Congressional discussion forum for Gulf War veterans as of 2015.

Contents posted in the order they were received. Eventual goal is 
summary of topics for proposals to the House Veteran Affairs Committee 
and its subcommittees.

Table of contents:

In the order they were sent:

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kevin Thomson 
To: congress@gulflink.org 
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 2:16 PM
Subject: We need more vets to come forward

There are still many of us battling claims with the VA in relation to Gulf War Syndrome.

I was given all six shots in the Anthrax series and my first few shots were from Lots that the FDA investigated and found Squalene in.

I discharged honorably in 2005 and have been battling health since.

We need to get more vets together and do something about all this B.S.
You think after all the congressional hearings about Anthrax Vaccines that something would have come from it.

I wonder what is in those records from the Gulf War. I wonder if we got records from Fort Detrick if we could find answers about the Vaccine.

It disgusts me that there are people that took the vaccine that are suffering even worse than me and nobody can get proper compensation since we can't sue the defense department or BioPort.

Kevin
Lanesborough, Massachusetts
USN 97-05

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Katie" <ktmclark1217@ >
To: <congress@gulflink.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 10:14 AM
Subject: GW veteran needs help

My brother-in-law is a retired marine aviator that served in-theater during Desert Storm etc.  He has been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer for 2 years (yes supposed to be dead now)  He has been denied service connection for his illness because he didn't have symptoms of lung cancer when he retired.  He has videotape of the black smoke they lived in, bathed in, ate in and fought in.  He believes that some type of chemical agent was discharged near his unit's position due to his eye reaction, joint reaction, unusual nerve sensation at the time of service.  He was rated for chronic dry eye at his discharge from the service.  He has never used tobacco, the picture of fitness, no other hazardous exposures except when serving in the military.  He was diagnosed at age 54.  Everywhere I look I can see more and more similar cases being reported, but no reporting of the incidence officially and VA denial of benefits for service connection.
Is there any unified group working with Congress to take care of our Vets?? I am a retired AF nurse and willing to help in any way that I can.  Clear guidance from Congress in the form of legislation on behalf of the GW vets is needed, before they are all dead.

Sent from my iPad

 

----- Original Message -----
From: Ken
To: congress@gulflink.org
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 6:56 PM
Subject: Maladies

I have been evaluated at VA for any gulf war maladies and was told I did not fall intoany of the catagories they have. In the meantime my knuckles are swollen and sore, and constantly painful, cannot make a complete fist also some of the same problem in my feet, I have leg spasms when doing anything while moving my feet or stretching out my legs! I also have shortness of breath with hardly any exertion! I have already filed to increase my disability and they did but not with these problems. They had also not even received my records when they made the decision from my ebenefits filing. Hard copies had not reached them. I have filed an appeal, it has been almost a year and have not heard back. Do not know if they have looked at my medical records at all. I addressed my joint problems and have records to show that but no way to connect with the Gulf War. I have registered with the registry years ago after suffering through cancer of the tonsil, which is rare, and why there! I do not know if this is a common ailment among us Gulf Vets!
Thank you for your efforts on our behalf, but I believe most of the Gulf Vets do not know of the registry and like myself just assume some of the problems we suffer are from the physical things we endured in the military or growing older.

Thank you,
Kenneth Caldwell
USA       RET