Research News

A Review of VAC Pension Activities
Among Gulf Special Duty Area Clients and Other Client Groups

A Gulf Special Duty Area File review was initiated in 2003 in order to increase our understanding of the health issues facing Gulf Special Duty Area clients and to provide a better understanding of Gulf Special Duty Area health issues to VAC health treatment, pensions, and others.

Gulf Special Duty Area Veterans came back from the war experiencing fatigue, muscle and joint pain, sleep disturbance, memory loss, lack of concentration, and these health problems still persist today. In spite of VAC and DND's efforts made to improve clients' accessibility to health care services, there can always be improvements to be made in the overall delivery of health care to our clients.

The review of 120 head office files was done over the summer months and the data analysis was initiated in October. The review focuses on personal and medical variables, family background, service information, treatment information, and service provided. The review consists also of an analysis of the patterns of types and extent of pension disability arising from the Gulf War versus other deployed and non-deployed military experiences. By examining what could be similarities and differences, this may enable us to initiate further long-term work related to issues present as a result of any deployment.

For further information, please email Michael Zinck at michael.zinck@vac-acc.gc.ca.