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#1 http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/GWVIS_May2007.pdf

Page 1
Department of Veterans Affairs
Gulf War Veterans Information System
May 2007
Release Date: June 30, 2007
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Gulf War Veterans Information System
May 2007
May 2007 GWVIS Report
Table of Contents
Section One............................................................................................................................... 1
GWVIS Report Introduction..................................................................................................... 1
Overview.............................................................................................................................. 1
History and Partnership ....................................................................................................... 1
Preparation .......................................................................................................................... 1
Categories ........................................................................................................................... 2
Data Sources....................................................................................................................... 3
Limitations............................................................................................................................ 3
Section Two............................................................................................................................... 5
May 2007 Reports................................................................................................................... 5
Section Three .......................................................................................................................... 14
Glossary of Terms, Definitions, and Limitations.................................................................... 14
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Gulf War Veterans Information System
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1
Section One
GWVIS Report Introduction
Overview
The Gulf War Veterans Information System (GWVIS) provides the best available current data
identifying the 6.5 million Gulf War service member population. The GWVIS reports monitor, in part,
the service members’ use of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare and disability benefits.
GWVIS reports are distributed each quarter during the following months: March, June, September, and
December.
History and Partnership
In 1997, VA’s Office of Policy, Planning, and Preparedness, working with the Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA), the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and other VA organizational
elements, created the GWVIS reports to identify Gulf War service members and monitor, in part, their
VBA compensation and pension benefit use.
VBA works to enhance GWVIS reports with several governmental partners, including: Department of
Defense’s Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and Deployment Health Support Directorate
(DHSD), VHA, VA’s Office of Policy, Planning and Preparedness, VA’s Office of the General Counsel,
VA’s Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS), and VBA’s Compensation and Pension Service (C&P
Service).
GWVIS reports are consistent with the “Veterans Health Care Act of 1992” (Public Law 102-585) in
identifying Gulf War service members and reporting on various aspects of their VA healthcare and
benefit activity
.
Preparation
VBA uses four steps to prepare the quarterly GWVIS reports:
1. Every three months, the DoD sends VBA an updated list identifying all current and prior military
service members since the start of the Gulf War on August 2, 1990.
2. VBA compares DoD’s updated list of service members with VBA information systems.
3. VBA uses the results from the comparison to prepare reports about Gulf War veterans and their
compensation and pension benefit use sorted by specific cohorts based on Gulf War deployment
status.
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Gulf War Veterans Information System
May 2007
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4. VBA provides VHA a copy of the DoD data. VHA prepares the following reports for inclusions in
the GWVIS Reports:
•
Gulf War Readjustment Counseling Service – Vet Center Utilization
•
Gulf War Service Member VHA Healthcare Enrollment by Priority Group
•
Gulf War Mortality Data
Categories
GWVIS reports are prepared for all categories shown below. The following describes how some
categories are combined to create other categories:
The Count for this category …
… Is the sum of these categories
Total
Era + Deployed
Deployed
Conflict + Theater
Conflict
Al Jubayl + Khamisiyah + Other Conflict
The following graph illustrates how GWVIS categories are combined in this report:
TOTAL
All Service Members
8/2/90 - Present
ERA
Non-Deployed Service Member
8/2/90 - Present
CONFLICT
Desert Shield / Desert Storm
1
st
Year Only
8/2/90 – 7/31/91
AL JUBAYL
01/19/91
DEPLOYED
Active Duty and
Activated Reserve Forces Only
8/2/90 - Present
THEATER
Other Deployments
Starting 2
nd
Year
8/1/91-Present
KHAMISIYAH
03/04/91-03/10/91
OTHER
CONFLICT
Excludes Al Jubayl
And Khamisiyah
08/02/90-07/31/91
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Gulf War Veterans Information System
May 2007
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Data Sources
VBA uses data from the DoD and VA to prepare GWVIS reports. The list below identifies the DoD and
VA organizational source, scheduled cycle dates, and specific file names.
DoD:
DMDC extract, dated April 27, 2007:
• Active Duty Master File
• Active Duty Loss File
• Reserve Components Common Personnel Data System
• Operation Desert Shield/Storm Files
• Operation Mission/Contingency Files
DHSD:
• Khamisiyah Master File, dated March 2006
• Al Jubayl Master File, dated August 2005
VA:
VBA:
• Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS), dated March 2007
• Compensation and Pension Master Record (CPMR), dated March 2007
• Pending Issue File (PIF), dated April 27, 2007
VHA:
• VHA Gulf War Veteran Mortality Study, one time study prepared in 2001
• VHA Healthcare Enrollment Files, dated April 2006
• Readjustment Counseling Service - Vet Center (RCSVC) Utilization File, dated March 9, 2006.
Limitations
There are eleven limitations to the GWVIS report.
1. GWVIS reports do not contain information about individual veterans.
2. GWVIS reports do not provide information on how claims are adjudicated. Questions raised on this
matter should be referred to VBA’s C&P Service.
3. GWVIS reports do not cite statutes or regulations for terms and definitions. Questions about
compensation and pension terms and definitions should be referred to C&P Service. Questions
about any healthcare terms and definitions should be referred to VHA. The terms and definitions
used in this document are intended for this report only, and they should not be relied upon for any
other purpose, such as the presentation of claims for VA benefits.
