Advocates Say VA Gutting Gulf War Illness Panel

[WilliamPitt]

Source: USA Today

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki has altered the charter of an independent board to research Gulf War Illness, cut its budget and limited the board's independence, according to a directive Shinseki signed last month.

"I have discussed these issues with the secretary and have directed the staff to implement a few actions regarding the committee," said Jose Riojas, Shinseki's interim chief of staff, in a May 16 letter to James Binns, the group's director. "In summary, I have directed that one-half of the members remain and one-half be replaced in accordance with VA policy," Riojas wrote.

Binns, Riojas wrote, is invited to remain as chairman of the board for one more year to "assist the transition process."

Rather than having an independent staff, the board's staff may now be provided by regular VA personnel. Before, the board oversaw those people.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/06/13/independent-gulf-war-illness-review-board-cut/2419893/

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The story behind the USA TODAY Story, "Advocates say VA gutting Gulf War Illness panel"

The USA Today story below is regarding a whole new round of unacceptable behavior by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) related to Gulf War veterans.

Instead of fixing the many serious problems at VA related to Gulf War veterans, VA has retaliated against Gulf War veterans and Gulf War veterans' advocates on the RAC who "dared" raise these issues -- despite the fact that raising the many serious issues is fully consistent with the RAC's longstanding, Congressionally directed mission to serve as an oversight body advocating for ill Gulf War veterans with the ultimate standard by which federal research must be judged being effective treatments for Gulf War Illness.

To date, VA has no proven effective treatments for Gulf War Illness, and last year, the expert panel overseeing federal Gulf War Illness research efforts, the RAC, gave VA a scathing unanimous finding of, "no confidence in the ability or demonstrated intention of VA staff to formulate and execute an effective VA Gulf War illness research program.”

It should be noted that before the media became involved, Gulf War veterans' advocates sought to work for over two weeks with the VA Secretary's office to fix these issues, to no avail. At the beginning of this week, all the Gulf War veterans on the panel (the RAC) sent a joint, eight-page letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki regarding these concerns. No one from VA has even bothered to acknowledge let alone respond to the veterans' letter.

The rest: http://www.91outcomes.com/2013/06/usa-today-advocates-say-va-gutting-gulf.html

[timdog44]

1. Let's not forget

all the VietNam vets who are still getting the shaft from the veteran administration. It is the old use em up and throw em away scenario. And at the forefront of some of this is Sen. "I am a hero" McCain.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. "DENY, DENY Until All the Veterans DIE"-Pentagon Investigation into AGENT ORANGE on Okinawa

from today:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023015098

[timdog44]

4. I have a buddy

who was in the 3/26 Marines in VietNam Sept. 1967. A place known as Leatherneck Square. Three purple hearts in three days. Bloodiest battle of the war. He was a radio man and they were targets because of the antenna. His Lt. had his head blown off right in front of him. He says he does not remember hardly any of what happened. And he has been very open with me. A book was written about his short battalion, called Ambush Valley. Anyway he has Agent Orange syndrome besides his other wounds. Has two open heart surgeries, a carotid endarterectomy and several other surgeries. He lives in Florida. I say this because it is the worst state for the vets and benefits. They gave him a 10% disability. Absolutely pisses me off. He keeps hanging in there. Only 65 year old. He has a friend he served with who has the identical things wrong and injuries. Lives in Georgia and is on full disability.

Just like you said, "DENY, DENY Until All the Veterans DIE". Fucking (sorry) McCain and his ilk. One of the biggest supporters of the vets was John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. And our accidental hero, screw up, McCain votes against every vet bill that comes along.

[timdog44]

2. I forgot

to say, thanks for the post, WilliamPitt. As usual a good thorough job.

[KT2000]

5. why this will never

be resolved.

If they get to the truth about the cause and treatment of GWI, it will implicate chemicals that are in common use. These would be organophosphate pesticides and others. There is not a single insurer, manufacturer, chemical co., oil co., that wants this recognized. It would open the flood gates - their term.

Civilians with this condition are said to have chemical sensitivity - a trite term for brain damage and other organ damage. They also do not receive medical care and are ridiculed. The vets' exposures were so high though, many were rushed into serious and progressive neurological conditions.

Their illness is the direct link to toxic chemical exposures and disease. That must never be allowed.

[forestpath]

6. Medical marijuana patients, sick veterans - why does the Obama administration hurt sick people?

[proverbialwisdom]

7. Related and recommended.

WARNING: Graphic, indelible, important.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/syndrome/veterans/hanson.html

http://du101.org/09/112995life/1195life1.html

THE TINY VICTIMS OF DESERT STORM
Has Our Country Abandoned Them?

LIFE Magazine
November 1995

...Then there is Hillary Rodham Clinton, the point person for an administration that, by pushing through a 1994 law mandating benefits for vets with symptoms, has cast itself as a friend of Gulf War syndrome sufferers. On August 14, at the opening session of the presidential advisory committee on the syndrome, she declared, "Just as we relied on our troops when they were sent to war, we must assure them that they can rely on us now."

<>

It appears the public might have a role to play in providing an assist to those in government fighting the good fight for affected individuals. See: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/13/whistleblower-alleges-veterans-affairs-cover-up/1979839/