operations iraqi freedom/ 

enduring freedom review 

www.VA.gov/Gulf War 

Information for Veterans Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan

 and Their Families Vol. 2, No. 2 September 2005 

VA SEAMLESS TRANSITION OFFICE HELPS 

VETERANS 

The goal of the recently established VA Office of Seamless 

Transition is to ensure that Operation Enduring Freedom 

and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans receive 

timely and high quality benefits and services and that 

their transition from the military to the VA is seamless and 

efficient. This is especially important for service members 

injured in these operations. According to Mr. John Brown, 

Director of the new office, it is situated at a high level within 

VA in recognition of the importance that VA attaches to its 

mission. The office includes representatives from Veterans 

BenefitsAdministration and Veterans HealthAdministration, 

as well as two active duty Marine Corps Officers. 

The office is committed to improving the transition for seriously 

ill and injured service members from the military to VA by: 

• Prioritizing and streamlining claims processing 

prior to release from active duty; 

• Case managing patients’ health care and benefit needs; 

• Improving collaboration and communication between 

VA and DoD; 

• Improving outreach to returning service members; and 

• Ensuring VA staff is educated on transition procedures. 

Case Management 

VA employees are stationed at many of the major military 

treatment facilities (MTFs) receiving casualties from Iraq 

and Afghanistan. VA staff brief service members about VA 

benefits, including health care, disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and employment. VA enrolls these 

veterans into the VA system and begins the process for applying for service–connected compensation benefits. Beginning these processes prior to discharge from military service 

helps eliminate any gaps in services or benefits. 

VA social workers help the transfer of veterans from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other major MTFs to 

the VA medical center closest to their home or to the most 

appropriate VA facility for the specialized services their 

medical condition requires. In addition, each VA medical center and benefits office has identified a point of contact to ensure 

the seamless transition of these veterans into the VA system. 

VA Outreach 

Throughout the Nation, VA officials identify service members from Iraq or Afghanistan for special outreach efforts. 

Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom Points of Contact at 

each VA Regional Office and Medical Center coordinate 

with DoD discharge staff to ensure a smooth transition to 

VA services at locations nearest to the veteran’s residence 

after discharge. Through this coordination, the veterans are 

known at the local VA facilities that process their benefits 

claims and provide continuing medical care. 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 

Roster Now Has More Than 390,000 OIF/OEF 

Veterans .................................................................... 2 
	

Facts About OIF/OEF Veterans ................................. 2 

New VA Web Page for OIF/OEF Veterans ................ 2

IOM Committees Look at Gulf War Veterans’ Health 

Issues, Infectious Diseases of Southwest Asia ........... 3

Specialized VA Centers Provide Second Opinion 

on Undiagnosed Illness Through Extensive Tests, 

Careful Evaluation ....................................................... 

3 

About the “Review” .................................................... 5 

How to Get VA Disability Compensation ................... 5 

VA Disability Compensation Rates in 2005 ............... 6 

Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans and Gulf War 

Registry ..................................................................... 6 
	

Address Changes ...................................................... 6

Where to Get Help .................................................... 6
	

What’s Next ............................................................... 7
	

Department of Veterans Affairs 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VA developed and distributed pamphlets, brochures, and 

educational videos designed for returning service members, VA employees, and others involved in this important 

effort. VA also actively participates in discharge planning 

and orientation sessions for returning service members. 

Military services briefings are designed to ensure that service members are aware of their VA benefits and to provide 

assistance as needed. 

Briefings include separation and retirement seminars and 

pre– and post–deployment briefings as well as the formal 

Transition Assistance Program. For those leaving active 

duty due to service–connected medical problems, the outreach effort is intensified to ensure a full understanding of 

the VA compensation process and vocational rehabilitation 

and employment programs. 

Outreach Activities to Guard/Reserve 

To ensure our commitment in providing outreach to service 

members in the Guard/Reserve, VA developed outreach 

brochures, wallet cards, and a video of VA services/ 

benefits for those coming home from OEF/OIF and active 

duty tours throughout the world. VA briefings on health 

care services and benefits are being conducted at town 

hall meetings and family readiness groups and during unit 

drills near the homes of returning Guard/Reservists. VA 

staff provides counseling, enrollment and disability claims 

processing assistance at these events as well as referrals for 

further healthcare, counseling or disability processing. 