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Gulf War Veterans Information System
May 2007
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4. Unless otherwise noted, this report provides current counts from the data sources listed. This report
does not contain cumulative counts of C&P benefit use.
5. GWVIS reports do not distinguish between a veteran and a “civilian veteran.” Some veterans
counted in the GWVIS report may currently be on active duty due to re-enlistment to active duty or
due to activation from the Reserve Forces to active duty. In contrast, “civilian veterans,” as defined
by the Census Bureau and in VA’s official counts, are those no longer on active duty.
6. The GWVIS report differs from existing VBA Reports Control Symbol (RCS) and Computer Output
Identification Number (COIN) reports. The GWVIS report identifies all veterans with military
service on or after August 2, 1990. In contrast, the COIN and RCS reports sort veterans into only
one period of military service, such as Vietnam Era, Peacetime, or Gulf War. COIN and RCS
reports contain lower counts of Gulf War veterans because some veterans of the Gulf War period
who served prior to August 1990 have multiple periods of military service. These veterans may be
counted in the COIN and RCS reports under another period of military service.
7. This report contains “Gulf War Mortality Data.” Please contact VHA’s Office of Public Health and
Environmental Hazards for more information regarding Gulf War mortality data. The GWVIS
statistical reports, containing death counts, do not constitute a Gulf War veteran mortality study.
8. Some of the veterans identified in this report had prior active military service. Therefore, not all of
the claims counted in this report were incurred during the Gulf War period or deployment to
Southwest Asia. VBA’s computer systems do not attribute each of a veteran’s disabilities to a
specific period of service or deployment.
9. The report, “Gulf War Readjustment Counseling Service - Vet Center Utilization,” contains counts
of unique veterans who sought or are using RCSVC services. The counts do not constitute a VA
study of war zone veterans.
10. The report, “Gulf War Service Member VHA Healthcare Enrollment by Priority Group,” is limited
to counts of Gulf War service members’ VHA healthcare enrollment by priority group. VA services
and treatment available to enrolled veterans generally are not based on priority groups.
11. This report gathered information only from the Benefits Delivery Network (BDN). Therefore, a
small number (less than 29,000) of new veteran records processed in the VBA corporate
environment are excluded from this report. Only VBA-related tables are affected by the data
exclusion.
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Section Two
May 2007 Reports
Service Member Statistics ................................................................................................... 6
Compensation and Pension (C&P) Statistics....................................................................... 7
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX) C&P Statistics.......................................................................... 8
Al Jubayl and Khamisiyah C&P Statistics ............................................................................ 9
Al Jubayl and Khamisiyah UDX C&P Statistics.................................................................. 10
Gulf War Readjustment Counseling Service – Vet Center Utilization (RCSVC) ................ 11
Gulf War Service Member VHA Healthcare Enrollment by Priority Group ......................... 12
Gulf War Mortality Data...................................................................................................... 13
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6
Service Member Statistics
May 2007
Category
Conflict
Theater
Deployed
Era
Total
Service Members
696,842
432,498 1,129,340 5,670,404 6,799,744
Service Member Separations
633,783
347,147
980,930 4,942,007 5,922,937
Active Duty Separations
518,224
340,323
858,547 3,129,559 3,988,106
Activated Reserve Forces Separations
115,559
6,824
122,383
330,765
453,148
Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations
0
0
0 1,481,683 1,481,683
Non-Activated Reserve Forces, Service- Connected
1
0
0
0
132,110
132,110
Veteran Deaths
2
13,517
4,330
17,847
55,999
73,846
Estimated Living Veterans
620,266
342,817
963,083 3,536,435 4,499,518
Interpreting GWVIS Categories
The Count for this category:
… Is the sum of:
And:
Total
Deployed
Era
Deployed
Conflict
Theater
1
1. VBA identified 132,110 Non-Activated Reservists who are service-connected or pensioners as "veterans." VBA
identified 8,389 deaths among the 132,110. The 8,389 deaths are included in the count for Deaths reported under "Era." The
123,721 remaining living veterans are included in the count of "Estimated Living Veterans" reported under "Era."
2
These counts reflect raw data that has not been subjected to any statistical analysis nor has it been adjusted in any way to
make it a mortality study. There has been no adjustment to account for age, gender, race, and other items required for a valid
mortality study. In addition, the data will not reflect deaths that occurred after March 2007. The use of these data to draw
conclusions regarding mortality rates will result in inaccurate conclusions. For analysis of Gulf War veteran mortality, see
"Mortality among US Veterans of the Persian Gulf War: 7-Year Follow-up, "Han K. Kang and Tim A. Bullman, American
Journal of Epidemiology, 2001,154(5): 399-405.
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7
Compensation and Pension Statistics
May 2007
Category
Conflict
Theater
Deployed
Era
Total
Service Members
696,842
432,498 1,129,340 5,670,404 6,799,744
Estimated Living Veterans
620,266
342,817
963,083 3,536,435 4,499,518
Claims Filed
280,623
127,288
407,911 1,212,995 1,620,906
Claims Processed
242,225
110,469
352,694 1,037,698 1,390,392
C&P Benefit Granted
212,867
101,940
314,807
911,647 1,226,454
Claims Granted Service Connection
211,546
101,668
313,214
907,691 1,220,905
Claims Denied Service Connection
30,679
8,801
39,480
130,007
169,487
Claims Pending
38,398
16,819
55,217
175,297
230,514
Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater,
Receiving Compensation or Pension.
