WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) says she is very glad the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will reopen thousands of disability claims related to Gulf War Syndrome that have previously been denied.  The move is the first step to make disability benefits available to troops who were misdiagnosed, or even told that their symptoms were imaginary, following their service in the Middle East.

“These men and women put their lives on the line for our country, and there is no question that some of them experienced a real medical condition directly related to their service in the Gulf region,” Emerson said. “To serve your country and then to be told you are imagining your condition is a tremendous insult to their service.  I am very appreciative that the Veterans Administration is trying to set this right.”

According to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, the VA will voluntarily examine the disability claims, improve their training for VA medical staff who work with Gulf War veterans, and put standards in place to address new claims in a timely fashion.

Emerson said that multiple Gulf War veterans have sought assistance from her office to help navigate the VA disability claims process.

“They have to make a very tough case to the VA.  The backlogs are unacceptable.  A lot of veterans go through the whole process only to feel like they are being ignored, like their paperwork hasn’t been read well, like their service isn’t appreciated, like our country isn’t doing what it promised for our men and women in uniform.  When I see those results, I feel the same way, too.  But the only thing to do is to fight, and when we fight through the system together, it helps,” Emerson said.  “Sometimes all you need is someone you know is on your side, someone who can make sure everything possible is being done on your behalf, and that is what I am here for.”

The fight also extends to the legislative process, according to Emerson, who also works to shape funding measures for the Department of Veterans Affairs in the annual appropriations process.

“We’ve directed a lot of resources to the VA in recent years, money to help eliminate the claims backlog and to boost health care for veterans.  Much work remains to be done, but Congress has given the VA the means to be more thorough, to look longer at each veteran’s claim, and to make sure that cases like Gulf War Syndrome are thoroughly examined so deserving veterans can get the benefits they have earned and deserve,” Emerson said.

Emerson was also a key supporter of legislation to obtain disability recognition and benefits for Vietnam-era veterans afflicted by exposure to Agent Orange, which was implemented by the VA in 2009.  She says her office can help with guidance for any U.S. veteran who needs assistance filing, checking the status of, or contesting the outcome of a VA disability claim.