Thursday, March 21, 2013

Study: Gulf War Illness Not Just Psychological; Whistleblower Charges VA Hides Vets' Health Data; Summary Of Veteran Employment; FDNY Hero, Just Back From War, Saves Four; Police Officer Line Of Duty Deaths

"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." Sir Winston Churchill





Physical Proof Found For Gulf War Illness

Researchers at Georgetown University reported that Gulf War illness is caused by damage to the brain. Scans of brains were able to find anomalies in the bundle of the nerve fibers that intercept pain signals.  In other words, it's clear that Gulf War illness is not purely psychological.

It is believed that over 250,000 veterans of the Gulf War in 1991 are affected.

Lead author of the study, Rakib Rayhan, said, "We're able to say 'There is something here...Take these veterans seriously.'"
USA Today + PLOS ONE Journal


Does The VA Hide Vets' Health Data?

According to Steven Coughlin, a former epidemiologist in the VA, Department of Veterans Affairs officials purposely manipulate or hide data that would support veteran claims. Coughlin claims the VA does this to prevent paying costly benefits. This is not the first time such allegations have been made against the VA especially with regard to Gulf War illness and PTSD claims.

Coughlin made his claims to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs last week.
Army Times


Summary Of Veteran Employment For 2012

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the jobless rate for all veterans fell to 7.0 for 2012. Currently, there are 21.2 million veterans

The rate for male veterans was 6.9% and 8.3% for female veterans.


Hero Firefighter, Just Back From War, Saves Four



 
FDNY firefighter Jim Denniston spent three months in Afghanistan with the 101st Rescue Squadron of the NY Air National Guard. Last week, he helped rescue four people, a woman and three children---ages 8,7, and 5---from a burning home in Queens, NY.

"It does feel good to be back," said Denniston.




Police Officer Line of Duty Deaths



For the first three months of 2013, there have been 22 police officer line of duty deaths.  Of those, 11 died as a result of gunfire. Another four died in vehicle accidents. Three suffered heart attacks.

Nineteen of those deaths were males and three were females. California leads the nation in police line of duty deaths with six to date followed by Arkansas, Puerto Rico and NY State, each with two.





 

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