USA Today: Health scare sent to 1,800 veterans

Written by William M. Welch, USA TODAY
Contributing: Alan Gomez in McLean, Va.

(August 24, 2009) - More than 1,800 Gulf War veterans were sent letters from the Veterans Administration this month informing them that they had Lou Gehrig's disease — a fatal neurological disease.

But at least some of the letters — and the diagnoses — were a mistake.

Jim Bunker, president of the National Gulf War Resource Center, said VA officials told him the letters dated Aug. 12 were the result of a computer coding error that mistakenly labeled the veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

Katie Roberts, a spokeswoman for the VA, said the letters were simply to inform veterans with ALS of disability compensation available to them and were not intended to deliver a medical diagnosis of ALS.

Roberts said the administration has since been contacted by a "small number" of people who did not believe they had ALS. Veterans Administration officials are now reviewing all the cases, Roberts said.

For those who were sent the letters in error, Roberts said, VA officials are personally contacting the recipients to "express VA's sincere apologies for the distress caused by this unfortunate and regrettable error."

Bunker said the letters informed recipients that the ALS diagnosis made them 100% disabled, meaning they were entitled to about $2,700 a month, with additional money for children and spouses.

Although some may view that sought-after 100% designation as a welcome benefit, Bunker said, being diagnosed with a disease that generally kills people within five years far overshadowed any monetary gains.

"The vast majority saw it as bad," he said.

Brent Casey served as an Army medic in the 1991 Gulf War and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome.

He has already been classified 100% disabled by the VA, but is working toward a master's degree in business in Louisville. He also volunteers at the local VA.

When Casey's mother called and read him the letter, the 41-year-old thought he had just been read a "death sentence."

"By volunteering at the VA, I've learned a lot of these illnesses. So I knew firsthand what that meant for me," Casey said. "I just had a total meltdown."

Casey learned that the letter was a mistake after making calls to the VA. But he now worries about the veterans who have received the letter and have yet to be contacted about the mistake.

"My concern is, what about the guy who's been on vacation, and he comes home to find this letter this evening?" Casey said. "We need to get the word out to these guys."

VA Error Leads to ALS Notification Letters

Editor's Note:  The following correspondence has been circulating rapidly in the U.S. Gulf War community today.

The first is an email from disabled West Virginia Gulf War veteran Brent Casey, who is among about 1,200 veterans inadvertently notified by the VA's Huntington, West Virginia Regional Office that they have ALS -- a terminal neurodegenerative disorder -- when in fact they do not have the disease.

The second is an email issued by Veterans for Common Sense regarding the situation.

===============

From: Brent Casey

To: undisclosed recipients

Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 5:43 PM

Subject: Brent Casey diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), by mistake ?? !!

I do not have ALS ! The first thing I would like to do, is say "THANK YOU" to my wonderful, wife, mother, aunt, and grandfather for their very powerful prayers ! As many of you know, I received a letter on Wednesday afternoon, 19 Aug. 2009, from the VA Regional Office in Huntington, WV; stating , "according to records of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you have a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) " The letter was signed by Joseph R. Beadoin, Veterans Service Center Manager.

As you can imagine, but I am not sure you can, I had the most horrific, incredible melt-down, nervous-breakdown, uncontrollable sobbing fit, I have ever had in my life ! I realized at that moment, I had been delivered a "DEATH NOTICE" by the Post Office ! Unfortunately for me, I had done extensive investigation of ALS and it's rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological symptoms/disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.. Some people say it is the most cruel disease that a person can contract because it slowly deteriorates the entire body, while the mind stays healthy. As I sobbed to my mother over the phone, "there is no cure, it is a DEATH SENTENCE, and I will be dead in 3-5 years !".

At this point, it was too late to call the VA Office, so, after an extremely, restless, sleepless, night, I called the Director's Office at the Huntington RO, at 8:00 a.m. Sharp !
I asked for and spoke to Mr. David Allen right away, and explained the letter and that I was incredibly upset, to say the least. He took some brief notes and asked to call me back shortly. At about 10:00 a.m., Mr Allen called back and stated that, he had put the VA into an EMERGENCY MODE OF OPERATION in order to locate my file and try to get to the bottom of the situation, but, after reading through my file, he had no explanation yet.

Later that afternoon, I spoke to Mr. Allen, once again. By this time, my mother had delivered the letter to the Regional Office, and left a copy for their examination. Mr. Allen had the letter and was looking at it but still had no explanation and was in obvious disbelief, himself.

About 2:00p.m., Mr Allen called me again. He stated that there was no way possible to express enough apology to make up for the extreme mental anguish that this had caused me, nor, the emotional trauma that I must have experienced, but he did apologize greatly. He said, the whole thing is just a huge mix-up and an error on the part of the VA. He stated that in 2006, I had filed a claim for neurological damage due to Gulf War Illness and it was given the wrong diagnostic code, which has since been given to ALS. Subsequently, myself, along with about 1200 other Veterans, were sent this letter by mistake.

I told Mr. Allen, that I would try to find a way to understand how this could happen, but my biggest concern is for those other 1200 who are not having this conversation and getting this explanation ! My question is, "What about those guys?"

