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CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Room 333 Cannon HOB	For More Information Contact:
Washington, DC 20515	Bill Crandell @ 202-225-9756

FOR RELEASE: October 25, 1999

Evans to Release New Gulf War Illnesses Report

Showing Increased Rate of Undiagnosed Illnesses in Khamisiyah and Women Veterans

Washington, DC – A newly-written report on the illness-related claims of Persian Gulf War veterans, to be released tomorrow by Congressman Lane Evans of Illinois, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, points to several potentially useful areas for further research into the unusual illnesses of Gulf War veterans. "I am concerned," says Evans, "that there has been little analysis and research involving the various groups of veterans who have filed claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) related to undiagnosed illnesses. My staff has updated information concerning the disposition of these claims, and the results stand out like highway markers."

The report, to be released at the Subcommittee on Veterans Benefits hearing Tuesday, October 26, 1999, on claims filed by Gulf War veterans for compensation, is drawn from data supplied by VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. VA's data show that:

Veterans who were potentially subject to toxic agents at the port of Al Jubayl and the Khamisiyah pit are more likely to file a claim for service-connected disability benefits than other veterans serving during the conflict or in the Gulf after it ended.
Khamisiyah veterans are more likely to be receiving a disability pension based on a permanent and total disability which VA has determined is unrelated to military service than other Gulf veterans.
Women service members in all groups who served in the Gulf are more likely to be service-connected for undiagnosed illnesses than their male counterparts.

"Why are Khamisiyah veterans," Evans asks, "almost twice as likely to be permanently and totally disabled than other Gulf War veterans? Does this suggest that some mechanism associated with the conflict period is responsible for these illnesses? Women veterans in all groups have a higher rate of compensable service-connected undiagnosed illnesses than their male counterparts. Is there some explanation for this?"

While Tuesday's hearing may not provide answers to these questions, Evans hopes it will focus attention on these findings. The report will be released at the hearing, which will be held at 10:00 a.m. in room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building.

Evans commended the VA for improving its ability to provide better information concerning the claims filed by Gulf War veterans. "I remain concerned, however," Evans says, "that many Gulf veterans are still having their claims denied, particularly claims associated with undiagnosed or poorly defined disabilities."

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