Education of VA Staff 

To ensure that the commitment is understood and shared at 

every level of the Department, VA has developed training 

materials and other tools for our front line staff to assist 

them in identifying combat veterans so that they can take the 

steps necessary to ensure the veterans receive timely access 

to appropriate VA services and benefits. In addition, VA has 

developed tools to assist VAclinicians in caring for OEF/OIF 

veterans. In collaboration with DoD, VA developed Clinical 

Practice Guidelines on two combat veteran health issues: 

post deployment health and unexplained pain and fatigue. 

VA also developed several Veterans Health Initiative (VHI) 

Independent Study Guides relevant to veterans returning 

from Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The long–term goal of the Office of Seamless Transition 

is to institutionalize the process beyond the OEF/OIF conflicts to all service members transitioning from military to 

civilian life. 

For additional information on the seamless transition process 

and VA benefits and health care, please access our Internet 

Web site at www.seamlesstransition.va.gov. 

ROSTER NOW HAS MORE THAN 390,000 OIF/OEF 

VETERANS 

The May 2005 combined roster of Operation Iraqi Freedom/ 

Operation Enduring Freedom already has more than 390,000 

veterans who served in those conflicts and then left military 

service. The roster has been very helpful for the mailing 

of this newsletter, for planning scientific research, and other 

purposes. 

The roster is expected to grow significantly during the next 

few years even if the number of servicemembers in the 

Theater of operations declines, because there are troops 

coming and going on a regular basis. There wasn’t a complete list of Vietnam veterans until more than 30 years after 

the end of the conflict. 

No end to the 1991 Gulf War has been officially declared. 

Thus, individuals serving in Iraq who are also considered Gulf 

War veterans and are entitled to receive the Gulf War Registry 

health examination and other benefits of Gulf War veterans as 

if they had served in the Gulf War in 1990-1991. 

When Congress established August 2, 1990, as the start of the 

Gulf War, it indicated that the end would be a date set by law or 

Presidential proclamation. Thus far, neither has happened. 

FACTS ABOUT OIF/OEF VETERANS 

As of July 18, 2005, we had 391,407 OIF and OEF veterans on a combined roster of those who served in either Iraq 

or Afghanistan and then separated from military service. 

About 40% (156,990) are active duty troops. The other 60% 

(236,417) came from the Reserve or National Guard. 

About 26 percent (101,308) have received VA health care 

at least once. Only 0.6 percent has been hospitalized in 

VA. The overall impact on VA health care has been minimal. The 101,308 OIF/OEF veterans evaluated by VA in 

FY 2003-05 represent about 2% of the 4.9 million veterans 

who received VA health care. 

Veterans on the roster have presented to VAwith a wide range 

of both medical and psychological conditions. Diagnoses 

for these veterans cover more than 6,300 different diagnostic 

codes. The two most common health problems of war 

veterans have been musculoskeletal ailments, principally 

joint and back disorders, and dental problems. 

NEW WEB PAGE FOR OIF/OEF VETERANS 

The Environmental Agents Service is pleased to announce 

a new page on its www.VA.gov/EnvironAgent web site 

devoted to the health concerns of Operations Iraqi Freedom 

and Enduring Freedom veterans. 

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The page contains various VA health fact sheets, all of our 

newsletter (OIF/OEF Reviews), Under Secretary for Health Information Letters, and a poster. All OIF and OEF veterans who 

have Internet access are invited to log on and explore the page. 

Interested parties should go to the Environmental Agents 

Web Site and select “Operations OIF/OEF.” 

IOM COMMITTEES LOOK AT GULF WAR VETERANS’ 

HEALTH ISSUES, INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF 

SOUTHWEST ASIA 

Two Committees organized by the National Academy of 

Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM) have recently begun 

work for VA on two Gulf War related efforts. Both are 

part of Congressionally required studies on Gulf War and 

health. The IOM is a prestigious, independent, scientific 

advisory group that is not part of the government. 

It has been estimated that more than one billion dollars has 

been spent trying to understand and treat Gulf War veterans 

during the approximate 14 years since the 1990-91 Gulf War. 

What has been learned from this investment? This is one 

of the most important questions of the IOM’s committee to 

review the medical literature on Gulf War veterans’ health. 

Anew reasearch committee will examine the enormous body of 

scientific literature now available and could suggest new means 

to improve the clinical care that VAcurrently offers to Gulf War 

veterans. They will answer the question, “Are we missing any 

good ideas for better diagnoses and treatments for the health 

problems suffered by these veterans?” The committee will also 

consider how this information may affect veterans. 