161,313
80,665
241,978
688,799
930,777
Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), Receiving
Compensation or Pension
3,270
1,632
4,902
13,101
18,003
Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater, No
Compensation or Pension
6,650
2,061
8,711
32,403
41,114
Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), No
Compensation or Pension
40,313
17,310
57,623
173,388
231,011
Non-Service Connected, Receiving Pension
1,321
272
1,593
3,956
5,549
Non-Service Connected, No Pension
29,358
8,529
37,887
126,051
163,938
Interpreting GWVIS Categories
The Count for this category:
… Is the sum of:
And:
Total
Deployed
Era
Deployed
Conflict
Theater
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8
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX)
Compensation and Pension Statistics
May 2007
Category
Conflict
Theater
Deployed
Era
Total
Service Members
696,842
432,498 1,129,340 5,670,404 6,799,744
Estimated Living Veterans
620,266
342,817
963,083 3,536,435 4,499,518
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Claims Processed
13,027
1,847
14,874
Not
Applicable
14,874
UDX, Claims Granted Service Connection
3,384
354
3,738
Not
Applicable
3,738
UDX, Claims Denied Service Connection
9,643
1,493
11,136
Not
Applicable
11,136
UDX, Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater,
Receiving Compensation or Pension
2,900
303
3,203
Not
Applicable
3,203
UDX, Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), Receiving
Compensation or Pension
202
29
231
Not
Applicable
231
UDX, Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater,
No Compensation or Pension
128
8
136
Not
Applicable
136
UDX, Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), No
Compensation or Pension
154
14
168
Not
Applicable
168
UDX, Nonservice-Connected, Receiving Compensation
or Pension
3,936
741
4,677
Not
Applicable
4,677
UDX, Nonservice-Connected, No Pension
5,707
752
6,459
Not
Applicable
6,459
Interpreting GWVIS Categories
The Count for this category:
… Is the sum of:
And:
Total
Deployed
Era
Deployed
Conflict
Theater
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Gulf War Veterans Information System
May 2007
9
Al Jubayl and Khamisiyah
Compensation and Pension Statistics
May 2007
Category
Al Jubayl Khamisiyah
1
Other
Conflict
Conflict
Service Members
1,334
145,456
550,052
696,842
Estimated Living Veterans
1,202
130,338
488,726
620,266
Veteran Deaths
38
3,178
10,301
13,517
Claims Filed
496
69,442
210,685
280,623
Claims Processed
428
59,415
182,382
242,225
C&P Benefit Granted
352
51,436
161,079
212,867
Claims Granted Service Connection
350
51,102
160,094
211,546
Claims Denied Service Connection
78
8,313
22,288
30,679
Claims Pending
68
10,027
28,303
38,398
Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater,
Receiving Compensation or Pension.
263
38,593
122,457
161,313
Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), Receiving
Compensation or Pension
6
678
2,586
3,270
Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater,
No Compensation or Pension
13
1,843
4,794
6,650
Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), No
Compensation or Pension
68
9,988
30,257
40,313
Non-Service Connected, Receiving Pension
2
334
985
1,321
Non-Service Connected, No Pension
76
7,979
21,303
29,358
1
The total number of service members ever identified by DoD with possible low-level chemical warfare agent exposure
serving in units in the hazard areas at or near Khamisiyah, Iraq is 145,472 as of June 30, 2006. In this report, VBA displayed
compensation and pension statistics on 145,456 service members. VA and DoD have completed their fourth quarter 2006
review of service member records. However, there is a possibility of future changes, if needed, based on further review by
DoD.
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10
Al Jubayl and Khamisiyah
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX)
Compensation and Pension Statistics
May 2007
Category
Al Jubayl
Khamisiyah
1
Other
Conflict
Conflict
Service Members
1,334
145,456
550,052
696,842
Estimated Living Veterans
1,202
130,338
488,726
620,266
Veteran Deaths
38
3,178
10,301
13,517
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Claims Processed
67
4,396
8,564
13,027
UDX, Claims Granted Service Connection
21
1,176
2,187
3,384
UDX, Claims Denied Service Connection
46
3,220
6,377
9,643
UDX, Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater,
Receiving Compensation or Pension
19
1,017
1,864
2,900
UDX, Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), Receiving
Compensation or Pension
0
59
143
202
UDX, Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater,
No Compensation or Pension
1
50
77
128
UDX, Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), No
Compensation or Pension
1
50
103
154
UDX, Nonservice-Connected, Receiving Compensation
or Pension
12
1,298
2,626
3,936
UDX, Nonservice-Connected, No Pension
34
1,922
3,751
5,707
1
The total number of service members ever identified by DoD with possible low-level chemical warfare agent exposure
serving in units in the hazard areas at or near Khamisiyah, Iraq is 145,472 as of June 30, 2006. In this report, VBA displayed
compensation and pension statistics on 145,456 service members. VA and DoD have completed their fourth quarter 2006
review of service member records. However, there is a possibility of future changes, if needed, based on further review by
DoD.
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11
Gulf War Readjustment Counseling Service –
Vet Center Benefit Utilization
3
The tables below provide counts of unique Gulf War veterans using Readjustment Counseling Service –
Vet Center (RCSVC) as of March 2006
4
.