I spoke to my Primary Care doctor over the phone today after she had reviewed my entire record in detail, and she has assured me that there is no way possible I have ALS; I have a negative Brain Scan MRI, and a negative EEMG test. PRAISE THE LORD ALMIGHTY !!!!!

I would like to ask those of you that read this, Please do whatever you can to get the word to those other 1200 veterans, and please write a letter to the Director of your local VA, to get assurance that these types of diseases or disorders are NOT delivered to the Veteran by the Post Office. Our VA System is better than that, and they know the appropriate way these type cases should be handled.

Respectful and Grateful,


Brent Casey
100% Disabled American Veteran


===============================

August 22, 2009
Dear VCS Members,
Yesterday, VA Central Office in Washington, DC was notified by Veterans for Common Sense about highlly unusual letters sent by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) regional offices to an unknown number of veterans. The VA letters, dated within the past two weeks, advised some veterans they had ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a serious disease that is often fatal - when the veteran did not have ALS. The letter caused enormous grief and distress among veterans, several of whom then contacted Veterans for Common Sense.
VA Central Office is now investigating the incident.
Several of my fellow Gulf War friends died from ALS, and this issue is near and dear to my heart. I fully understand the enormous anxiety the VA letters may have caused many veterans and their families.
The first thing VA must do is stop sending these mistaken letters. I hope VA apologizes for the letters sent to veterans who were not diagnosed with ALS. VA appears to have sent the letter with the good intent of notifying veterans about a new regulation expanding disability compensation benefits to veterans diagnosed with ALS. VA had previously denied most ALS claims until new scientific evidence linked ALS with military service, especially among Gulf War veterans. To learn more about VBA disability compensation for ALS, please read this September 23, 2009, VA press release.
I would ask that we direct our efforts toward working with VA so VA will stop sending more erroneous letters and resolve the situation. VA should apologize to veterans and their families. VA should try to figure out how this mistake happened so it does not happen again. Some veterans wrote and said they sought medical care and incurred expenses with private doctors – and VA should pay for those expenses apparently caused by VA’s mistaken letter. And finally, a medical professional with experience dealing with ALS patients should have read the letter before it went out, since the tone of the letter was rather stark, ominous, and inappropriate.
So let’s give VA a day or two to figure out how to resolve this issue. I’m asking for calm among veterans and advocates for a few days over the weekend so VA can investigate the situation and respond in the best interests of our veterans and their families clearly shaken by the letters.
Please share our VCS e-mail with our fellow veterans, especially Gulf War veterans and ALS mailing lists. VCS will post additional information as it become available. The text of the letter appears below.
Thank you, Paul.
Paul Sullivan

Executive Director

Veterans for Common Sense

Post Office Box 77304

Washington, DC 20013

(202) 558-4553

Paul@VeteransForCommonSense.org

www.VeteransForCommonSense.org

===========================
Veterans Benefits Administration Letter
August 11, 2009
Department of Veterans Affairs
[Location Redacted]
[Name and Address of Veteran Redacted]
According to records of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you have a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This letter tells you about VA disability compensation benefits that may be available to you.
Service-Connected Disability Compensation for ALS
VA published a new regulation, 38 CFR 3.318, that provides the development of ALS at any time after military discharge may establish service connection for that disease if the veteran had active, continuous service of 90 days or more. Because of your diagnosis of ALS, you may be entitled to compensation from VA. There are no provisions for payment of benefits prior to September 23, 2008, which is the effective date of the regulation.
How to Apply for Disability Compensation
You can apply online (http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp) or submit VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension, to your nearest VA regional office. The form is available from VA's website (http://www.va.gov/vaforms) or by calling the toll-free number below.
If you previously applied for compensation, you can reopen your claim by submitting a written request (a new application form is not required) to the VA regional office. Be sure to include your full name, VA file number, and/or your Social Security number.
For more information or to request an application, call toll-free, 1-800-827-1000. (The Telecommunications Device for the Deaf number is 1-800-829-4833.) You may also visit VA's website (http://www.va.gov/) or send an electronic inquiry (https://iris.va.gov/).
Sincerely,
[Name Redacted]
VETERANS SERVICE CENTER MANAGER

===========================

GULF WAR EXPOSURES: Lewisite Smells Like Geraniums

World War II Lewisite Vesicant (Blister Agent) Gas Identification Poster, 1941-1945

Statement of Anthony Hardie, Gulf War Veteran, Madison, Wis. -- Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, July 30, 2009

....HD/L/HL.  In the days that followed the informal end of the ground war, small teams from my “unit” combed through former Iraqi sites in Kuwait and Iraq, assessing them, gathering information, and even picking up the occasional souvenir.   In one bunker complex north of the Kuwait bay that a handful of us went through, I was captivated by the lovely fragrance that smelled just like the large red flowers that filled my grandmother’s garden back home and pervaded Iraqi bunkers so hastily evacuated that plates of half-eaten food and loads of personal gear had been left everywhere.  Along with the lovely, captivating geranium fragrance was the pervasive odor that I thought was wet onions.  I found this very odd at the time because there were no onions to be found in even the emptiest of the bunkers. 

If I had been looking at a watch, I could have told you shortly thereafter what the time and date was when my severe, chronic cough began. Like many Gulf War veterans (and Iranian veterans of the Iran-Iraq War who preceded us), it has never subsided. For years, I believed that my black sputum that I coughed up for three months, and the never-ending cough that continued thereafter, was the result of the oil well fire smoke. 