The committee will also summarize what this health 

literature can tell us about the nature of veterans’symptoms 

and illnesses, including unexplained illnesses, diagnosable 

illnesses, neurological illnesses, reproductive health 

effects, cancer, disability, mortality, and hospitalizations. 

This new committee will draw conclusions, when possible, 

about whether any exposures that may have occurred during 

deployment to the 1990-91 Gulf War could be associated with 

the veterans’symptoms and illnesses that came later on. 

This project is expected to be completed 12 months after 

beginning, or December 2005. 

A second IOM committee recently began work on another 

in the series of Gulf War & Health reports, looking at the 

possible effects of exposure to infectious diseases. 

Earlier completed reports focused on depleted uranium, 

pyridostigmine bromide, sarin, and certain vaccinations 

(Volume 1, 2000); pesticide and solvents (Volume 2, 2003); 

and exposure to fuels, pollutants from oil well fires, and certain 

other synthetic chemicals used by the Department of Defense 

during the 1991 Gulf War (Volume 3, 2004). Summaries are 

available at our web site: www.VA.gov/EnvironAgents, and 

the full report can be seen at www.nap.edu. 

The IOM is required to include in its report a full discussion 

of the scientific evidence and reasoning that led to its conclusions. Volume 4 should be completed by December 2006. 

SPECIALIZED VAHEALTH CENTERS PROVIDE SECOND 

OPINION ON UNEXPLAINED ILLNESSES THROUGH 

EXTENSIVE TESTS, CAREFUL EVALUATIONS 

Twenty-four year-old Arthur* of Buffalo, NY, is a patriot. 

He enlisted in the Army National Guard, was called to active 

duty, and served honorably during his tour in Operation Iraqi 

Freedom. But he is sick, and nobody can explain why. 

He started suffering from fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea and 

noticed a decrease in his energy level upon returning home 

from serving in Iraq during 2004-05. Worse yet, his doctors, 

despite numerous tests, reported that “nothing is wrong.” 

Frustrated, Arthur thought about what he might do. Give up? 

Not an option! 

Fortunately, several years ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs established a special program to help veterans, who, like 

Arthur, suffer from real, but undiagnosed illnesses. After exhaustive examinations at his local VA medical center, Arthur 

was referred to one of the War Related Illness and Injury Study 

Centers (WRIISCs), pronounced “risks.” There, he underwent 

an extensive medical evaluation, with enough time to express 

his concerns, tell his story, and receive individualized recommendations. 

WRIISCs Established in 2001 

VA established two WRIISCs in May 2001. The centers, 

located at VA Medical Centers in Washington, DC, and East 

Orange, NJ, were founded to provide service to combat 

veterans, families, and health care professionals through 

clinical care, education, risk communication and research 

addressing potential environmental exposures and adverse 

health outcomes. 

Established to address the health problems of veterans who 

serve in past and future conflicts, these centers were a recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) 

under Public Law 105-368 (Veterans Program Enhancement 

Act of 1998, Section 103). The centers replaced the Gulf 

War Referral Centers and now offer wide-ranging clinical 

* Not real name. To protect the privacy of this person, the name has 

been changed along with personal details. 

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care to all those who served in combat, not just during the 

Gulf War. Dr. Han Kang is the director of WRIISC-DC, 

and Dr. Gudrun Lange heads WRIISC-NJ. 

While most veterans do not suffer persistent and unexplained 

symptoms following deployment in a combat zone, it is 

recognized today that some do return home with undiagnosed 

illnesses. After thoroughly being evaluated at their local VA 

Medical Center, the veteran may be eligible to participate in 

an in-depth evaluation and examination, which serves as a 

second opinion, at one of the WRIISCs. 

Criteria for Referral 

Eligibility to participate in the WRIISC program depends 

on a thorough referral process coordinated by VA Central 

Office. Once a veteran has undergone a complete workup 

at their local VA Medical Center, the VA primary care 

provider may refer him or her to the WRIISC National 

Referral Program. However, veterans first must meet the 

following criteria: 

• Be referred by a primary care physician; 

• Have an undiagnosed or difficult to diagnose illness 

and/or disabling unexplained symptoms 

• Be medically and psychiatrically stable; and 

• Be willing to participate in treatment and evaluation 

recommendations. 

Accepting a referral, according to WRIISC-DC’s Risk 

Communication Specialist, Aaron Schneiderman, Ph.D., 

“is dependent upon eligibility, necessity, and the agreement that the veteran has something to gain from the evaluation.” Once accepted by the WRIISC National Referral 

Program, the veteran will be assigned to either the WRIISC 

in Washington, DC, or the center in New Jersey. 

