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Web Posted : 08/01/2001
WASHINGTON — The House voted Tuesday to expand the list of service-connected illnesses for Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans and approve a cost-of-living increase for veterans' benefits.
The legislation, passed 422-0, would add Type II diabetes to the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected in Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides.
It also, as of next April, would add chronic fatigue syndrome; fibromyalgia, a painful disease of the connective tissue; and chronic multisymptom illness to the list of undiagnosed diseases that can qualify a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War for compensation.
"There are thousands of veterans, who bravely served during the Gulf War, today suffering from undiagnosed illnesses deserving of compensation," said Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Smith, the sponsor, said the bill also would extend the period for providing compensation to Persian Gulf veterans to Dec. 31, 2003, so newly eligible veterans have time to have their claims considered.
The bill next goes to the Senate for consideration.
Scientists have looked into nerve gas, anti-anthrax vaccines, depleted uranium and other possible factors, but have been unable to find a specific cause for some of the illnesses — including fatigue, skin rashes, cancers and muscle pain — afflicting tens of thousands of troops who served in the Gulf War.
The bill gives the nation's 2.3 million disabled veterans, or survivors of disabled veterans receiving compensation, a 2.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment, effective Dec. 1.
Meanwhile, a House Armed Services Committee panel endorsed hefty pay raises for all military personnel Tuesday and a 50 percent increase in defense health service operations while paving the way for disabled military retirees to keep more benefits.
The pay increases, to start Jan. 1, amount to $6.9 billion, a 9.2 percent increase for a new total of $82.3 billion for personnel.
There would be across-the-board increases of 5 percent for officers and 6 percent for enlisted personnel, plus raises of 6.3 percent to 10 percent for noncommissioned officers and mid-grade commissioned officers.
08/01/2001
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