Category
Conflict
Theater
Deployed
Era
Total
Service Members
696,842
432,498
1,129,340
5,670,404
6,799,744
Estimated Living Veterans
620,266
342,817
963,083
3,536,435
4,499,518
Count of Unique Veterans Using Vet Centers
5
74,319
28,256
102,575
243,990
346,565
Category
Al Jubayl
Khamisiyah
Other
Conflict
Conflict
Service Members
1,334
145,456
550,052
696,842
Estimated Living Veterans
1,202
130,338
487,082
618,283
Count of Unique Veterans Using Vet Centers
137
17,096
57,086
74,319
Interpreting GWVIS Categories
The Count for this category:
… Is the sum of:
And:
Total
Deployed
Era
Deployed
Conflict
Theater
3
The report, “Gulf War Readjustment Counseling Service – Vet Center Benefit Utilization” contains counts of unique
veterans who sought or are using RCSVC services. The counts do not constitute a VA study of war zone veterans. For
further information about RCSVC, please go to: http://www.va.gov/rcs/
4
The Readjustment Counseling Service, effective with the August 2005 report, used a new data matching methodology,
which ensured a more reliable result.
5
The Readjustment Counseling Service Vet Centers were created through legislation passed by Congress. Vet Centers
provide a continuum of care during the post-war adjustment from military to civilian life for veterans (and family members)
in or near their local communities. Key access links to community agencies, VA, and professional readjustment counseling,
community education, and outreach to special veteran populations are made available to war zone veterans through the Vet
Centers.
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12
Gulf War Service Member VHA Healthcare Enrollment by Priority Group
6
The tables below show counts of Gulf War service members’ VHA healthcare enrollment by priority
group, as of April 2006.
Category
Conflict
Theater
Deployed
Era
Total
Gulf War Service Members
696,842
432,498 1,129,340 5,670,404 6,799,744
Estimated Living Veterans
620,266
342,817
963,083 3,536,435 4,499,518
Enrollment Priority Group 1
39,053
15,246
54,299
138,001
192,300
Enrollment Priority Group 2
34,086
16,980
51,066
137,407
188,473
Enrollment Priority Group 3
55,062
26,239
81,301
242,595
323,896
Enrollment Priority Group 4
1,793
439
2,232
6,642
8,874
Enrollment Priority Group 5
45,819
24,318
70,137
262,686
332,823
Enrollment Priority Group 6
24,204
2,860
27,064
53,890
80,954
Enrollment Priority Group 7
1,965
953
2,918
11,402
14,320
Enrollment Priority Group 8
46,026
18,619
64,645
193,678
258,323
Total Enrollment
248,008
105,654
353,662 1,046,301 1,399,963
Interpreting GWVIS Categories
The Count for this category:
… Is the sum of:
And:
Total
Deployed
Era
Deployed
Conflict
Theater
6
For definitions of VA’s eight enrollment priority groups, please see the Glossary of Terms, Definitions, and Limitations.
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13
Gulf War Mortality Data
1990 - 1997
This report, supplied by VHA, shows death rates from 1990 to 1997 of US Gulf War veterans deployed
to the Gulf War region before March 1, 1991 compared to non-Gulf War veterans over the same period.
1
Gulf War Mortality Data
Gulf War Veterans
Non-Gulf War
Veterans
Veteran
Gender
Number
of Deaths
Death
Rate
2
Number
of Deaths
Death
Rate
2
Ratio of
Death
Rates
3
Significance of
the ratio of death
rates
4, 5, 6
Male
4,312
11.1
5,542
12.9
0.95
Not significant
Female
194
6.6
376
5.7
1.16
Not significant
1
This study compared the mortality among the 621,902 Gulf War veterans who served at least one day during Operations
Desert Shield and Desert Storm (those arriving in the Southwest Asia theater of operations after August 2, 1990, but
before March 1, 1991) to the mortality among 746,248 non-Gulf War veterans who served during this conflict but were
not deployed to this area, and includes Active Duty, and activated Reserve Forces.
The Southwest Asia theater of operations is as defined by DoD’s Defense Manpower Data Center.
Non-Gulf War veterans used for comparison in this study were service members who served during this period but did
not deploy to the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and includes Active Duty, and activated Reserve Forces (from
“Mortality among US Veterans of the Persian Gulf War: 7-Year Follow-up,” Kang, Han K., and Tim A. Bullman,
American Journal of Epidemiology, 2001, 154(5): 399-405).
This study by the Department of Veterans Affairs is still ongoing.
2
Crude death rate for all causes of death, per 10,000 person years.
3
Death rate ratio comparing death rate of Gulf War veterans to the death rate of Non-Gulf War veterans, controlling for, race,
branch of service, unit component and marital status. A ratio of 1 indicates that the death rates are the same for the two
groups.
4
Determination if the death rate ratio was statistically significantly different from 1. Differences are considered significant
when there is 95% confidence that the difference did not occur by chance.
5
Although this study found no real difference between death rates among Gulf War and Non-Gulf War veterans, it found that
death rates for both groups were less than half of that found in their civilian counterparts.
6
An increased death rate among Gulf War veterans from motor vehicle accidents found in an earlier VA study has
disappeared in this seven year follow up study.
