Dear Honorable Congressmen,
My name is Jim Bunker, and I am a Gulf War veteran that is a member of the National Gulf War Veterans Resource Center, along with many of the other veteran service organizations.
With most everyone looking at what is causing Gulf War Illness, it seems that they are over looking the high rates of illness that veterans are getting diagnosed with.
Table 3 of the ‘Kansas Study’ that was printed in American Journal of Epidemiology (vol.152.no10), shows some of the illnesses and the rates they occur over non-gulf war vets.
One of the illnesses that I would like to draw your attention to is the seizures. At over 4 times the rate of non-PGW veterans can lead to a complete life style change. With active seizures one can lose out on being able to drive a car.
The other illnesses that we need to get by presumption of service-connection for are:
|
|
PGW* |
Non-PGW* |
|
||
|
Condition(s) |
(n=1 |
,545) |
(n |
= 435) |
OR*,t |
|
|
No. |
%t |
No. |
%t |
|
|
Skin condition(s) (other than skin cancer) |
299 |
21 |
26 |
6 |
3.83 |
|
Stomach or intestinal condition(s) |
219 |
15 |
32 |
8 |
2.13 |
|
Depression |
179 |
12 |
30 |
7 |
1.85 |
|
Arthritis |
161 |
11 |
24 |
6 |
1.99 |
|
Migraine headaches |
160 |
11 |
21 |
5 |
2.25 |
|
High cholesterol |
155 |
11 |
36 |
9 |
1.24 |
|
Chronic fatigue syndrome |
142 |
9 |
5 |
1 |
8.70 |
|
Bronchitis |
138 |
10 |
19 |
5 |
2.61 |
|
High blood pressure |
134 |
9 |
33 |
8 |
1.24 |
|
Allergies |
119 |
10 |
23 |
7 |
1.41 |
|
Posttraumatic stress disorder |
98 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
4.74 |
|
Asthma |
63 |
4 |
9 |
2 |
2.08 |
|
Alcohol or drug dependence |
43 |
3 |
8 |
2 |
1.47 |
|
Heart disease |
37 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
1.56 |
|
Lung disease |
37 |
2 |
2 |
<0.5 |
4.77 |
|
Thyroid condition |
30 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2.32 |
|
Fibromyalgia |
24 |
2 |
2 |
<0.5 |
3.69 |
|
Skin cancer |
23 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
1.17 |
|
Diabetes |
21 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
1.22 |
|
Cancer (other than skin cancer) |
18 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1.21 |
|
Seizures |
15 |
1 |
1 |
<0.5 |
4.17 |
The Secretary of Veterans Affair, two years ago, added ALS as presumption of service-connection for gulf war veterans. He did this with the rate of ALS being at 2 times the rate of non gulf war veterans. As you have seen there are some illnesses here that are at if not higher than the ALS rate.
This is need now for many of the veterans are getting their clams denied for many of these illnesses that are running at a higher rate in PGW veterans. We need your help to change PL103-446.
The Secretary of Veterans Affair can add them him self and that is one other route we could take.
Some of the illness, like bronchitis, asthma, and lung disease, are closely related and can also lead to less productive life for the veterans due to their service. VA compensations is given to sick veterans for their loss of earning power. With so many illnesses starting to show up in the veterans we need to work at getting the VA to help them.
Look closely at the full study. From it you will see we do need not only to get these illnesses on a list; but we also need to do more research into this area.
Thank you,
James A. Bunker
Veteran Information Network
1703 SW 66th Street.
Pauline, KS 66619