Supporting Gulf War Veterans

In recent months, some Salute! readers have asked what Canada is doing to support Canadian Forces (CF) Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf. As you may know, the Persian Gulf is considered a Special Duty Area (SDA). People who served there and are now released from the Forces are Gulf War Veterans. If you, or someone you know, served in a Special Duty Area, including the Persian Gulf, this is what you need to know.

Eligibility
All Canadian Forces members and Veterans who believe they have a service-related disability may apply for a disability pension. In addition, CF members and Veterans who serve in a Special Duty Area, such as the Persian Gulf, are covered under the insurance principle, i.e. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during their tour of duty. This means that any injury or illness that results in a disability that is attributable to, or incurred during, your SDA service is pensionable no matter how it happened.

Support Services
Our staff is sensitive to the special needs of CF Veterans. Even if your eligibility for VAC benefits has not yet been established, VAC staff can work with you to determine your needs, provide you with information on VAC services, and make referrals on your behalf to services available outside our Department.

Benefits
At present, more than 300 Gulf War Veterans are receiving a VAC disability pension as a result of an illness or injury incurred during the Gulf conflict. If you qualify for a disability pension, the amount you receive will depend, in part, on the extent of your disability. Your pension assessment could range from 5% to 100% (or $96.57 to $1,931.41 a month, respectively). Your monthly payments may be more depending on your marital status or if you have children. Disability pensions are tax-free and indexed annually. As well, you may be eligible to receive extensive health care support, such as coverage for prescriptions, dental care, professional counselling and home care services.

Special Allowances
Veterans who receive a disability pension may qualify for other special allowances. For example, if you are totally disabled (not necessarily from your pensioned condition), you may be eligible for an Attendance Allowance ranging from $204.54 to $1,278.03 monthly. The amount will depend on the degree of support you need. Moreover, if your disabilities total 98% or more, you may be eligible for an Exceptional Incapacity Allowance ranging from $340.83 to $1,022.44 a month. Like disability pensions, special allowances are tax-free and indexed annually.

Who is a Veteran?
In addition to traditional war service Veterans, all released members of the Canadian Forces are considered Veterans if they meet the Department of National Defence's professional military occupational classification requirements and have been honourably discharged.

Gulf War Illnesses
At present, Veterans Affairs Canada cannot award a disability pension for Gulf War Syndrome because it is not an illness that is recognized by the international medical and scientific community. We know, however, that some Gulf War Veterans have reported symptoms, or clusters of symptoms, that have harmed their well-being and quality of life. These clusters of symptoms have been referred to as Gulf War Syndrome, even though some Veterans who served in other Special Duty Areas have reported similar symptoms. While some of these symptoms can be traced to medically recognized illnesses, others cannot.

If you have undiagnosed or difficult to diagnose illnesses, VAC will work with you and medical professionals to identify any underlying medical conditions. If, after this, a diagnosis still cannot be established, and your symptoms are disabling, VAC may award a pension if your disability was incurred during, or can be attributed to, your service in a Special Duty Area (look at the section above called Eligibility under insurance principle). Our Pension Officers will be pleased to help you fill out your pension application and provide you with counselling. As well, our District Medical Officers can provide you with referrals for diagnostic or clinical investigation, if required.

Client Profiles *

• Sarah, 38 and married with two children, is a Veteran who injured her knee while serving in the Persian Gulf. Sarah is pensioned at 15% for her right knee. She receives $427.32 a month, tax-free, which is the 2003 rate for married pensioners with two children. VAC covers the cost of her treatment, as well as travel to and from medical appointments for her pensioned knee condition.

• Alain, 44 and single, also is a Veteran who served in the Persian Gulf. While there, he injured his back and right shoulder and experienced a traumatic event. He is pensioned at 20% for his back, 15% for his shoulder and 65% for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His pension is paid at the 100% single rate of $1,931.41 per month and he is receiving a monthly Attendance Allowance of $1,150.27 and a monthly Exceptional Incapacity Allowance of $681.60. This brings his total tax-free monthly VAC payment to $3,763.28. In addition, our Department covers the cost of Alain's treatment, as well as travel to and from medical appointments for his pensioned conditions. Based on a needs assessment conducted by one of our Area Counsellors, Alain also receives support under our national home and community care program, called the Veterans Independence Program (VIP). Under VIP, Alain receives a yearly allowance for housekeeping ($3,120) and grounds maintenance ($900). As a VIP recipient, Alain may receive treatment for his non-pensioned conditions, e.g. dental care.

* Sarah and Alain are not real clients. The examples are meant to illustrate the range of benefits and services that may be available to Veterans who qualify for a disability pension.