peake and asking for the Gulf War Veterans Advisory Committee to move up their date from Sept 24-25 to Sept 18-19 preferably. Maybe if he hears from the gulf war veterans and VSO's and other groups we can make this happen.

WE are hoping that other activity will happen on Sept 17th. so we are holding that day free.

WE Need you all to make the effort now. There was a huge push to get the new advisory committee for gulf war veterans. This was so each of you could come forward to input what you have gone through, the problems and frustrations you have experienced in claims and health care. To have each of you be able to offer suggestions for improvement and change.
This is about making change happen and it will take each of you to give your input.

This Sept we have a rare opportunity to be involved in both advisory committees in one place!
I don't think you have that many opportunities! It also will allow you time to visit on the hill in DC!

Only the squeaky wheel gets attention otherwise they think there is no problem!
WE know better than that!

WE need each of you to come forward out of the bunkers. We are going to try several things to help organize this effort! To help facilitate your trip and networking with other veterans.
But we are going to need you to speak up now and as soon as possible so we can lay plans to make the efforts to help. Without you speaking up we have no idea how many will do it.

Simply it can not be done without you because this is about you and your care and your benefits and your buddies!

It is 18 years since 1990 when Operation Desert Shield started followed by Operation Desert Storm. Many of us have consistently done our best for all the rest of you will ---I am telling you the time is now for you!

It is truly a golden moment that will not happen to often now!

WE all must do this for each other!

Now to the spouses and family members, other veterans of other wars and groups, and civilians it is time to realize that the gulf war veterans urgently need your help! Spouses are also welcome to present public comment! The priority is for the veterans and the spouse/significant others but other veterans/civilians also can help!

Some of us have been involved since 1991, 1993, 1996, etc it has been a hard battle!
We have helped get laws, hearings, committees, etc. WE have those that got their benefits and crawled into a bunker and went quiet, we have had those end up in wheelchairs, we have those that we have lost! Well my Vietnam Veterans friends have told me we havent done enough in getting you all forward. WE havent wheeled in enough in wheelchairs scotters etc like they did.
WEll now is it! Listen up you want to help get better care for yourself and your others....it is the bell time!

I don"t know what else we can say--- But help make a difference come forward now!

Sincerely,
Denise Nichols
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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave_M,

Denise,

I have been trying to get hold of you. Myname is Dewey (Dru) Hannon. I was on the 1st Annual DHCC Veterans Heath Advisory Comittee (VHAC) with you in 2000. Some of the others were Mike Cobb (Rolling Thunder) and Edward Hartman. I was wondering what ever happend to the committee. I never heard anything wlse. I know that the Gulf war Health Center changed to the DHCC. I would still like to be involved but I don't know who to contact. I have your card you gave me with:

National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition. Address and Phone #'s. No email. Can you email me. <<Email removed by MOD, use the profile to contact>>

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave_M,

I am a Gulf Vet. I got sick in transit to the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), which was in the gulf. I was told that I had the P. Gulf Illness during a C&P exam by Chris May at Dublin VA Hospital. Now I can't find anything like that in my record. I SUFFER from Chronic Fatigue, Acid Refux Disease, Joint pain, Muscle pain, chronic weakness, and loose stool. I have had loose stool since 12 July 1991. I did go to sickbay. It is in my Service Medical Record. I have had two Upper GI's and two Lower GI's. At one time they had me on 20 plus pills a day. They will not provide a copy of any results of this test. I was told that I would receive updates from the Gulf War Reg. I have never received anything like that. How is a trip (which will be painful and a problem for me) to DC going to help me?

You need to document everything. I have all my appoitments at Dublin VA. They do not like it but if you request a copy of your record, they have to give it to you. Also get a copy after each visit. ALWAYS keep you a copy. If you ever file for social security you will need it. I am in Fitz. Email me if you need more help. A DC trip is rough but the powers to be need to hear from the veterans. I have been up there and testified. Don't give up brother, I am here for you if you need it. We all are. It is not an easy road. They make it hard. But you can do it.

Dragonfires,

Try this.

Title 38: Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief
PART 3—ADJUDICATION
Subpart A—Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Evidence Requirements

§ 3.201 Exchange of evidence; Social Security and Department of Veterans Affairs.
(a) A claimant for dependency and indemnity compensation may elect to furnish to the Department of Veterans Affairs in support of that claim copies of evidence which was previously furnished to the Social Security Administration or to have the Department of Veterans Affairs obtain such evidence from the Social Security Administration. For the purpose of determining the earliest effective date for payment of dependency and indemnity compensation, such evidence will be deemed to have been received by the Department of Veterans Affairs on the date it was received by the Social Security Administration.