Years later, I was horrified to learn that what I smelled that day were the characteristic odors of Lewisite and Mustard, a classic mixture used heavily by the Iraqis during the Iran-Iraq war. Even still, I discounted that my severe respiratory illness that began very shortly thereafter could have been because of these blister agents, not knowing until more recently that while the damage is immediate, the symptoms of mustard agent exposure don’t show for as long as even 24 to 48 hours after exposure, and that the vapors I inhaled that day—by the fact that they were strong enough to be smelled—were also strong enough to do immediate and lasting damage to my entire respiratory tract that corresponds with my symptoms at the time and since. 

After talking with my doctors, the soft, blackish chunks I coughed up at the end of the Gulf War, some as wide across as a dime or larger, were almost certainly not oil well fire residue, but instead soot-tinged lung tissue being sloughed off after being blistered by these Iraqi chemical warfare agents. And notably, because there were only two or three of us in those bunkers, with me in them the longest, and because none of us were well trained enough to ever recognize these characteristic odors, they were never reported—except to my family, as ironically I searched after the war in Arab shops for the uniquely fragrant, geranium-scented perfume to buy for my mother that I was certain the retreating Iraqi troops had been using so heavily that it had left its scent behind in those bunkers. 

I have heard enough first-hand accounts from other Gulf War ground troops about coming across chemical mines, being hit with isolated chemical attacks, and more that I now firmly believe that the CIA and DOD has no basis for their long-held statements that Iraqi ground commanders never possessed or used chemical weapons during the war. The extent and impact of intelligence failures were widely discussed on and off the battlefield, and if there is further interest and a proper request to do so, I would be happy to provide more information in a closed setting on this issue. 

Sadly for at least 175,000 of my fellow ill Gulf War veterans, VA’s limited scope of GWI research has not even begun to address the health outcomes associated with widespread chemical warfare agent exposures, let alone treatments, information, or advisements that might help improve our health and lives....

=========================================

http://www.celsias.com/article/wmds-on-our-doorstep/ 

Lewisite: Lewisite is a type of chemical warfare agent. This kind of agent is called a vesicant or blistering agent, because it causes blistering of the skin and mucous membranes on contact. 

Lewisite is an oily, colorless liquid in its pure form and can appear amber to black in its impure form. Lewisite has an odor like geraniums. Lewisite contains arsenic, a poisonous element. Lewisite is also known by its military designation, “L.”
Signs and symptoms occur immediately following a lewisite exposure. Lewisite can have the following effects on specific parts of the body:

• Skin: pain and irritation within seconds to minutes, redness within 15 to 30 minutes followed by blister formation within several hours. The blister begins as a small blister in the middle of the red areas and then expands to cover the entire reddened area of skin. The lesions (sores) from lewisite heal much faster than lesions caused by the other blistering agents, sulfur mustard and nitrogen mustards, and the discoloring of the skin that occurs later is much less noticeable.
• Eyes: irritation, pain, swelling, and tearing may occur on contact.
• Respiratory tract: runny nose, sneezing, hoarseness, bloody nose, sinus pain, shortness of breath, and cough
• Digestive tract: diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
• Cardiovascular: “Lewisite shock” or low blood pressure may occur

Mustard Gas:
How sulfur mustard works:

• Adverse health effects caused by sulfur mustard depend on the amount people are exposed to, the route of exposure, and the length of time that people are exposed.
• Sulfur mustard is a powerful irritant and blistering agent that damages the skin, eyes, and respiratory (breathing) tract.
• It damages DNA, a vital component of cells in the body.
• Sulfur mustard vapor is heavier than air, so it will settle in low-lying areas.
• Immediate signs and symptoms of sulfur mustard exposure
• Exposure to sulfur mustard is usually not fatal. When sulfur mustard was used during World War I, it killed fewer than 5% of the people who were exposed and got medical care.
• People may not know right away that they have been exposed, because sulfur mustard often has no smell or has a smell that might not cause alarm.
• Typically, signs and symptoms do not occur immediately. Depending on the severity of the exposure, symptoms may not occur for 2 to 24 hours. Some people are more sensitive to sulfur mustard than are other people, and may have symptoms sooner.

Sulfur mustard can have the following effects on specific parts of the body:

• Skin: redness and itching of the skin may occur 2 to 48 hours after exposure and change eventually to yellow blistering of the skin.
• Eyes: irritation, pain, swelling, and tearing may occur within 3 to12 hours of a mild to moderate exposure. A severe exposure may cause symptoms within 1 to 2 hours and may include the symptoms of a mild or moderate exposure plus light sensitivity, severe pain, or blindness (lasting up to 10 days).
• Respiratory tract: runny nose, sneezing, hoarseness, bloody nose, sinus pain, shortness of breath, and cough within 12 to 24 hours of a mild exposure and within 2 to 4 hours of a severe exposure.
• Digestive tract: abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Lessons Learned, Lessons Lost: The U.S. WWII Chemical Warfare Agent Sniff Kit

Disabled Michigan Gulf War Veteran to Ride Across State

Written by Lisa Perkins, Traverse City, Mich. Record-Eagle

(TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - August 17, 2009) -- Steve Buse is always up for a challenge.