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14
Section Three
Glossary of Terms, Definitions, and Limitations
This section provides the terms, definitions, and limitations used in the GWVIS report. Questions about
terms and definitions should be referred to C&P Service or VHA, as appropriate. The terms and
definitions in this document are intended for this report only, and they should not be relied upon for any
other purpose, such as the presentation of claims for VA benefits.
Activated Reserve Forces Separations
Activated Reserve Forces Separations is a subset of Service Member Separations. Activated Reserve
Forces Separations identifies only current and former activated Reserve Forces personnel with a
discharge who were called to active duty on or after August 2, 1990, by the Federal Government. All
Activated Reserve Forces are counted, regardless of:
• Length of enlistment
• Re-enlistment
• Character of service
• Death
Limitations: In some cases, DMDC cannot determine if a service member enlisted directly into active
duty or if a service member was activated from the Reserve Forces. In those cases, the service members
are counted under Active Duty Separations.
Active Duty Separations
Active Duty Separations is a subset of Service Member Separations. Active Duty Separations identifies
current and former active duty personnel with a discharge and with service on or after August 2, 1990.
All Active Duty Separations are counted, regardless of:
• Length of enlistment
• Re-enlistment
• Character of service
• Death
Limitations: In some cases, DMDC cannot determine if a service member enlisted directly into active
duty or if a service member was activated from the Reserve Forces.
In those cases, the service members are counted under Active Duty Separations.
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15
Al Jubayl
Al Jubayl is a subset of the Conflict category. On or about January 19, 1991, service members serving in
and around Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia reported an incident involving a “loud noise,” “bright flash,” and
possible “Iraqi chemical warfare agent attack.” There are 1,334 service members identified by the DoD
as having served in and around the port city of Al Jubayl on January 19, 1991. DoD concludes that the
chemical attack was “unlikely.” Additional information regarding events at or near Al Jubayl can be
viewed at DoD’s web site: http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil
Claims Denied Service Connection
A veteran’s claim is denied when VA determines none of the veteran’s conditions meet eligibility
requirements for service connection under VA statutes and regulations. This denial is called
“Nonservice-Connected,” or “NSC.” Claims Denied Service Connection is the sum of Nonservice-
Connected - No Pension and Nonservice-Connected - Receiving Pension.
Limitation: Claims Denied Service Connection includes claims where all the veteran’s conditions were
determined to be Nonservice-Connected even if the veteran was granted pension. The total number of
Claims Denied Service Connection may decrease as appealed or reopened claims are granted. This is
not a cumulative count.
Claims Filed
Claims Filed equals the total of Claims Granted Service Connection, Claims Denied Service
Connection, and Claims Pending. This is not a cumulative count.
Limitations: Some duplicate counting may exist in the category Claims Filed if a veteran who was
previously granted or denied disability benefits subsequently reopens his/her claim. Pending claims may
increase or decrease each quarter based on the number of veterans who open new claims or re-open prior
claims. This is not a cumulative count.
Claims Granted Service Connection
A veteran’s claim is granted when VA determines at least one of the veteran’s conditions meets
eligibility requirements for service connection under VA statutes and regulations. This grant is called
“service-connected,” or “SC.” Veterans frequently file a claim for more than one condition. For
veterans who filed a claim for more than one condition, this category contains veterans with a full grant
of all conditions as well as veterans with a combination of grants and denials. Disabilities are evaluated
according to VA regulations, and the extent of the disability is expressed as a percentage from zero
percent to 100 percent, in increments of 10 percent. Claims Granted Service Connection includes all
service-connected disabilities, from zero percent to 100 percent, regardless of whether the veteran
receives monetary compensation.
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Limitations: Claims Granted Service Connection excludes claims where all the veteran’s conditions
were determined to be Nonservice-Connected even if the veteran was granted pension. The number of
Claims Granted Service Connection includes veterans who have subsequently died. The total number of
claims granted remains constant or increases each quarter. However, subcategories of Claims Granted
Service Connection may increase or decrease. An increase or decrease may occur when a veteran with a
granted claim re-enlists on active duty or is ordered to active duty from the Reserve Forces. Veterans
who return to active duty are not permitted to receive both active duty pay and VA payments. This is
not a cumulative count.
Claims Pending
Claims Pending identifies where VA is reviewing a veteran’s claim for compensation or pension
benefits. This includes appealed and reopened claims, diary issues, issues pending authorization, and
issues pending acceptance.
Limitations: The count of Claims Filed is the sum of Claims Pending and Claims Processed. Therefore,
duplicate counting may exist in the category Claims Filed if a veteran who was previously granted or
denied disability benefits subsequently reopens their claim. Pending claims may increase or decrease
each quarter based on the number of veterans who open new claims or re-open prior claims. This is not
a cumulative count.
Claims Processed
Claims Processed equals the total of Claims Granted Service Connection and Claims Denied Service
Connection. Claims Processed does not include pending claims. This is not a cumulative count.
Conflict
Conflict is a subset of Deployed. Conflict identifies active duty service members deployed to Southwest
Asia during the Gulf War, from August 2, 1990, through July 31, 1991. This includes Active Duty as
well as Activated Reserve Forces.
