The most important step that a person needs to do is find a competent and knowledgeable VETERAN ADVOCATE. The Veteran Advocate can be a COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER, POST SERVICE OFFICER, or STATE SERVICE OFFICER. To locate a service officer in your area, you may contact a local veteran organization for the contact numbers or ask to speak to the Veteran Employment Representative at your local State Employment Agency.
Getting Started
Submitting a claim to the Veterans Administration (VA) for disability compensation can be very frustrating for the individual. The following information is provided in an attempt to assist claimants in understanding of the process.
Disability Compensation for Gulf War Veterans
Disability Compensation
Disability Compensation
Try and have as much information as possible to support your claim. Any and all medical records are needed. A request for military health records can be submitted online at: www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html . In the last page when you state what records you want, MAKE SURE that you request “All military health records to include both outpatient and inpatient records”. Outpatient records would be the medical records maintained at the TMC (Troop Medical Clinic). Inpatient records will be records covering any hospital stays. If you have been seen by any civilian doctors, be sure and have their contact information as well as the treatment received.
21-526 Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or Pension (Fillable) Initial claim and personal information
10-5345 Request for and authorization to release Medical Records (Fillable) A separate form must be filled out and signed for each Doctor or hospital that has records
21-4142 Authorization and Consent to Release Information to the Dept. of VA (Fillable)
21-22 Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Rep. (Fillable)
FL1-28 Supplemental Statement of the CaseWritten narrative describing disability and circumstances surrounding it.
In closing, please keep in mind that response time is 6 to 8 months from the initial filing until a determination
is made. Also, if you disagree with the determination, APPEAL APPEAL APPEAL. Do not get discouraged and
above all else, talk with other vets about what works and what doesn’t.
10-5345 Request for and authorization to release Medical Records (Fillable) A separate form must be filled out and signed for each Doctor or hospital that has records
21-4142 Authorization and Consent to Release Information to the Dept. of VA (Fillable)
21-22 Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Rep. (Fillable)
FL1-28 Supplemental Statement of the CaseWritten narrative describing disability and circumstances surrounding it.
In closing, please keep in mind that response time is 6 to 8 months from the initial filing until a determination
is made. Also, if you disagree with the determination, APPEAL APPEAL APPEAL. Do not get discouraged and
above all else, talk with other vets about what works and what doesn’t.
Documentation
Needed Forms
The following is a list of forms needed to be completed for the processing of your claim. The forms can be obtained from the VA website at http://www.va.gov/. Click on FIND A VA FORM located in the upper right side of the home page. Type in the form number and the form will be brought up. The following is a list of forms and the purpose of each.
Form # and Name
If you are a Gulf War Veteran and suffer from chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses and/or medically unexplained chronic illnesses, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. A disability is considered chronic if it has existed for at least six months. The undiagnosed illnesses must have appeared either during active service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Gulf War period of August 2, 1990 to July 31, 1991 or to a degree of at least 10 percent at any time since then through December 31, 2011. If you have any questions concerning your Gulf War service, contact or visit your County Veterans Service Office.
* Contributed by Scott Showen, Disabled Military Veteran and Veterans Administration employee.
* Originally printed in 'Lifestyles' magazine. A West Alabama, publication - Tuscaloosa, Alabama - November 2009
Gulf War Illness Symptoms Reporting Date Extended To:
December 31, 2011
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