U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Undiagnosed IllnessesUndiagnosed Illnesses

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Undiagnosed IllnessesUndiagnosed Illnesses

Thomas Thomas PamperinPamperin

Deputy DirectorDeputy DirectorCompensationCompensation

& & Pension ServicePension Service

Compensation and Pension Service Compensation and Pension Service 22 September 25, 2008September 25, 2008

Public LawPublic Law

Public Law 103-446 and the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1994 overview:

Provides Compensation for a disability due to an undiagnosed illness for Persian Gulf War veterans

Amended to provide service connected compensation for medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness

Delimiting date for Persian Gulf service extended to September 30, 2011

Compensation and Pension Service Compensation and Pension Service 33 September 25, 2008September 25, 2008

Disability Compensation Disability Compensation

Service Connected compensation will be paid to a Persian Gulf veteran who exhibits objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability, providing that:

• Becomes manifest during active duty service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War, or to a degree of 10 percent or more prior to December 31, 2011

• A qualifying chronic disability means a chronic disability resulting from any of the following, or a combination of both

• Chronic fatigue syndrome• Fibromyalgia• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)(ALS)

The Institute of Medicine conducted a study at the request of VA and and released a report of limited and suggestive evidence of a linkage between military service and later development of ALS.

Based on this evidence the Secretary directed development of regulations providing compensation for veterans who develop ALS at any time following military service. 

OPM has released the regulations to the Federal Registry, to be published shortly.

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Undiagnosed Illness StatisticsUndiagnosed Illness Statistics

Undiagnosed statistics as of February 2008:

• 14,995 Undiagnosed illness compensation claims processed

• 4.733 veterans in receipt of compensation for undiagnosed illnesses

• 3,195 recipients receive compensation of 10 percent or more for undiagnosed illnesses

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QuestionsQuestions