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Jon Stewart leads renewed fight on benefits for burn pit victims

eterans advocates on Tuesday launched a new campaign for additional recognition and aid for troops exposed to toxic burn pit fumes during overseas deployments at the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, saying time is running out to provide real help to the victims.https://195e588e01c9a321bddeae75c13825ea.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

“This is not about science, this is about money,” said comedian Jon Stewart in an emotional press conference on Capitol Hill featuring numerous families of dead and dying veterans whose rare illnesses aren’t officially recognized by federal officials as stemming from burn pit exposure.

“Listen to these families … Delaying care and waiting for veterans to die is not a mantle worthy of our country.”

Tuesday’s event coincided with new legislation introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., which would provide presumptive benefit status for any veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan during the wars, as well as a host of other overseas military sites where burn pits were frequently used.

These maps can help you figure out your burn pit exposure risk

It can be tough to get treatment for burn pit exposure, but this project helps service members and veterans pinpoint the Pentagon documents that detail their risks.Meghann Myers

Advocates for years have criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs for insisting that individuals prove a direct connection between the toxic fumes they breathed during deployments and rare cancers and respiratory illnesses, even though the Defense Department acknowledges little tracking was done over the years to provide a true accounting of the poisons in the air.https://195e588e01c9a321bddeae75c13825ea.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

“Service members are returning from the battlefield only to become delayed casualties of war,” Ruiz said. “This is the Agent Orange of this generation … We need to be taking care of our veterans and saving lives.”

As many as 3.5 million veterans could be eligible for the benefits under the legislation, if they showed signs of serious, uncommon illnesses believed to be the result of toxic fumes.

The legislation echoes previous measures passed by Congress related to compensation for emergency services personnel who worked in New York following the Sept. 11 al-Qaida attacks. Stewart was a key advocate in that legislative fight, and said he hopes to bring the same attention and resources to the burn pits issue.

“Today, we plant a flag on this,” he said. “I can’t imagine anybody wouldn’t be on board with this cause.”

Comedian Jon Stewart (center) speaks to a crowd of reporters and advocates about benefits for veterans who suffer from illnesses related to exposure to war zone burn pits during a Capitol Hill rally on Sept. 15, 2020. (Leo Shane III/Staff)

But fears over the costs of such benefits extensions have sidelined similar past efforts. Rosie Torres, executive director of Burn Pits 360, said after more than a decade of advocacy work on Capitol Hill, only a few significant measures have passed into law, and even those with significant flaws.

VA’s burn pit registry, for example, contains the names of more than 200,000 individuals who claim serious health problems related to the open-air waste pits, but Torres said a tiny fraction of those have received any compensation for the injuries.

Former VA Secretary David Shulkin noted that a study last week from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found widespread problems with how scientific data is collected and analyzed regarding the burn pits, an analysis he said undermines VA’s strict requirement for scientific links before benefits can be awarded.

“What do you do when you have vets suffering?” he said. “Right now, we’re making our vets wait without getting help. That’s just wrong … We have to change our system.”https://195e588e01c9a321bddeae75c13825ea.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Burn pit victims could face greater dangers from coronavirus, VA warns

More than 770 veterans have died from the virus in the last two months.Leo Shane III

Stewart, advocates from the 9/11 responders fight and veterans families vowed to do that. The legislation faces long odds of becoming law in this year’s shortened fall congressional legislative session, but coalition members vowed to return over and over again until the issue is resolved.

Danielle Robinson — wife of Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, who died in April after a lengthy battle from respiratory illnesses he believed was related to his burn pit exposure — praised the effort but also acknowledged the latest campaign brings with it some personal bitterness.

“My husband is dead because America poisoned its soldiers,” she said. “It’s a national disgrace that our war heroes need celebrities to speak out on their behalf to get this addressed.”

About Leo Shane III

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

A Flu Shot Can Save Lives

Find out where to get your flu shot–either at a VA medical center or at community care providers and pharmacies–and remember to continue wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands often. 

Shots at retail pharmacies

If you are enrolled in VA health care, you can receive the seasonal flu vaccination at more than 60,000 locations through the Community Care Network in-network retail pharmacies and urgent care partners. VA will pay for standard-dose and high-dose flu shots. Even if you haven’t had a flu shot lately, make this the year that you do!

Find a Location – Link

Gulf War Veteran goes “fishing with America’s finest”

Bill Watts focuses on helping fellow Gulf War Veterans

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 Posted onWednesday, August 19, 2020 10:00 am Posted in Health by VAntage Point Contributor  768 views

William “Bill” Watts, Sr., earned numerous awards during his service, which included tours in Egypt and Korea and service as a Gulf War combat Veteran. But the reward he values most today is the one he receives as an advocate helping his fellow Gulf War Veterans with their individual challenges.

“I am in favor of Veterans helping Veterans. Quality of life begins with quality of health care,” said Watts. Watts’ work with Veterans has earned him the Congressional Veterans Commendation Award. His work includes volunteering with Veterans in his community and meeting with researchers and health professionals to make sure that the health concerns of Gulf War Veterans are recognized and addressed.

Watts (photo above) and others are now marking the 30th anniversary of their Gulf War service. Watts served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1996. He was in the 4/5 ADA 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Division and 3rd Infantry Division.