This week the disabled veteran and artist will begin a 150-mile bicycle ride across the state with hopes that reaching a goal that once seemed unattainable will serve as an inspiration to others who share his circumstances.

The former world-class skier who suffers from degenerative arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as disabilities resulting from injuries suffered while serving in the Persian Gulf War, credits a great deal of his ability to keep active to his association with Challenge Mountain in Boyne City.

"They got skis under my feet again, something that I thought would never happen," said Buse, who not only skis at Challenge Mountain, but volunteers for the facility that helps the physically impaired and mentally challenged achieve their maximum potential through outdoor therapeutic recreation.

"Seeing the smile on other skiers' faces, you can't pay for that. It chokes me up to see the positive results," Buse said.

Participants at Challenge Mountain have the opportunity to work one-on-one with instructors, using adaptive equipment, to get them out on the slopes during winter months or doing a variety of outdoor activities throughout the year.

"The Challenge Mountain people have helped me out so much that I wanted to do something to help let other people know how great they are," said Buse, who had originally hoped to walk the route that begins in Traverse City and takes him across the state, stopping at his mother's home in Ossineke and finally to his father's home in Alpena.

"I have been thinking about doing this for a couple of years, but my body is just tearing apart and walking wasn't going to be an option, so we came up with this idea to ride a bike," said Buse, who will leave from the corner of Front and Union streets during Friday Night Live festivities.

Taking the trip in small sections with days off to camp and rest, Buse is planning on spending two weeks to complete the ride.

"This is going to be sort of a vacation for me, but I wanted to make something good of it too, so if people find out more about Challenge Mountain because of me, all the better," Buse said.

Focus on Fibromyalgia: O, The Oprah Magazine Offers Alternative Treatment Suggestions

In his first O column, Dr. Mehmet Oz analyzes the different treatments for fibromyalgia, a presumptive condition for veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.

Written by Mehmet Oz, M.D., O, The Oprah Magazine columnist

(O, The Oprah Magazine - August 13, 2009) - Defining Fibromyalgia: Though classified as a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, the condition is now seen as a central nervous system problem. Symptoms include increased sensitivity to pain, achy and stiff joints, fatigue, and specific tender points on the back, chest, arms, and legs. Migraines, sleep disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome are also common complaints. Up to 3 percent of the population may suffer from fibromyalgia, but with no clear cause, the condition is difficult to diagnose.

Western Medicine Approach: A formal diagnosis for fibromyalgia didn't exist until 1990, but now there are three FDA-approved meds to combat the pain. Still, says Nancy Klimas, MD, director of the Allergy and Immunology Clinic at the University of Miami, "there is much more to treatment than a pill." Strategies are needed to improve sleep, stretch and restore symmetry to muscles that have been shortened by spasm, and raise overall conditioning through exercise.

Energy-Based Approach: Practitioners believe the root of fibromyalgia is a disturbance in nerves that blocks energy. The disturbance, says Devi S. Nambudripad, MD, PhD, and a licensed acupuncturist, is caused by sensitivities to substances ranging from pollen to vaccines to chemical agents in fabrics. Anxiety and depression may also play a part. Practitioners use acupuncture to release energy and allergy testing to identify problem substances.

Psychological Approach: "The pain of fibromyalgia is not caused by depression," says Leonard Jason, PhD, professor of psychology at DePaul University, "but depression can deepen a patient's experience of pain." Mental health professionals may play a complementary role in treatment, but it's a vital one. Cognitive behavioral therapy can relieve depression and help patients identify sources of stress that magnify their symptoms.

Nutrition-Based Approach: Fibromyalgia is a systemwide breakdown, says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the nationwide Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers. After suffering from the disease in the 1970s, he developed his own protocol; in studies, patients improved by as much as 91 percent. He recommends supplements to help sufferers sleep, balance hormones, boost immunity, and improve nutrition. He also prescribes regular exercise. (Try Dr. Oz's 20-minute workout plan)

My Recommendation: Because Western medicine was slow to accept fibromyalgia, it is behind in its work; this is an area where patients will want to take a serious look at alternative approaches. Energy-based medicine could offer some important advances in treatment over the next decade, but since it has yet to be tested by independent research, I think it's premature to base your therapy solely on this approach. I'm more impressed by Teitelbaum's supplement regimen, and not only because he has tested his theories: I've put patients on this program with very good results. I would add counseling, as it should always be a part of fibromyalgia treatment. If after a couple of months you don't see improvement, talk to your doctor about drug therapy.

Focus on Fibromyalgia: Online Survey of Men with Fibromyalgia Needs Participants

Written by Anthony Hardie, 91outcomes

(91outcomes.blogspot.com - August 15, 2009) - The Men’s Health Network, a national nonprofit that provides educational materials and advocacy opportunities related to men’s health, has posted a Men and Fibromyalgia Survey on its website.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that in the United States affects primarily women, with studies suggesting about 80 to 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia being women. However, fibromyalgia is a common diagnosis for the chronic widespread pain affecting ill Gulf War veterans, including thousands of male veterans of the war. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (GWVIS reports), 93 percent of the approximately 697,000 veterans of the 1991 Gulf War are male, and seven percent are female.