Program Specifics 

The evaluation period at the Washington, DC, or East 

Orange, NJ, WRIISC lasts 1 to 5 days. A major plus of 

the WRIISC National Referral Program is that travel 

arrangements are paid for by both the referring VA Medical 

Center and the appointed WRIISC. It is the responsibility 

of the referring VA Medical Center to arrange the veteran’s 

travel to the designated WRIISC. The WRIISC provides 

travel arrangements for the veteran’s return trip home. 

The purpose of the veteran’s visit to a WRIISC is to 

evaluate war-related health concerns, while providing the 

veteran with information about his or her condition and 

potential war-related exposures. “The WRIISCs offer an 

option to veterans who have not been able to find answers 

from other providers,” stated Dr. Schneiderman. 

While the WRIISCs are not designed to offer treatment on 

site, the centers communicate their recommendations and 

findings to the veteran and his or her hometown VA primary care providers for implementation and followup. This 

program allows the veteran to become more aware and to 

help take care of their health. The WRIISCs are proud of 

their ability to attend to just one patient at a time, which allows for an individualized, specific plan of action, unique 

to every veteran that attends the program. 

In an effort to educate the many people that care for veterans at the various VA medical facilities, the WRIISCs 

are implementing an employee education campaign that 

involves a conference series, a new VA Veterans Health 

Initiative (VHI) independent study guide that will be produced using conference materials, and an employee training module that will be accessible at all hours on the VA 

intranet. Dr. Schneiderman emphasized that, “education 

is extremely important because the primary care provider 

acts as a gatekeeper to the local VA Medical Center and is 

the veteran’s lifeline to optimal medical care.” 

Even though Arthur’s evaluation at the WRIISC-DC did not 

provide him with a cure for his ailments, it did provide him 

with a plan of action for him and his health care provider that 

includes recommendations for medications, treatments, and 

better ways to live. The WRIISCs engage in activities that 

involve education and outreach to both veterans and health 

care professionals, in addition to evaluating patients. 

ForadditionalinformationabouttheNationalReferralProgram 

and the WRIISCs please visit: 

www.VA.gov/EnvironAgents 

WRIISC-DC: www.VA.gov/wriisc-dc 

WRIISC-NJ: www.wri.med.va.gov/ 

Primary care providers who would like to refer a veteran with 

undiagnosed illnesses can request an evaluation at one of the 

Centers. VAhealth care providers who wish to request a referral 

must contact: 

Ms. Helen Malaskiewicz
	

Sr. Environ. Health Coordinator
	

Environmental Agents Service (131)
	

VA Central Office
	

810 Vermont Ave., NW
	

Washington, DC 20420
	

www.VA.gov/EnvironAgents 

Tiffany A. Anzalone, Summer 2005 Hispanic Association of 

CollegesandUniversities’InternforVA’sEnvironmentalAgents 

Service, conducted interviews, researched, and prepared this 

article. Tiffany is a graduate of Boston College and is currently 

in graduate school at Louisiana State University. 

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ABOUT THE “REVIEW” 

This is the fourth issue of the “Operations Iraqi Freedom/ 

Enduring Freedom Review” newsletter. Earlier issues are 

dated December 2003, June 2004, and February 2005. They 

are available on line at www.VA.gov/EnvironAgents. The 

newsletter is written by VA’s Environmental Agents Service 

(EAS). The “Review” is published to provide information to 

veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom, primarily 

in Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, 

their families, and others interested in possible long-term 

health consequences of military service in those conflicts. 

The “Review” describes actions by VA and others to 

respond to deployment health related concerns. For past and 

current issues of the “Review” and additional information, 

see our Web site at www.VA.gov/EnvironAgents. For 

related Gulf War Review newsletters or information about 

the Gulf War, see www.VA.gov/GulfWar. 

The frequency of publication is two to three issues each 

year. Additional issues will be prepared as needed, when 

significant developments occur. This issue was completed 

in late August 2005, and does not include developments 

that occurred after that time. 

Comments or questions concerning the content of the 

“Review” are encouraged. We would be happy to hear 

from you, any suggestions and ideas for future issues of 

the newsletter should be sent to the OIF/OEF Review, 

(131), VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., 

Washington, DC 20420. 

Requests for additional copies of this and/or future issues 

should also be sent to Mr. Rosenblum. A limited supply of 

the prior issues is available. Please specify the quantity and 

issue date requested. 