Fishing the Everglades to reduce stress

One of Watts’ passions is helping Veterans manage their health problems by finding non-drug alternatives. As a resident of the South Florida city of Doral, he volunteers with the non-profit Fishing with America’s Finest and also serves as the group’s director of operations. Fishing with America’s Finest takes combat Veterans bass fishing in the Florida Everglades to help reduce the stress and anxiety from PTSD.Long Description

Gulf War Veteran William “Bill” Watts, Sr.

“We try to teach them to the point that they can go on fishing tournaments if they want to.” He is also a team member of Dive4Vets, a group that takes Veterans who suffer from physical and mental health issues scuba diving to help to heal. Watts is eligible for the Gulf War Registry and Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Registry and enrolled many years ago.

Researching the health of Gulf War Veterans

Watts understands that some Gulf War Veterans are older. They may not be comfortable with completing an online-only registry like the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. A local Environmental Health Coordinator can help with this process.

Watts also is a member of VA’s Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. He participates in research on the health of Gulf War Veterans at the Miami VA Hospital. He also volunteers to coordinate and recruit local Veterans for research.

GULF WAR ILLNESS PERSPECTIVES

William A. “Bill” Watts, Sr.

GOOD MORNING – I would like to thank all the Organizers, Veterans, Ranking Dignitaries and Researchers for participating in this meeting.  My name is William A. Watts Sr., but everyone knows me as Bill Watts.  I live in Doral, Florida.  I am a Desert Storm Veteran from the 1990-91 Gulf War.  I served with the 7^th Corps, 1^st Cavalry Division, 4/5 Air Defense Artillery Battalion – C Battery. 

I suffer from most of the major symptoms related to Gulf War Illness for males. Some of my symptoms started within 3 days of arriving the in the Gulf. I cleared bunkers, vehicles that were shot with depleted uranium rounds, and was exposed to vehicles damaged in combat covered in the blood of my friends.  I experienced many of the toxic exposures that today we know contributed to Gulf War Illness.

Research is Vital in the role of Treatment for Gulf War Illness and has helped me immensely. A great example is my results from the Integrative Modeling or Miff-a-priston/Embrel study. For months after, everyone noticed my mental and physical well-being had improved.

I am a Strong Veteran Advocate for Veteran Healthcare and Quality of life.  Currently I am the Director of Operations for Fishing with America’s Finest, a 501-C3 non-profit which uses Fishing to help Veterans who suffer from PTSD by giving them a Quality of Life instead of becoming a suicide Statistic. My love for my fellow veterans runs deep, which is why I serve on Local and National Research projects and committees, including as a Peer Reviewer for the Gulf War Illness CDMRP, and as a member of VA’s Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses and one of its Subcommittees.  I have been recognized for my support with numerous awards Such as the Congressional Commendation and Florida Senate Veterans Champion Award.

I would like to give you my brief perspectives as a Gulf War Veteran with Gulf War Illness:

• First, I believe that Quality of Life begins with Quality of Care
  • This means that Fundamental Needs must be met first, meaning Health Care.  This Gulf War Research is Vital in the role of Treatment and appropriate healthcare.
  • This also means that National Environmental Health Clinics should be strategically place throughout the US.
  • And from my experience working with Numerous Gulf War Veterans in my fishing non-profit, they have made it clear they believe VA’s compensation and pension rating Exams are rigged against them because most of the time they are denied.  
  • Research and educating clinical providers could make a difference in all of these areas of clinical care and quality of life.
  •  
• Second, for Gulf War veterans, our Trust must be earned (We are not lab rats and from my experience participating in Gulf War research, researchers must explain this to us as study participants.)
  • This means Being truthful and using clear communication as all veterans are not versed in medical terms. You may have to take the time to break it down to everyday terms.  I only trust a handful of health care personnel with my life. Those include my PCP and Researcher Dr. Nancy Klimas and her team, who have earned my trust.
  • Earning our trust also means Providing information to us Gulf War veteran study participants about the results of the research study we are participating in and, whenever possible, providing us with the test results so they may be added to our medical records
  • Earning out trust also means that Clinicians must explain the importance of this research. What may not work for one of us veterans may work for someone else.

• Third and finally, I believe that Doctors and Researchers must also consider the impact of Gulf War Illness on us Gulf War veterans. 
• Today, I would like for you to think about being really sick.  Most of the time you can run to the drug store and symptoms are gone within hours if not a day or two.  Image what it is like being sick for 30 years like us Gulf War veterans and the 1^st thing you do when you walk into a new location is check to see where the bathrooms are located or not eating for hours so you won’t get sick because with IBS you never know.   So – your research is critically important to helping us.
  • The impact is also clear in the fact that studies have consistently shown that as many as one-third of the 700,000 of us 1990-91 Gulf War Veterans suffer from Gulf War Illness, so this is a big issue in our relatively small community.
  • Finally, and I don’t know who needs to still hear this, but Gulf War Illness is not ALL in our heads as the research has continually shown.   Doctors need to be better informed about all the ongoing research about Gulf War Illness so they don’t treat Gulf War veterans like one did with one of my fishing program participants earlier this month, who just recently was told GWI is all in his head and referred to Mental health even though he has mirror image symptoms as myself.
• We need to act as if GWI is Covid 19 and get a move on as it has been 30 years!  So thank you for your efforts to help us as soon as possible.

“Vet Info” was created by William “Bill” Watts (Veteran),Precious Leaks-Gutierrez (Veteran’s Daughter) and Mark Pinilla (Veteran’s Son) to support our fearless soldiers who served our country.

Our goal is to provide you with the resources available to you. We are here to help you.