• vital that you keep your own copies of medical records because records can disappear, become altered or take a long time to get.  When it comes time to file a claim you will be happy to have the necessary records at your finger tips.

• The Registry exam DOES NOT initiate a claim for disability benefits.  Nor does filing a claim for benefits initiate your name being placed on the Registry.  Both actions must be done separately.

• Initiating a Registry exam DOES NOT guarantee follow-up medical care.  You need to request ongoing medical care and ask to be assigned a primary care doctor.  Fianacial (means) tests will then be applied for non-service connected conditions, and your insurance may be billed. 

Medical Treatment

In 1992 Congress authorized treatment of Persian Gulf veterans on a priority basis under Public Law 102-585.  The legislation requires the VA physician to determine whether the symptoms or illness may be related to service in the Gulf and, if so, to provide treatment.  The law has not made it entirely clear what "priority care" means.  According to the VA, priority care in this context does not mean that a veteran gets to "go to the head of the line."  Rather, it means they are entitled to care without undergoing a means test.  Other interpretations include the idea that Persian Gulf vets have the same priority for care as former POWs who are receiving care for non-service connected conditions or Agent Orange veterans.  This priority places qualifying veterans ahead of other non-service connected veterans when scheduling appointments, referrals, and follow-ups.

For Gulf vets with unexplained symptoms, local VA physicians may refer vets to one of four Persian Gulf Referral Centers for additional specialty consultations.  They are located in Washington, DC, Birmingham, AL, Houston, TX, and Los Angeles, CA.  Many VA physicians are not aware that veterans can be referred to one of the four referral centers.  Make sure your physician is aware of this option if they are not making progress towards diagnosis and treatment. 

VA Hotline: 800-PGW-VETS

This is the VA's main number for providing assistance with questions about care and benefits.  They will refer you to your local VAMC.

Checklist for Application for Medical Benefits

1.  Register with the VA by phone.  See the VA Hotline phone number above.

2.  Fill out VA Forms.  Copies of all VA Forms mentioned below can be found at the back of this Self Help Guide.

a.  VA Form "Guidelines for Application for Medical

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Registry

In 1992 the VA established the Persian Gulf Registry Health Examination Program.  Every Gulf War veteran who has health concerns related to their service in the Gulf is entitled to a free exam.  If you have already taken the medical exam, you can set up an appointment to update the registry entry.  The exam consists of a fairly extensive medical history questionnaire, a physical exam by a medical provider, a chest X-ray and certain laboratory tests.  In June 1994 the VA made its examination guidelines the same as the DoD guidelines to ensure consistency.  The Registry exam is free and does not require a means test (an examination of your income level to determine eligibility). The names and certain data about those who take the exam are added to the Persian Gulf Registry.

Most family members and civilians are not eligible to be on the Registry or have exams.  However, the VA has recently implemented a program of limited registry exams for spouses and children of ill veterans.  Call the VA hotline to Register.

The Registry is not an epidemiological study and will not provide answers as to the prevalence of illness in Gulf veterans.  However, it does provide the VA an opportunity to see which problems are common among Gulf vets.  As well, it gives the VA and the veterans community an idea of the total number of veterans who are ill.

Many veterans have been dissatisfied with the Registry exams.  Some have reported being required to fill out means test paperwork or waiting for many months for an available appointment.  Others have noted that VA physicians are not well educated about the possible exposures and their health consequences.  Despite the problems, the Registry exam can be important.  It is possible that the exam will find health problems which are always best detected early.  It is important to follow-up on any reported symptoms.  The VA has a specific protocol designed for follow-up on symptoms reported during the exam, but many physicians are not aware that the protocol exists.  The VA may well be able to provide treatment or compensation.

Finally, a couple of points to keep in mind:

• Try to arrange for the questionnaire, the physical exam and the lab work to be done on the same day.  Often the VA arranges for each to be done on a separate day, which means multiple trips to the hospital.

• Request a copy of all medical records, including lab results, completed questionnaires, and examination reports.  Do this every single time you go to the VA for health care.  It is

Second Edition - Fall 1997          Page 11