Questions about the Gulf War Registry examination should 

be directed to the Environmental Health Coordinator or 

Environmental Health Clinician located at each VA medical 

facility. A listing of these VA staff is available online at 

www.VA.gov/EnvironAgents. The telephone number for 

the nearest VA medical center can be found in the local 

telephone directory under the “U.S. Government” listings. 

Assistance is also available from the toll-free VA Gulf War 

Helpline: 1-800-749-8387. VA benefit offices also have a 

great deal of information about VA benefit programs. The 

national toll-free telephone number is 1-800-827-1000. 

HOW TO GET VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION 

(Because of the high level of interest in this subject and the 

fact that not everyone reads every article in the newsletter, 

the following article has been updated). 

Like other veterans, Gulf War veterans are eligible for monthly 

payments, called disability compensation, from VA if they 

have service-connected illnesses or injuries. The disability 

must have been incurred or aggravated during active military 

service. Furthermore, the service of the veteran must have 

been terminated from military service through separation or 

discharge under conditions that were other than dishonorable. 

Disability compensation varies according to the degree of 

disability and the number of dependents. Benefits are not 

subject to Federal or state income tax. The receipt of military 

retirement pay, disability severance pay, and separation 

incentive payments known as SSB and VSI (Special 

Separation Benefits and Voluntary Separation Incentives) 

also affects the amount of VA compensation paid. 

The disability ratings range from 0 to 100 percent (in 

increments of 10 percent). For example, in 2005, a Gulf 

War veteran with a disability rating of 10 percent receives 

$108; a veteran with disability rating of 50 percent gets 

$663; and a veteran who is totally disabled and evaluated 

at 100 percent receives $2,239 monthly. 

Veterans with disability ratings between 30 and 100 percent are also eligible for monthly allowances for each 

child. (The amount depends on the disability rating). 

A veteran who is in need of regular aid and attendance 

of another person, or who is permanently housebound 

may be entitled to additional benefits. VA must make that 

determination before the veteran can get these benefits. 

Must Apply to Be Considered 

Compensation is not automatically provided to any 

veterans. Registry examinations are completely different 

from OIF and OEF claims for disability compensation. VA 

veterans service representatives (VSR) can provide the 

necessary application and assist veterans who need help 

in completing it. VSR’ s are located at all VA Regional 

Offices, in VA medical centers, and at most VA clinics. For 

help in locating a VSR near you, call the following tollfree telephone number: 1-800-827-1000. 

Other Benefits 

In addition to the compensation program described above, 

individual veterans may be eligible for the full range of 

other benefits offered by VA, including education and 

training, vocational rehabilitation, home loan guarantees, 

life insurance, pension, burial benefits, and more. 

To learn more about VA’s programs, OIF and OEF veterans 

and other interested parties can visit the VA home page 

www.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000. 

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___ 

___ 

 

___ 

 

 

VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION RATES IN 2005
	

No Dependents 

10% $108 

20% $210 

30% $324 

40% $466 

50% $663 

60% $839 

70% $1,056 

80% $1,227 

90% $1,380 

100% $2,299 

Veteran with Spouse Only 

--- ---

--- ---

30% $363 

40% $518 

50% $728 

60% $917 

70% $1,147 

80% $1,311 

90% $1,497 

100% $2,429 

For additional rate information, see compensation rate tables 

online at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm 

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM VETERANS IN THE 

GULF WAR REGISTRY 

Initial examinations through 2003 – 82 

Initial examinations through 2004 – 1,204 

Total examinations, including followups, through 

2004 – 1,290 

For comparison purposes: Total Agent Orange 

Registry exams -- 420,055 

January - March 2005 Agent Orange Registry 

examinations – 6,709 

ADDRESS CHANGES 

If this newsletter has your old address, please use this form 

to update our mailing list. Send the completed form to the 

Gulf War Review, Austin Automation Center (200/397A), 

1615 Woodward Street, Austin, TX 78772-0001. If you 

have access to the Gulf War Review via the VA Web site 

www.VA/gov/GulfWar and wish to discontinue receiving 

a copy by mail, please complete the above form and return it 

to the Austin Automation Center. If you are receiving more 

than one copy of the newsletter, please let us know. Write 

to the address above. Please provide your name, address, 

social security number and name of the publication. Thank 

you. 

Check or circle the language that describes your situation.
	

My address has changed, and I would like to continue to
	

receive the newsletter.
	