Limitations: The initial Gulf War air campaign began on January 17, 1991, and it lasted through
February 28, 1991. The Gulf War ground invasion into Iraq and Kuwait began February 24, 1991, and it
stopped on February 28, 1991. VA defines the Southwest Asia theater as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,
the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the
Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above
these locations.
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C&P Benefit Granted
C&P Benefit Granted is a sum of "Claims Granted Service Connection” and "Non-Service connected,
Receiving Pension." This is not a cumulative count.
Deployed
Deployed identifies active duty service members who served at least one day in the Southwest Asia
theater of operations from August 2, 1990, through the present. VA uses the period from August 2,
1990, to the present to identify service members deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operations
who are potentially eligible for additional VA benefits (such as undiagnosed illness compensation).
Deployed includes Activated Reserve Forces. Deployed equals the sum of the Conflict and Theater
categories.
Limitations: VA defines the Southwest Asia theater as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone
between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the
Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations.
Era
Era identifies service members who did not deploy to the Gulf War. This includes Active Duty,
Activated Reserve Forces, and Non-Activated Reserve Forces.
Estimated Living Veterans
Estimated Living Veterans is a subset of the Service Member population. It identifies individuals with
active duty service and a discharge on or after August 2, 1990. Estimated Living Veterans includes
service members called to active duty from the Reserve Forces. Subtractions are made for deaths.
Limitations: Estimated Living Veterans includes living Non-Activated Reserve Forces with a VA
service-connected condition or who are in receipt of pension. Subtractions are made for deaths from
among those Non-Activated Reserve Forces who had a VA service-connected condition or who were in
receipt of pension. This report does not distinguish between a veteran and a “civilian veteran.” Some
veterans counted in this report may currently be on active duty due to re-enlistment to active duty or due
to activation from the Reserve Forces to active duty. In contrast, “civilian veterans” (as defined by the
Census Bureau and in VA’s official counts) are those no longer on active duty.
VBA continues to work with VA's Office of Policy, Planning and Preparedness to resolve differences in
the number of estimated living Gulf War veterans counted in GWVIS and those determined to be Gulf
War veterans in VetPop2004, v1.0, which is 4,781,000 as of April 2007. VetPop2004 estimates the
number of civilian veterans (veterans not on active duty), while the VBA counts unique social security
numbers, and includes both civilian veterans and veterans who are on active duty. Moreover,
VetPop2004 includes a combination of reported separations up through September 2003 and projected
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separations after 2003 whereas VBA includes reported separations up through April 2006. The number
of estimated living Gulf War veterans has increased as the number of service members discharged from
active duty exceeded the number of Gulf War veterans who died.
Healthcare Enrollment Priority Group
The table below describes VA Healthcare Priority Groups 1 through 8.
Healthcare Enrollment Priority Group
Priority
Group
Description of Priority Group
Priority 1
• Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more disabling, or
• Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected
conditions
Priority 2
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40% disabling
Priority 3
• Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or 20% disabling
• Veterans who are former POWs
• Veterans awarded the Purple Heart
• Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that began in the line of duty
• Veterans who are disabled because of VA treatment or participation in VA
vocational rehabilitation program
• Veterans whose receipt of disability compensation is suspended because of the
receipt of military retired pay
• Veterans receiving compensation at the 10 percent rating level based on
multiple non-compensable service-connected disabilities that clearly interfere
with normal employability
Priority 4
• Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits (on
pension) from VA
• Veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled
Priority 5
• Veterans receiving VA pension benefits
• Veterans who are eligible for Medicaid programs
• Veterans with income and assets below VA Means Test Thresholds
Priority 6
• Veterans with 0% service-connected conditions, but receiving VA
compensation
• Veterans seeking care only for disorders relating to Ionizing Radiation and
Project 112/SHAD
• Veterans seeking care for Agent Orange Exposure during service in Vietnam
• Veterans seeking care for Gulf War Illness or for conditions related to exposure
to Environmental Contaminants during service in the Persian Gulf
• Veterans of World War I or the Mexican Border War
• Veterans who served in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period
of hostility after November 11, 1998, for 2 years following discharge or release
from the military
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Khamisiyah
Khamisiyah is a subset of the Conflict category. The DoD identified 145,472 service members as
having served in units in the hazard areas in and around the Khamisiyah Ammunition Supply Point, Iraq
at the time of the demolition of chemical warfare munitions. On March 4, 1991, and on March 10, 1991,
the U.S. military destroyed Iraqi “chemical warfare agent rockets,” possibly exposing U.S. service
members to low levels of chemical warfare agents. Based on the most recent analysis of the Khamisiyah
events, the DoD believes 101,768 service members were possibly exposed to low-level chemical
warfare agents. Additional information about the current Khamisiyah analysis can be viewed at DoD’s
web site: http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/khamisiyah_iii/.
Limitations: On December 21, 2004, VA received an updated list of 145,473 service members from
DoD who were possibly in the hazard areas according to at least one of DoD’s modeling efforts or
DoD’s 50-kilometer radius analysis. This is an increase of 6 service members' records since March
2006 based on new data from DoD. In this GWVIS report, VBA displayed compensation and pension
statistics on 145,456 service members. VA and DoD have completed their review of service member
records. However, there is a possibility of future changes, if needed, based on review by DoD.