If you are male and have fibromyalgia (regardless of veteran status), please consider participating in the survey to help increase understanding about the disease and how people suffering from it are treated. The one-page online survey only takes about two to three minutes to complete.

Men's Health Network (MHN) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation.

Focus on Fibromyalgia: New Book Provides Missing Pieces of Fibromylagia Puzzle

The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle SHATTERS the fallacy of pain from nowhere. ANSWERS the how & why of fibromyalgia. WRITTEN by a rheumatologist. PROVIDES innovative effective tools & strategies in a self-managed wellness recovery program. (PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 13, 2009) – The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle is “perhaps the most sensible book on fibromyalgia ever written,” according to Frederick Wolfe, M.D., Master, American College of Rheumatology and lead author of The American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia. This is the book that changes everything for patients, healthcare providers, and everyone with an interest in truly understanding the cause of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain. In The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle, author Jeff Sarkozi, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.R. provides the revolutionary insight and understanding that redefines the landscape of fibromyalgia knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment by exposing the fallacy of pain from nowhere, revealing the failure of the fibromyalgia diagnosis, elucidating the true cause of fibromyalgia pain, and offering real treatment for what’s really going on. The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle is the most ground-breaking and transformational book ever written on fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain. It does what no other book or publication has ever been capable of doing. Through original, cutting edge clinical research results and evidence-based This compelling, scholarly, yet immensely accessible new knowledge demystifies fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and makes everything that is unknown about the relationships between pain, tenderness, disability, sleep, weight related issues, psychological and psychosocial disturbances, and sexual difficulties clear and understandable. Written for patients and healthcare providers, The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle will transform the lives of individuals afflicted with fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain. Its enlightening blend of traditional and complementary therapies guides and empowers patients and their healthcare providers with the most unique, integrated, and thoroughly effective self-managed wellness recovery program ever published. It provides the substrate of truly justified hope and faith in the ability of individuals to transcend the suffering of fibromyalgia to make positive changes in their health and overall well-being. Jeff Sarkozi, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.R., is a rheumatologist expert specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain for thousands of patients over more than two decades. Dr. Sarkozi has researched, developed, and patented numerous unique orthotic devices and created original, innovative treatment programs to relieve symptoms and improve function in patients with fibromyalgia, chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, and other arthritic conditions. He currently directs the Fibromyalgia Polypain Arthritis Center in Orange County, California. Ordering Information: analysis, it actually identifies the cause of pain in fibromyalgia, the mechanism by which it evolves, how it is modulated, and how to effectively treat it. Web Store: http://www.missingpiecesfibromyalgia.com. Telephone: 714-973-0106. Fax: 714-973-0129. Mail: Sagecoast Publishing, 801 North Tustin Avenue, Suite 503, Santa Ana, California, 92705. Softcover ISBN: 978-0-9819223-3-1, $29.95. To contact Jeff Sarkozi, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.R. for interviews, speaking, or lectures use contact information accompanying this press release or visit http://www.fmpolypain.com.

18 years later, First Gulf War casualty laid to rest

Written by Ron Word, Associated Press

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Friday, August 14, 2009) — Navy pilot Scott Speicher, the long-missing first casualty of the first Gulf War, was finally laid to rest Friday in his adopted hometown as thousands of people lined the streets to watch a funeral procession pass his school, church and former military base.

Speicher was shot down in 1991 on the first night of the Gulf War. For more than 18 years, no one knew if he was killed or being held prisoner in Iraq until his remains were discovered in the desert, west of Baghdad, earlier this month.

"Eighteen years, six months and 11 days, that needs to be a record that is never broken," said Buddy Harris, a former Navy pilot and friend who accompanied Speicher's body home to Jacksonville from Dover, Del. Harris married Speicher's widow, Joanne, and helped raise Speicher's son and daughter, plus two more children with Joanne.

Motorcycles, their red and blue lights flashing, led Speicher's hearse and family following in a limousine along a 30-mile route of sites special to Speicher.

The widow of Captain Scott Speicher, places flowers on his coffin after it was unloaded from a charter jet at NAS Jacksonville Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 in Jacksonville, Fla. The remains of Navy pilot Michael Scott Speicher returned to his Florida home on Thursday, 18 years after his FA-18 Hornet was shot down on the first night of the 1991 Gulf War. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self)

At a monument for war veterans where Speicher's name was engraved in 1995, military officials, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Jacksonville mayor talked about his military service. Dozens of roses were placed against the wall, where an eternal flame burns. Later, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office fired a 21-gun salute.

The motorcade traveled to Lake Shore United Methodist Church, where Speicher taught Sunday School. It rolled past Nathan B. Forrest High School, where he excelled at swimming and tennis.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and infants, gathered at each of the locations, including the site of the former Cecil Field Naval Air Station where Speicher's squadron, the Sunliners, was based before he left on the USS Saratoga for the Gulf War.

Shelly Bradley's husband was on the USS Saratoga when Speicher was shot down.

"It is nice to know he is home. It's not exactly what we had hoped, but maybe it will bring some closure to his family," said Bradley, of St. Augustine.

Chief Warrant Officer Brian Farrell, an instructor pilot with the Florida National Guard, dressed in his Army uniform to pay his respects.