I am receiving more than one copy, but I only want to
	

get a single copy.
	

I don’t need to get the newsletter by mail as I can read it at
	

www.VA/gov/EnvironAgents 

___		 Other 

(explain) ------------------------------------------------------------

You may use this or other paper. Please indicate which 

publication that you are receiving as this office puts out 4 

national newsletters. 

Please Print your:
	

First Name 

Middle 

Last 

SSN 

New Street/RFD/ 

Military Unit 

APO/FPO 

Indicate which if 

applicable 

City 

Alpha State/or 

APO/FPO Code 

Zip Code 

WHERE TO GET HELP 

Active duty military personnel with questions or concerns 

about service in Southwest Asia (including Operations Iraqi 

Freedom and Enduring Freedom) contact your commanding 

officer or call the Department of Defense (DoD) Gulf War 

Veterans’ Hotline (1-800-796-9699) for information. DoD 

also offers the “Direct Veterans Hotline,” with the toll-free 

number 1-800-497-6261. 

Gulf War veterans, including OIF veterans with concerns 

about their health, should contact their nearest VA medical 

center. The telephone number can be found in your local 

telephone directory under Department of Veterans Affairs 

in the “U.S. Government” listings. Medical care may be 

available, and a Gulf War Registry examination is also 

available on request. 

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The VA Gulf War Information Helpline can also provide 

information and assistance. The toll-free telephone number 

is 1-800-PGW-VETS (1-800-749-8387). 

Check our Web sites for more Gulf War information 

on health care and other benefits (including those for 

Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans) 

at www.va.gov/GulfWar, www.va.gov/EnvironAgents, 

and www.VA.gov. 

Gulf War veterans in need of marital/family counseling 

should contact the nearest VA medical center or VA Vet 

Center, also listed in your phonebook under Department 

of Veterans Affairs in the “U.S. Government” listings. For 

additional information about these programs call the Gulf 

War Information Helpline at 1-800-PGW-VETS (1-800-

749-8387). 

Gulf War veterans seeking disability compensation for 

illnesses incurred in or aggravated by military service can 

contact a Veterans Benefits Counselor at the nearest VA 

regional office or health care facility at 1-800-827-1000, or 

call the VA Gulf War Information Helpline at 1-800-PGWVETS (1-800-749-8387). You can also start a claim online 

at www.va.gov. 

Gulf War veterans interested in learning about the wide 

range of benefit programs administered by VA should contact a Veterans Benefits Counselor at the nearest VA regional 

office or health care facility at 1-800-827-1000, or call the 

VA Gulf War Information Helpline at 1-800-PGW-VETS 

(1-800-749-8387). 

Representatives of veterans service organizations, including 

The American Legion (1-800-433-3318), Veterans of Foreign 

Wars of the United States, (1-800-VFW-1899), and Disabled 

American Veterans (1-877-426-2338), 

have been very helpful to Gulf War veterans, especially 

veterans who are seeking disability compensation. (These 

organizations are cited as examples. There are many other 

excellent organizations. VA does not endorse or recommend anyone group over another.) 

County Veterans Service Officers also have been of great 

help to many military veterans, including those who served 

in the Gulf War, who are seeking benefits they earned 

through their service to the Nation. 

For additional Federal benefit information, see VA’s Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet. It is 

updated annually to reflect changes in law and policies. It 

is available for purchase from the U.S. Government Printing 

Office (GPO) Superintendent of Documents, Washington, 

DC 20402. 

Web site: bookstore.gpo.gov. VA’s Web pages are updated 

throughout the year to present the most current information. 

The VA home page (www.VA.gov) contains links to selections on compensation and pension benefits, health care 

benefits and services, burial and memorial benefits, etc. 

WHAT’S NEXT 

Plans for the next issue of this newsletter include the 

following articles: 

• New Research: Mental Health Care Needs Among 

Recent War Veterans 

• VA Describes Major Initiatives in Response to OIF/ 

OEF Veterans at Congressional Hearing 

• VA		 OIF/OEF Veterans Health Care Utilization 

Report Updated 

• Leishmania More Common Than Thought, Still Very 

Rare. 

VA hopes to print and distribute the planned issue in the 

next few months. 

7
	
 Department of

Veterans Affairs 

Central Office (131) 

810 Vermont Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, DC 20420 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

Penalty for private use $300 

/ operations iraqi freedom

enduring freedom review 

Information for Veterans Who 

Served in Iraq and Afghanistan 

and Their Families 

September 2005