Intro:
As we have reached the 29th anniversary (embarking upon the 30th) of the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War: Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm, those of us who have honorably served in this war are still experiencing a grave injustice from the United States Government, by a constant oversight of the medical aftermath of our vast amount of chemical exposures, and thus severe illnesses. Our quality of life has been severely diminished, or is pretty much nonexistent.
 
Brief History:
From August 2, 1990 to January 16, 1991 (Operation Desert Shield) and January 17, 1991 to April 6, 1991 (Operation Desert Storm). A 10-year cease-fire was signed and went into effect in April 1991. This is considered the First Gulf War.
 
 A little over 10 years later, on September 11, 2001, there was a horrific and gruesome attack on the World Trade Center, and as a result, it initiated the War on Terror. On October 7, 2001, Operation Enduring Freedom began. This was the beginning of the Second Gulf War.
 
According to PublicHealth.VA.Gov, “VA defines Gulf War Veterans as Veterans who served on active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations any time from August 2, 1990 to present.”
 
The Injustice:
Although this is considered the same war, the Government has been treating it as two separate wars. As a result, those veterans who served post 9/11, known as Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom, qualify for benefits from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs that are not available to those who served the First Gulf War, Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm.
 
Upon the return of the Veterans of this era, many were (and are) sick due to heavy chemical exposure, injections, and ingestion, which were initially deemed as psychosomatic, until more than 250,000 of the 700,000 deployed U.S. service members reported the same symptoms and illnesses, with a growing number in the allied countries, according to The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine.
 
In 2001, the U.S. Government finally took notice and passed a Bill, recognizing it as a “multi-symptom” medical condition known as Gulf War Syndrome or Gulf War Illness. This recognition allowed the Department of Veterans Affairs to deem this condition as “presumptive” when applying for medical and compensation benefits, although they have a history of initially denying these claims.
 
Unfortunately, however, just as this recognition was gaining momentum on Capitol Hill, it wasn’t long before the War on Terror casted a dense shadow over what has now become a short-lived victory, and the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War Veterans have now been placed on the back-burner once again.
 
The Petition:
This Petition was created to bring awareness to this gross negligence and injustice to the more than 250,000 Veterans (and growing) who suffer daily, and unfortunately some are now deceased, and the remaining with limited to no benefits for their daily care and quality of life.
 
We are petitioning Congress to expeditiously create a Bill that will deem both Operation Desert Shield / Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom / Iraqi Freedom as one war, and thereby immediately recognizing that these honorable men and women who served in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War to partake in ALL the same benefits (which include, but not limited to medical, financial, and educational, etc.) that are currently only available to their Post 9/11 counterparts.
 
Gulf War Veterans Life Equality For Troops Of Unjust Treatment (LEFT OUT) Initiative Act

1. Add to CFS/FM 38 CFR to Loss of Use due to uncontrollable nerve tremors and pain, and muscle cramps, spasms, and weakness. Add language, “sporadic” “unpredictable” “impaired motor skills” and “permanent in nature.”
2. If Veteran is 100% and qualifies for the maximum rating for Fibromyalgia (40%) and/or maximum 100% for Chronic Fatigue  Syndrome, or 100% for “Undiagnosed Illnesses due to Gulf War Illness/Chemical Exposure,” then Veteran automatically qualifies for a Special Monthly Compensation of (L1): Aid and Attendance, and if a medical professional deems the Veteran’s motor skills are impaired due to the illness, then the Veteran is eligible for a Special Monthly Compensation of (O) and all associated benefits for Loss of Use: vehicle grant, home grants, etc.          
3. Immediately add Desert Storm/Shield War Veterans to all Post 9/11 OEF/OIF benefits, clarifying it’s the same war, and both era Vets are entitled to the same benefits, regardless of ETS date.
4. Add “Illness” to the qualification for the VA's Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Program for “all” era Veterans.
5. Primary Family Caregiver for Veteran who has a Special Monthly Compensation rating of at least (S) or (L1) can be claimed as the Veteran’s dependent and receive all the same benefits as a spouse or child, including Space A travel to assist Veteran if travel is necessary for medical purposes or morale and welfare purposes, to avoid aggravating or causing any mental illness: anxiety, depression, claustrophobia, etc.; and issued a Department of Defense ID card (strict stipulations and guidelines need to be in place).            
6. Extend the meaning of “Homebound” to hotel, cabin, vacation home, RV, train with a cabin and a bed, cruise ship room, etc.              
7. Allow Retirees (tenured and medical) to simultaneously receive both of their Department of Defense Retirement Pay AND their Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation, regardless of rating. Remove the “double-dipping” concept from all language concerning its limitations. One is to compensate for time served and the other is for disability after the time has been served. These are two (2) different Departments and should be treated as such.           
8. Allow every Combat Veteran to receive their due Combat Pay if they are rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs as 30% or more disabled, due to a war-related injury or illness. This has no bearing or effects on any other compensation issued by the Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs, aside from the prequalifying criteria.              
9. A Veteran’s Certificate of Eligibility for a VA Home Loan can be fully restored if it was “compromised” due to medical reasons or due to a financial hardship incurred by the Department of Veterans Affairs (i.e. delay in processing or compensating disability payments, lengthy appeals process, etc.).         
10. Allow all VA Disability Compensation to be deemed as exempted income when applying for any Federal and State benefits.        
11. Require ALL States to provide 100% Homestead Exemption for 100% disabled Veterans, and corresponding deductions based upon percentage of disability (i.e. 50% disabled Veterans receive 50% Homestead Exemption, etc.).          
12. Encourage ALL states to offer one (1) free license plate to all Veterans, and two (2) free license plates for all Retirees and 100% disabled Veterans.
     

Every signature matters, and every voice counts. So, let’s honor the brave men and women by making your voices heard on Capitol Hill, so we can have a better quality of life. This Petition will benefit all Veterans of every era. We sincerely thank you for your support!