Gulf War Syndrome - VA Service Connection

Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses: Medically Unexplained Chronic Multisymptom Illnesses
A prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.
VA does not use the term “Gulf War Syndrome” when referring to “medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses” reported by Gulf War Veterans. Symptoms vary widely and therefore, do not meet the definition of a syndrome. A syndrome is a group of symptoms that usually occur together and characterize a certain disease or abnormal condition. That is why VA uses the term “medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses” instead of “Gulf War Syndrome.”

Military Service Connection

Gulf War Veterans who meet the criteria below do not need to prove a connection between their military service and medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses in order to receive VA disability compensation.
VA presumes certain chronic, unexplained symptoms existing for 6 months or more are related to Gulf War service without regard to cause. These "presumptive" illnesses must have appeared during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations or by December 31, 2011, and be at least 10 percent disabling. These illnesses include:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition of long-term and severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions. Find out more about chronic fatigue syndrome*, treatment, and the latest medical research at Medline Plus.
• Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread muscle pain. Other symptoms may include insomnia, morning stiffness, headache, and memory problems. Find out more about fibromyalgia*, treatment, and the latest medical research at Medline Plus.
• Functional gastrointestinal disorders, a group of conditions marked by chronic or recurrent symptoms related to any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Functional condition refers to an abnormal function of an organ, without a structural alteration in the tissues. Examples include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome.
• Undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances.

VA’s final rule* specifying that functional gastrointestinal disorders are covered as presumptive illnesses takes effect on August 15, 2011.

Infectious Diseases

VA presumes certain infectious diseases also are related to military service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan.

VA Benefits for Illnesses Related to Gulf War Service

Eligible Veterans may receive VA disability compensation and health care for illnesses related to their military service.
VA offers eligible Veterans a free Gulf War Registry health exam for possible long-term health problems related to Gulf War service.
Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of Gulf War Veterans who died as the result of illnesses related to Gulf War service may be eligible for survivors' benefits.



If the VA has denied your claim for service-connected compensation and you are looking for a VA disability attorney, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260. Main office in Clearwater, Florida serving veterans all over the U.S.

MSN Money Reports Baby Boomers Will Cause Social Security Disability Trust Fund To Run Out of Funds In 2017

Laid off workers, aging baby boomers push Social Security disability to verge of insolvency

 WASHINGTON (AP) — Laid-off workers and aging baby boomers are flooding Social Security's disability program with benefit claims, pushing the financially strapped system toward the brink of insolvency.

Applications are up nearly 50 percent over a decade ago as people with disabilities lose their jobs and can't find new ones in an economy that has shed nearly 7 million jobs.

The stampede for benefits is adding to a growing backlog of applicants — many wait two years or more before their cases are resolved — and worsening the financial problems of a program that's been running in the red for years.

New congressional estimates say the trust fund that supports Social Security disability will run out of money by 2017, leaving the program unable to pay full benefits, unless Congress acts. About two decades later, Social Security's much larger retirement fund is projected to run dry as well.

Much of the focus in Washington has been on fixing Social Security's retirement system. Proposals range from raising the retirement age to means-testing benefits for wealthy retirees. But the disability system is in much worse shape and its problems defy easy solutions.

Original MSN source page:  

http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20110821&id=14159987

For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

Fox News Reports on Social Security's Possible Insolvency

 Here is an interesting article from Fox New's website:

 Social Security Disability Insurance on Brink of Insolvency

Link to Original article:  http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/21/social-security-disability-insurance-on-brink-insolvency/
Full Text Listed below. 

Published August 21, 2011 | Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Laid-off workers and aging baby boomers are flooding Social Security's disability program with benefit claims, pushing the financially strapped system toward the brink of insolvency.

Applications are up nearly 50 percent over a decade ago as people with disabilities lose their jobs and can't find new ones in an economy that has shed nearly 7 million jobs.

The stampede for benefits is adding to a growing backlog of applicants -- many wait two years or more before their cases are resolved -- and worsening the financial problems of a program that's been running in the red for years.

New congressional estimates say the trust fund that supports Social Security disability will run out of money by 2017, leaving the program unable to pay full benefits, unless Congress acts. About two decades later, Social Security's much larger retirement fund is projected to run dry as well.

Much of the focus in Washington has been on fixing Social Security's retirement system. Proposals range from raising the retirement age to means-testing benefits for wealthy retirees. But the disability system is in much worse shape and its problems defy easy solutions.

The trustees who oversee Social Security are urging Congress to shore up the disability system by reallocating money from the retirement program, just as lawmakers did in 1994. That, however, would provide only short-term relief at the expense of weakening the retirement program.

Claims for disability benefits typically increase in a bad economy because many disabled people get laid off and can't find a new job. This year, about 3.3 million people are expected to apply for federal disability benefits. That's 700,000 more than in 2008 and 1 million more than a decade ago.

"It's primarily economic desperation," Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said in an interview. "People on the margins who get bad news in terms of a layoff and have no other place to go and they take a shot at disability,"

All rights to Fox News and AP.

For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Tampa / St. Petersburg Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

A look at Social Security's Disability Program

Some interesting statistics thanks to an article from the Washington Post's website, August 21, 2011 edition. 

By Associated Press, Updated: Sunday, August 21, 10:31 AM

WASHINGTON — A look at Social Security’s disability program:

About 13.6 million people receive federal disability benefits.

—7.6 million receive Social Security disability.

—4.4 million receive Supplemental Security Income.

—1.6 million receive both.

Social Security Disability:

—Reserved for people with a substantial work history.

—Average monthly payment: $927

—Financing: A portion of Social Security payroll taxes (the rest goes to the retirement fund).

—Payroll taxes collected for disability program in 2010: $93 billion.

—Total benefits paid in 2010: $124 billion.

—Assets in Social Security disability trust fund at end of 2010: $180 billion.

—Year when trust fund projected to be exhausted: 2017.

Supplemental Security Income:

—Reserved for the very poor.

—Average monthly payment: $500.

—Maximum monthly payment: $674 for individuals, $1,011 for couples.

—Many states provide additional payments.

—Financing: General revenue funds.

—Total benefits paid in 2010: $48 billion.

For the original web page:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-look-at-social-securitys-disability-program/2011/08/21/gIQAJlTHUJ_story.html

All rights reserved. For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim in Florida, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.