"I'm here to recognize the sacrifice this young Navy officer gave to this country and the pain his family has endured for the last 18 years," Farrell said. "I just got back from Iraq four months ago and I just wanted my family to be a part of it."

Speicher, a Kansas City-area native who moved to Florida as a teenager, was buried in a private ceremony at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Four Navy planes flew over the cemetery in the missing man formation.

For nearly two decades after the 33-year-old Speicher disappeared over the Iraq desert, his family pushed the Defense Department to find out what had happened. On Aug. 2, the Pentagon disclosed that Marines had recovered Speicher's bones and skeletal fragments — enough for a positive identification.

Defense officials originally declared Speicher killed in action hours after his plane was shot down over west-central Iraq. Then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney announced on television that Speicher was the first casualty of the Gulf War.

Ten years after the crash, the Navy changed Speicher's status to missing in action, citing an absence of evidence that Speicher had died. In October 2002, the Navy switched his status to "missing/captured," although it never explained why.

Over the years, critics said the Navy had not done enough, particularly right after the crash, to search for the pilot.

"We just want to honor our fallen hero, since he is from our area. We felt is was our duty to come and honor him and his family," said Deborah Hudgins, who knew some of Speicher's family members.

Obama acknowledges Gulf War illness, says fixing VA could take "years"

Written by William H. McMichael - Army Times Staff writer

(ArmyTimes.com - Friday Aug 14, 2009 11:59:23 EDT) - President Barack Obama not only wants to improve the treatment of America’s veterans, but also to reach out to homeless veterans, as well as those who have turned their backs on — or are unaware of — the benefits they’ve earned.

“What we’re trying to do is just break down the hurdles that exist between veterans and VA,” Obama told Military Times and a small group of other defense reporters in an Aug. 4 meeting in the White House Roosevelt Room.

But lowering one of those hurdles — creating what Obama called “a VA that is consumer-friendly, that is oriented not towards keeping people out but bringing people in” — will not happen quickly, he said.

“It’s fair to say that this is a multiyear project,” Obama said. “We are going to be working vigilantly. We’re going to keep on pushing. We’re going to keep on prodding to make sure that both VA and DoD understand these very human issues are dealt with in the most thoughtful and effective way as possible.”

As evidence of that effort, Obama and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki touted a boost in VA funding, an increase of 4,000 claims adjusters since January 2007, a total of 18,000 mental health providers, a national suicide hotline, technological improvements in the benefits claims process, the ongoing effort to create electronic medical records that VA and the Pentagon can easily share and a more proactive and helpful attitude at both agencies.

But while hundreds of thousands of vets seek VA care and assistance, Obama said hundreds of thousands more need help but, for a variety of reasons, haven’t sought it.

Shinseki said one thing Obama has asked him to focus on “is homeless vets — 131,000 sleeping on our streets tonight. It’s about jobs; it’s about education.”

It’s also about changing the way VA views its mission, Obama said.

“I think a lot of the reason people fall through the cracks is historically sometimes VA has sat back and waited for people to come to them,” Obama said. “And part of what [Shinseki] has been doing is to make sure that VA is reaching out to them.”

Mental health problems have been overwhelming VA, however, and caregiver demand could outstrip supply despite the recent hires. According to a 2008 Rand Corp. study, an estimated 31 percent of returning war veterans suffer from mental health issues. Only about half of those who need treatment seek it, and only a bit more than half of those who seek treatment get “minimally adequate care,” Rand concluded.

Tackling that problem calls for a multipronged approach, Obama said.

One of the best ways of reducing incidents of PTSD, he said, “is to reduce the amount of time in theater without a break.” To that end, the administration is seeking ways to increase “dwell time” between deployments, has increased the size of the Army and Marine Corps, and is ending the Army’s stop-loss program, through which soldiers’ duty can be involuntarily extended.

Obama also wants better screening of returning troops and for commanders to keep working on reducing the stigma some feel over reporting such problems.

All of this will cost money; his administration has boosted VA’s budget to the tune of $25 billion over the next five fiscal years.

While expenditures won’t solve all the problems, Obama said, “money helps,” particularly in providing enough mental health care — to include ensuring that services for female veterans are available at all VA health centers.

Another potential VA health care challenge in coming years may be the rising tide of respiratory illnesses and blood cancers resulting from exposure to smoke from open-air burn pits used for waste disposal in war zones.

Obama said he is familiar with the issue. Acknowledging the long denials of past administrations over concerns such as atomic radiation tests, Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam and Gulf War illness, he said he wants an objective assessment of the burn-pit problem — the “best science possible.”

“I don’t want us hiding the ball if there’s a real problem there,” Obama said. “I am absolutely convinced that our commanders in theater are doing everything they can to protect their men and women. The key is to understand that our scientific knowledge and our medical knowledge may evolve. And if we find out that something’s wrong, even … it might not have been anyone’s fault … nobody is served by denial or sweeping things under the rug.”

Ohio Gulf War veteran with Gulf War Syndrome elected to public office

Written by Barbara Carmen,The Columbus [Ohio] Dispatch

(Columbus, Ohio - Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:42 PM) - Local Republicans chose a young lawyer and Gulf War veteran as the new Franklin County auditor tonight, saying he represents a new generation of party leadership.