(b) A copy or certification of evidence filed in the Department of Veterans Affairs in support of a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation will be furnished the Social Security Administration upon request from the agency.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a) and 5105)

HoooyahEOD, it would help if you looked at the first line of the code you quoted. If was for dependency and Indemnity - not disability.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of certain deceased veterans.

Thanks anyway HooyahEOD.!... I have keep every single piece of paper. I have several different copies of my VET Med Record. I have been trying to get my record corrected. I have talked with several so called advocates. These people have me in a LOOP. One of the doctors wrote THIS. All of this is in one entry.

On a "CONFIDENTIAL SUMMARY" pg4. 10/31/2006
"The USS Lincoln was never attacked. When the ship did drug raids on other ships, he remained topside and did not board the other ship. He attributed his post traumatic stress disorder to his having spent a day in Bahrain.".........
(now they have me in the gulf)
"MEDICAL: Mr. Johnson reported someone had told him he had Persian Gulf Disease. I informed him I was only evaluating his claim for post traumatic stress disorder but seeing his ship was not near the Gulf his chances were reduced. He reported injury to his knee while serving on the Lincoln."
(now they don't)
See what this people are doing is "going back in the record and just coping what they want and making the report look good for the VA". See they have the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) doing drug raids in the Persian Gulf. I was involved with that at my first duty station. Onboard the USS BLAKELY (FF-1072), homeported out of Charleston, SC.

They also have me in Bahrain (I have my original Travel Voucher or Subvoucher S/N 0102-LF-013-2803 DD 1351-2). Which is correct, but, in the next entry they wrote "BUT SEEING HIS SHIP WAS NOT NEAR THE GULF HIS CHANCES WERE REDUCED." Kinda looks malice.....

I wasn't told I had a Persian Gulf Disease. ?????? Disease.

These people don't have a cue as to what is going on in the Military! They have a Nuclear Carrier doing drug raids in the Persian Gulf. They have me in Bahrain, in one sentence, BUT, then not in the Gulf a few sentences later. So, from the very beginning, I simply didn't have a chance. So I provided them the original and they made a copy. Have yet to hear from them. ALL THE ERRORS....... JUST KEEPS THE PAPERWORK FLOWING!!!!!!!!!! If the people that work at the VA in Atlanta, can't see how bad this is and full of errors. They are incompetent. I have a feeling that most are civilians....... Sad to think, I risk my ass for these people. And to think I wanted my two teenagers to service. Looks like the VA is causing recruitment problems. What a mess. They want me to work on ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME!!!!!! NOT. See, this in not hear-say, it all in writing. Any more suggestions?????????? Thank You for your time.

If the Military did a job like this.......... WE WOULD ALL BE DEAD. Now you have a Fine Navy Day!

Dragonfires & Dave_M,

My apologies. When I read "Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Evidence Requirements" I thought it was for all three. Dragonfires, I did not mean to mislead you or give you false hope. Lord knows I have been there and it is depressing and makes one mad as H---! Dave_M, thank you for correcting my mistake and keeping me on track. Again, I would never willingly want to mislead anyone and I am glad that you and Grover are there to keep us on track. Thank you for what you have done and what you continue to do day by day for our VETS.

Dragonfires,

One thing you must do is hold your co****. I think that Dave_M will agree that the VA and Social Security have such a system set up in hope that the person making the claim will get frustrated and give up. That way they save money and don't have to pay. Hold your co****. Keep your appointments. FIGHT. I had 15 years in and the Navy was going to severance pay me. I fought and told them that I had requested a congressional investigation from Hon. Saxby Chambliss and then Hon Max Clealand three weeks later the navy came back with a medical retirement decision. It took about a year to get 60% from VA. Two years later I filed for an increase. It was denied and remained the same. Three years after the initial claim I was raised to 80% with 100% IU. SS was denied three times. I requested a hearing before a Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and I hired a lawyer . After three years from filing date the ALJ voted in favor of my disability.Just don't give up. It wasn't about the money for me. It was knowing that my family was taken care of if things went wrong. I know that they are now. So, my brother, keep praying, and driving forward. If you don't get the answer you like, ask to speak to a supervisor. If someone tells you they can't do soething because of policy, ask to see the policy or instruction. It is your right.
Fair Winds and Following Seas.

Just a couple of days ago, Dave_M gave a wonderful link of the CFR (code of Fed Regs) Not the Congressional Federal Register. I think maybe that if the vet would use the CFR over the USC they would do better, and then if you still need very specific points of law then use the USC, but it's a two edged blade because you can't really use the USC properly without the FR. By all means, enjoy the research, it can only help you. The USC is the basis on which the CFR is built.
Wishing you and yours the best and Godspeed.

Eres Tu !
Freddy