Priority
Group
Description of Priority Group
Priority 7
Veterans who agree to pay specified copayments with income and/or net worth above
VA Means Test threshold and income below the Geographic Means Test Threshold
• Subpriority a: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans who were
enrolled in VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained
enrolled since that date
• Subpriority c: Nonservice-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA
Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since
that date
• Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans not included in
Subpriority a above. VA is not currently using Subpriority e
• Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected veterans not included in Subpriority c
above. VA is not currently using Subpriority g
Priority 8
Veterans who agree to pay specified copayments with income and/or net worth above
VA Means Test Threshold and the Geographic Means Test Threshold
• Subpriority a: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans enrolled as of
January 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date
• Subpriority c: Nonservice-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003
and who have remained enrolled since that date
• Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans applying for
enrollment after January 16, 2003
• Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected veterans applying for enrollment after
January 16, 2003
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Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations
Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations is a subset of Service Member Separations. Non-Activated
Reserve Forces Separations identifies individuals with current and former Reserve Forces service and a
discharge from Reserve Forces on or after August 2, 1990. Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations
are counted under Estimated Living Veterans only when the individual becomes either service-
connected or a pensioner. All Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations are counted, regardless of:
• Length of enlistment
• Re-enlistment
• Character of service
• Death
Limitations: Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations may include service members who are veterans
due to active duty service prior to the start of the Gulf War on August 2, 1990. Due to system
limitations, VA cannot determine the status of these service members’ active duty service, if any.
Non-Activated Reserve Forces, Service-Connected
This category identifies a subset of Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations who are service-
connected or who are pensioners. This category is included in the count of veterans because they are
receiving service-connected or war-time related benefits.
Limitations: Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations may include service members who are veterans
due to active duty service prior to the start of the Gulf War on August 2, 1990. Due to system
limitations, VA cannot determine the status of these service members’ active duty service, if any.
Nonservice-Connected, No Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans who do not qualify for VA compensation or pension.
VA determined the veteran did not qualify for compensation because none of the veterans’ conditions
are related to military service. In addition, VA determined the veteran did not qualify for a pension
based on VA’s disability and income requirements. This denial is called “nonservice-connected,” or
“NSC.” This is not a cumulative count.
Nonservice-Connected, Receiving Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA determined the veteran’s condition(s) were
not related to military service. This denial is called “nonservice-connected,” or “NSC.” However, the
veteran qualifies for a pension due to a nonservice-connected disability and income qualifications. This
is not a cumulative count.
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Other Conflict
Other Conflict is a subset of Conflict. Other Conflict identifies active duty service members deployed to
Southwest Asia during the Gulf War, from August 2, 1990, through July 31, 1991, not already identified
in the categories Al Jubayl and Khamisiyah. This includes Active Duty as well as Activated Reserve
Forces.
Reserve Forces
This category includes military service members from the following seven Reserve Forces components:
Air National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Army National Guard,
Army Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve.
Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater, No Compensation or Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected condition
at ten percent (10%) or higher. However, the veteran is not in receipt of compensation or pension
payments. For example, this category includes service-connected military retiree veterans who are
entitled to VA compensation but who elected not to receive it. It also includes veterans with disability
severance pay who are on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) and the Permanent
Disability Retirement List (PDRL). This is not a cumulative count.
Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater, Receiving Compensation or Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected condition
at ten percent (10%) or higher, and the veteran receives compensation or pension payments. This is not
a cumulative count.
Service-Connected Zero (0%) Percent, Receiving Compensation or Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected condition
at zero percent (0%). The veteran qualifies for pension payments based on nonservice-connected
disability and income, or the veteran qualifies for compensation based on VA regulations for multiple
zero percent service-connected conditions. This is not a cumulative count.
Service-Connected Zero (0%) Percent, No Compensation or Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected condition
at zero percent (0%). However, the veteran does not qualify for compensation or pension payments.
This is not a cumulative count.
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Service Members
Service Members identifies individuals with any military service on or after August 2, 1990, the start of
the Gulf War. VA identifies Service Members because they may be eligible for VA benefits (education,
life insurance, home loan guaranty, and compensation and pension) under certain conditions. This
includes:
• Active Duty Services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
• Reserve Components: Air National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force
Reserve, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve
All Service Members are counted, regardless of:
• Length of enlistment
• Re-enlistment
• Character of service
• Death
• Activated Reserve Forces
• Non-Activated Reserve Forces
Limitations: Individuals in the Public Health Service (PHS) or in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) are not identified or counted as Service Members. Details about the benefit use
of individuals in PHS and NOAA are not provided in this report.
Service Member Separations
Service Member Separations is a subset of Service Members. Service Member Separations identifies
individuals with a discharge from military service on or after August 2, 1990.
Service Member Separations equals the sum of three categories:
• Active Duty Separations
• Activated Reserve Forces Separations
• Non-Activated Reserve Forces Separations
All Service Members Separations are counted, regardless of:
• Length of enlistment
• Re-enlistment
• Character of service
• Death
• Activated Reserve Forces
• Non-Activated Reserve Forces
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Theater
Theater is a subset of Deployed. Theater identifies active duty service members who deployed to
Southwest Asia during the Gulf War from August 1, 1991, until the present. This includes Active Duty
as well as Activated Reserve Forces. Service members who served in both the Conflict and the Theater
time periods are reported only under Conflict.
Limitations: VA defines the Southwest Asia theater as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone
between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the
Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations.