Clarence Mingo, 37, competed in 2008 against Democrat Maryellen O'Shaughnessy for Franklin County Clerk of Court. He lost, but his party took notice of what Mingo said is a sincere desire to serve.

"For some, these offices are political prizes. For me, it is nothing but a privilege," he said. His wife, Angela, and parents watched as he was selected by unanimous vote for the appointment.

Mingo promised "dignified conduct You will have the absolute best I have to offer."

Longtime Auditor Joe Testa, who retired July 31, had endorsed Mingo after meeting with a handful of other candidates to succeed him. The county GOP got to name his successor because Testa is a Republican.

"I would be proud to hand over the keys to the Franklin County auditor's office to him," Testa wrote his fellow party members.

Testa said Mingo is both competent and electable.

Mingo said he plans no major shakeups and that the office is well-run. But he hopes to forge closer relationships with auditors in surrounding counties and to use new technology to streamline the appraisal process.

Mingo will have to defend the office in the 2010 election. William A. Anthony Jr., chairman of the Franklin County Democratic Party, said it intends to put up a strong candidate and retake the office.

"The only problem with Mingo is that he's a Republican," Anthony said.

The auditor's office sets valuations that determine property taxes, issues dog licenses and serves as a watchdog to check scales and meters in groceries and gasoline stations.

Mingo, who recovered from a near paralyzing illness caused by Gulf War Syndrome, served in the Army in Iraq and Kuwait in 1991. A father of two young daughters, he becomes the first black person to hold the auditor's office.

Bill to restore VA healthcare enrollment for Gulf War, Agent Orange veterans Passes House

Written by Anthony Hardie, 91outcomes

Source: H.Rpt. 111-223.

(91outcomes.blogspot.com - Saturday, August 8, 2009) - A bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives that would restore the federal VA's authority to enroll Gulf War veterans in VA health care under Priority Group 6 if they don't already have a service-connected disability or are otherwise already enrolled in VA health care.

 

Section 202 of H.R. 3219, the Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009, would provide for enhanced enrollment authority for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and veterans of the Persian Gulf War.

H.R. 3219 was introduced by Representative Bob Filner of California, Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs, on July 15, 2009.

H.R. 3219 would provide for key expansions and improvements in the provision of health care. This includes eliminating copayments for veterans who are catastrophically disabled, and providing enhanced VA healthcare enrollment authority for certain Vietnam-era herbicide exposed veterans and veterans of the Persian Gulf War.

H.R. 3219 would also improve U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) insurance programs. This legislation would make permanent the two-year extension of the free Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage period for totally disabled veterans following separation from active or reserve duty. In addition, H.R. 3219 would enable veterans insured under the Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) program to increase the amount of their coverage under this program. This legislation also would eliminate the reduction in the amount of accelerated death benefits for terminally-ill persons insured under the SGLI and VGLI programs.

H.R. 3219 is comprised of a number of bills introduced in the first session of the 111th Congress. These bills include H.R. 1335, to prohibit the VA from collecting certain copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans, introduced by Representative Deborah L. Halvorson (D-Ill.-11); H.R. 2379, the Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009, introduced by Representative Steve Buyer (R-Ind.); H.R. 2926, to provide without expiration health care services to certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and to veterans of the Persian Gulf War, introduced by Representative Glenn C. Nye (D-Virg.); and, H.R. 2968, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accidental death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill veterans insured under the Servicemembers' Group life Insurance or Veterans' Group life Insurance programs, introduced by Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.).

ABOUT THE GULF WAR & AGENT ORANGE PROVISIONS

Agent Orange was one of the defoliants used by the United States military in the Vietnam War. In the 1970's, some veterans became concerned about the delayed adverse health effects potentially resulting from their exposure to Agent Orange. Agent Orange contained dioxin and recent studies suggest a link between dioxin and cancer and other disorders. The VA has a list of diseases, which it presumes resulted from exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange. However, the full impact of herbicides remains unknown and Vietnam-era veterans continue to face challenges in linking their conditions to herbicide exposure.

Similarly, veterans returning from the Gulf War faced health problems. Symptoms included persistent memory and concentration problems, chronic headaches, widespread pain, gastrointestinal problems, and other chronic abnormalities not explained by well-established diagnoses. Veterans were unable to link these conditions to their service in the Gulf War and thus, unable to establish a service connected disability rating.

On November 17, 2008, the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses released a report entitled `Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans: Scientific Findings and Recommendations.' The report indicated that Gulf War Illness is real for some of the military personnel who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War and were exposed to some potentially hazardous substances. With this report linking symptoms of Gulf War Illness to the war, veterans of the Gulf war era may now seek to establish service-connected disabilities.

In 1981, Public Law 97-72 (95 Stat. 1047) provided the VA with a special treatment authority to provide health care to Vietnam veterans who may have been exposed to herbicides, notwithstanding that there was insufficient medical evidence to conclude that their disabilities were associated with exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam. This authority was extended through 1996 with Public Law 104-262 (110 Stat. 3177). Similarly, Public Law 103-210 (102 Stat. 2760) provided special treatment authority to veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War in the Southwest Asia theater of operations who were exposed to toxic substances or environmental hazards. In 1997, Public Law 105-114 (111 Stat. 2277) removed the requirement that the veteran had to be exposed to toxic substances or environmental hazards and only required service in the Southwest Asia theatre of operations during the Persian Gulf War. In 1998, Public Law 105-368 (112 Stat. 3315) extended the authority through 2001 and Public Law 107-135 (115 Stat. 2446) provided for another extension through 2002.

