From the National Gulf War Resource Center VA inadvertently sent letters to at least 1200 veterans notifying them that they have the terminal illness amyotrophic lateral sclerosis commonly known as ALS

Letter from the VA States: "According to records of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you have a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This letter tells you about VA disability compensation benefits that may be available to you."

This letter was automatically generated and sent to no less then1200 veterans, The VA is still working to get the total number. The 1200 may just be from the West Virginia VARO. The NGWRC is receiving phone calls from many veterans concerned they may have a terminal illness.(

Alabama, West Virginia, Florida, Kentucky, Kansas, Wyoming so far) Many of these veterans went to private clinicians to get a second opinion. This second opinion outside of the VA is very expensive and can range from $1000 to $3000 or more.

The National Gulf War Resource Center requests that the VA set up a hotline for veterans to respond to this letter. It also requests that any outside expenses for testing and travel to and from their primary care clinician be reimbursed by the VA. This is a terminal disease many veterans may believe that they are about to die..

The VA has an obligation to go on television and make public service announcements to prevent veterans from becoming overly alarmed. In addition, each veteran that was notified should be rescreened by the Department of Veterans Affairs for neurological issues that are undiagnosed. While it remains to be seen how this debacle happened we know what needs to be done right now to prevent further harm.

We expect the VA to rapidly notify by telephone each veteran on the list.

Thousands of Gulf War veterans remain ill and so far, the VA does not have any treatment for their chronic multi-symptom illness. One common factor amongst Gulf War veterans is undiagnosed neurological conditions. These veterans need to be rescreened. If you are a veteran who received this notification, please contact the National Gulf War Resource Center and we will advocate on your behalf.

We at NGWRC are deeply concerned that some veterans already very ill will take this ALS letter as a death sentence and there could be suicides that result from this mistake! We are asking the VA to get out in front of this immediately in the press nationally and explain that there was an error!

POC DENISE NICHOLS - DSNurse1@yahoo.com

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