Total
Total equals the sum of the categories Deployed and Era.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Claims Denied Service Connection
An undiagnosed illness (UDX) claim is denied when VA determines none of the veteran’s UDX
conditions met eligibility requirements under VA regulations. This denial is called “nonservice-
connected,” or “NSC.”
Limitations: There may be overlap between the categories Undiagnosed Claims Denied Service
Connection and Claims Granted Service Connection. This happens when a veteran had all UDX
conditions denied and a veteran has at least one diagnosed condition granted. The Theater category
contains counts of veterans granted and denied UDX claims even though DMDC reports some of the
veterans as Era (non deployed). VA is reviewing these veterans’ records with DoD to determine the
veterans’ correct deployment status. This is not a cumulative count.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Claims Granted Service Connection
A veteran’s undiagnosed illness (UDX) claim is granted when VA determines at least one of the
veteran’s UDX conditions meets eligibility requirements under VA regulations for service connection.
This grant is called “service-connected,” or “SC.” This category is a subset of Claims Granted Service
Connection because the veteran has at least one granted condition. For veterans who filed a claim for
more than one UDX condition, this category contains veterans with a full grant of all UDX conditions as
well as veterans with a combination of grants and denials for UDX conditions. Disabilities are
evaluated according to VA regulations, and the extent of the disability is expressed as a percentage from
zero percent to 100 percent, in increments of 10 percent. Undiagnosed (UDX) Claims Granted Service
Connection includes all service-connected UDX disabilities, from zero percent to 100 percent,
regardless if the veteran receives compensation.
Limitations: The Theater category contains counts of veterans granted and denied UDX claims even
though DMDC reports some of the veterans as Era (non deployed). VA is reviewing these veterans’
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records with DoD to determine the veterans’ correct deployment status. This report provides the current
count of veterans granted service connection for a UDX condition. This is not a cumulative count.
Therefore, the count may increase, decrease, or remain the same. The count may decrease if a service-
connected veteran’s UDX condition was subsequently diagnosed or resolved.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Claims Processed
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX) Claims Processed equals the total of Undiagnosed Illness (UDX) Claims
Granted Service Connection and Undiagnosed Illness (UDX) Claims Denied Service Connection.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX) Claims Processed does not include pending claims. This is not a
cumulative count.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Nonservice-Connected, No Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans who do not qualify for VA compensation or pension.
VA determined the veteran did not qualify for compensation because none of the veterans’ Undiagnosed
Illness (UDX) conditions are related to military service. In addition, VA determined the veteran did not
qualify for a pension based on VA’s disability and income requirements. This denial is called
“nonservice-connected,” or “NSC.” This is not a cumulative count.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Nonservice-Connected, Receiving Compensation or
Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA determined the veteran’s undiagnosed UDX
condition(s) did not meet VA regulations for service connection. This denial is called “nonservice-
connected,” or “NSC.” However, the veteran qualified for a pension due to disability and low income,
or the veteran was granted service connection for a diagnosed condition.
Limitations: There may be overlap between the category Undiagnosed (UDX) Nonservice-connected
Receiving Compensation or Pension and the category Claims Granted Service Connection. This
happens when a veteran had all UDX conditions denied and has at least one diagnosed condition
granted. This is not a cumulative count.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater, No
Compensation or Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected
Undiagnosed Illness condition at ten percent (10%) or higher. However, the veteran is not in receipt of
compensation or pension payments. For example, this category includes service-connected military
retiree veterans who are entitled to VA compensation but who elected not to receive it. It also includes
veterans with disability severance pay who are on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) and
the Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL). This is not a cumulative count.
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Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Service-Connected Ten Percent (10%) or Greater, Receiving
Compensation or Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX) condition at ten percent (10%) or higher, and the veteran receives
compensation or pension payments. This is not a cumulative count.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Service-Connected Zero (0%) Percent, No Compensation or
Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX) condition at zero percent (0%). However, the veteran does not qualify for
compensation or pension payments. This is not a cumulative count.
Undiagnosed Illness (UDX), Service-Connected Zero Percent (0%), Receiving
Compensation or Pension
This category identifies the number of veterans where VA rated at least one service-connected condition
at zero percent (0%). The veteran qualifies for pension payments based on nonservice-connected
disability and income, or the veteran qualifies for compensation based on VA regulations for multiple
zero percent service-connected conditions. This is not a cumulative count.
Unique Count of Veterans Using Vet Centers
This category counts the number of unique veterans where the Readjustment Counseling Service Vet
Center (RCSVC) computer system indicates the veteran sought or is using RCSVC services.
Veteran Deaths
Identifies deceased veterans reported only in VBA’s Compensation and Pension Master Record (CPMR)
and the Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS).
Limitations: These counts reflect raw data that have not been subjected to any statistical analysis nor
adjusted in any way to make it a mortality study. There has been no adjustment to account for age,
gender, race, and other items required for a valid mortality study. In addition, the data will not reflect
deaths reported after April 2007. The use of these data to draw conclusions regarding mortality rates
will result in inaccurate conclusions. For analysis of Gulf War veteran mortality, see “Mortality among
US Veterans of the Persian Gulf War: 7-Year Follow-up,” Han K. Kang and Tim A. Bullman, American
Journal of Epidemiology, 2001, 154(5): 399-405.