Gulf War Undiagnosed Illness

The current regulations were set to expire at the end of this year. The regulation reads:

         "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its adjudication regulations regarding compensation for disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Persian Gulf War veterans. This amendment is necessary to extend the period within which such disabilities must become manifest to a compensable degree in order for entitlement for compensation to be established. The intended effect of this amendment is to ensure that veterans with compensable disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that may be related to active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War may qualify for benefits.  In light of the continuing scientific and medical inquiry into the nature and cause of undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans, the continuing military operations in the Gulf region, and the new claims still being received from Gulf War veterans, this document extends the presumptive period for disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more through December 31, 2006, a period of 5 years."  [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 20 NOV 01]