Although this special treatment authority has lapsed, the VA has continued to treat these veterans within Priority Group 6.

H.R. 3219 would provide permanent authorization for the special treatment authority of Vietnam-era herbicide exposed veterans and Gulf War era veterans who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability.

H.R. 3219 passed the House on July 27, and now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Letters and emails expressing support for the Agent Orange and Gulf War provision should be addressed to:

Senator Daniel Akaka, Chair and Senator Richard Burr, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 412 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

Rep. Bob Filner, Chair and Rep. Steve Buyer, Ranking Member, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 335 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515

Courtesy copies of the original letters or emails should be sent to the Senator and Representative who represent the state and Congressional district in which their author resides. A nationwide database providing complete contact information on local Congressional representation is available at www.house.gov/writerep.

ALS-Gulf War treatment measure passes House

Written by Anthony Hardie, 91outcomes

(91outcomes.blogspot.com – Friday, August 7, 2009) – A provision in the defense spending bill currently winding its way through Congress would provide a $2 million appropriation earmarked for an ALS therapy development institute/Gulf War illness research project.

The spending measure was inserted into the version of the federal Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act by Representatives Harry Brown (R-S.C.-01) and Michael Capuano (D-Mass.-08), and would be in addition to $1.2 million first included for the project in the FY08 Defense spending bill.

Previous research has noted rates of ALS much higher than expected in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, particularly those who were near Khamisiyah, Iraq, when Iraqi munitions stores were detonated. The U.S. Department of Defense notified Gulf War veterans that the detonated munitions included those containing sarin and cyclosarin nerve agents. The detonated munitions may also have included mustard gas and other chemical warfare agents known to have been among those stored by the Iraqi military at the time.

The funding would be provided to the ALS Therapy Development Institute Gulf War Research Project (ALS TDI), a non-profit entity located at 215 First Street in Cambridge, Mass. 02142

According to the request:

Retired “General Mik” Led Efforts to Create the ALS/Gulf War Center in 2007

In his opening statement before a July 2007 Congressional hearing on Gulf War illnesses, Brown introduced Charleston, South Carolina Brigadier General Thomas Mikolajcik, a former U.S. Air Force pilot with advanced ALS, stating:

“Numerous studies have shown that individuals who have served in the military have a high propensity towards being diagnosed with ALS. The work of my friend General Mik has brought to my attention the growing number of veterans contracting ALS outside of service during the first Gulf War. His story serves as a testament to the need for leadership at the Federal level towards developing a comprehensive ALS research program and a clear VA/DoD policy ensuring that all veterans with service-connected-ALS receive the attention they deserve. We must step up to the plate and lead federal research into the causes of ALS and how we can better improve treatment for this terrible disease and we must do so now.”

During the 2007 hearing, Mikolajcik expressed concern over the decentralized research effort and testified, “The government should be compelled to assume a leadership position for ALS research. Some say that a lot of ALS research has taken place. My response echoes the famous words of President Lyndon Johnson: ‘Research is good, results are better!’”

Mikolajcik proposed a congressionally directed task force to identify a lead federal agency for the research of ALS and a strategic plan to address a comprehensive, forward looking and all inclusive research program for the disease.

Brown concluded, “It is our duty to provide our Nation’s veterans with access to the best health care possible. It is necessary for a comprehensive VA/DOD policy to ensure this quality care, and the establishment of a research oversight committee may be the right direction to serve Gulf War veterans and the growing number of veterans with ALS.”

The FY10 Defense spending bill now goes to the Senate for consideration, where the full bill is expected to be addressed in September 2009. A companion version of the bill is already under consideration there.

Letters and emails expressing support or increased funding to the full $4.8 million for the ALS/Gulf War provision should be addressed to:

Rep. David Obey, Chair and Rep. Jerry Lewis, Ranking Member, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, The Capitol, H-218, Washington, D.C. 20515

Senator Daniel Inouye, Chair and Senator Thad Cochrane, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, The Capitol, S-128, Washington, D.C. 20510

Courtesy copies of the original letters or emails should be sent to the Senator and Representative who represent the state and Congressional district in which their author resides. A nationwide database providing complete contact information on local Congressional representation is available at www.house.gov/writerep.

Several studies (conducted by DOD and the VA) have concluded that veterans of the first Gulf War develop the fatal neurodegenerative disease known as ALS twice as frequently as the general population. Another study has concluded that military service is an identified risk factor for developing ALS. ALS TDI is requesting $4.8 million for continued support of its cutting edge fast track drug discovery & translational research program and to support clinical trials of effective drugs.1) Identify physiological pathways and molecules in animal models of disease progression. Compare animal gene expression (transcriptome) to that of humans by employing the largest database ever compiled of animal and ALS patient samples. 2) Operate large scale validation program, using profiling technologies, to modulate gene expression in those genes determined to be candidates for disease effect. 3) Create a comprehensive translational medicine initiative to identify biomarkers for disease staging and prognosis, and drug efficacy and patient response. (Visit the ALS TDI website). Request: $4,830,000