HVAC to Examine VA’S Gulf War Illness Disability Claims Process
SOURCE: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Press Release, March 14, 2016
WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. in room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittees on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Oversight and Investigations will hold an oversight hearing examining VA’s disability claims process for veterans afflicted with Gulf War Illness (GWI).
VA’s own data reveals that at least 80{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of Gulf War Illness claims are denied. The data is specific to undiagnosed illnesses and chronic multisymptom illnesses – both presumptive conditions under current regulation. This data reveals apparent problems in VA’s interpretation of the law with regard to claims processing.
The purpose of this hearing is to evaluate VA’s disability claims process with respect to veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness.
The event is open to the press, with details as follows:
WHO: Subcommittees on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Oversight and Investigations
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 15, 2016
WHERE: 334 Cannon House Office Building and streaming at veterans.house.gov
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD – VETERANS FOR COMMON SENSE
WITNESS LIST
Mr. David R. McLenachen
Deputy Under Secretary for Disability Assistance
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by
Mr. Bradley Flohr
Senior Advisor, Compensation Service
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Deputy Director for Claims
Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation Division
The American Legion
Mr. Aleksandr Morosky
Deputy Director, National Legislative Service
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Mr. Rick Weidman
Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs
Vietnam Veterans of America
Mr. Richard V. Spataro
Director of Training and Publications
National Veterans Legal Services Program
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