Veterans
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- Written by: Danny Cook
On Oct . 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved an official diagnostic code for Gulf War Illness (GWI) more than 30 years after symptoms of the condition began to be reported.
The illness, which is described as an amalgamation of several chronic symptoms including fatigue, respiratory issues, joint pain and gastrointestinal pains, has been historically dismissed by doctors and physicians as psychological.
In an article posted by the Boston University School of Public Health, Denise Nichols, a Gulf War veteran and veteran advocate, said the implementation of the code has been a “big step forward for medicine, research and the health of our military community.”
With an established diagnostic code, patients with GWI can be easily found through medical search records, as opposed to being found through less efficient methods, such as social media.
The code also will allow for faster, more intensive research into the condition, better monitoring of symptoms and better tracking of effective treatments.
VFW Director of National Veteran Services Michael Figlioli claims that VFW Gulf War veterans will benefit greatly from this new diagnostic code.
“The CDC recognizing Gulf War Illness in a formal manner is significant for a number of reasons,” Figlioli said. “First off, there is validation that this is not ‘made up,’ or it’s ‘no such thing.’ It also provides for evidence-based care and not anecdotal treatment, better overall symptom management and finally, it will help substantiate veterans’ claims for benefits from the VA, leading to an overall better quality of life.”
It is believed that the condition affected as many as one-third of the 700,000 troops who were deployed in the Persian Gulf War between 1990 and 1991.
The Push For More Answers
The demolition of a chemical weapons depot in 1991 in the Khamisiyah region in southern Iraq is believed to have been a cause of GWI for more than 100,000 troops.
According to an article written by Linda Hersey for Stars and Stripes, inquiries into the demolition were “revived” when a group of veterans began to push for the declassification of tens of thousands of documents that could be detrimental to the research of GWI and chemical exposure during the war.
Ronald Brown, a retired Army specialist and Gulf War veteran, was present during the demolition of the weapons depot in the Khamisiyah region. He claims he began to feel sick just 15 minutes after the building was demolished.
“I came home sick and the problems continue,” Brown said. “This has been going on for 34 years.”
Included among the unreleased documents are interview transcripts with troops who also were present during the demolitions. This information could help doctors establish a timeline for GWI, which could help with the identification of effective treatments.
Brown is helping to lead the effort in the push for these critical documents to be released, along with veteran advocacy groups Veterans for Common Sense and the Vietnam Veterans of America.
“Whether [declassifying the documents] reveals something — that remains to be seen,” said Army veteran Anthony Hardie, a former staff sergeant and national director of Veterans for Common Sense. “It is a matter of justice to Gulf War veterans.”
While efforts from veterans’ advocacy organizations have been persistent, the declassification and subsequent releases of Gulf War Illness-related documents have been slow and inconsistent.
Despite this, Gulf War veterans continue to push for answers so that there is a stronger understanding of the largely misdiagnosed illness.
This article is featured in the 2026 January/February issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Danny Cook, senior writer for VFW magazine.
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- Written by: Vietnam Veterans of America
“Vietnam Veterans of America commends Congress on the final passage by the Senate of the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act on Jan. 6, 2026,” said Tom Burke, VVA National President. “VVA’s long support of this bipartisan, bicameral legislation is a testament to our unwavering commitment to addressing the significant issue of veteran homelessness. It is our duty to ensure that no veteran is left behind, and the passage of this act is a crucial step toward fulfilling that promise.”
The act, introduced by Representatives Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) and Brad Sherman (D-California) and Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), exempts veteran disability benefits from being included as income when determining eligibility for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing.
The bill was signed by President Trump on Jan. 20.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) income guidelines include disability compensation received by veterans as part of the calculation to determine eligibility for federal housing assistance funded through the CDBG program. This practice has disproportionately impacted those who rely on disability benefits as their primary source of income, often making it more difficult for them to access affordable housing and further contributing to veteran homelessness.
"Too many homeless and disabled veterans are forced to face barriers that have nothing to do with need and everything to do with bureaucracy. We sincerely appreciate Senators Crapo and Reed and Representatives De La Cruz and Sherman for advancing this important legislation. Removing red tape and supporting a veteran's opportunity for stable housing is a meaningful step toward ensuring every veteran has a place to call home," said Bill Paton, chair, VVA Homeless Veterans Committee.
“We are proud to see the hard work of our many members who participated in an ongoing and ultimately highly effective grassroots campaign come to a successful conclusion with this bill’s passage,” said VVA President Burke. “The sacrifices that disabled and wounded veterans have made in service to our nation should never be a stumbling block to their ability to find a safe and affordable place to call home. Rather, the nation has a duty to keep its promise to veterans and provide them with the benefits and support they earned.”
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge 2284 will hold a free Thanksgiving dinner for veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
It will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The event is free to all veterans, but all are welcome, with a $15 donation requested for non-veterans.
There will be music by Don Nouveau, featuring Jim Williams and Dory Smith.
The Moose Lodge is located at 15910 Moose Lodge Lane, Clearlake Oaks.
Please RSVP by calling the Lodge at 707-998-3740.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge 2284 will hold a free dinner for veterans on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
It will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The event is free to all veterans, with a $10 donation requested for non-veterans.
They will serve chicken surprise on a bed of rice with vegetables, salad and dessert.
There will be music by Mike Guarniero.
All proceeds go to support Operation Tango Mike and the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team.
The Moose Lodge is located at 15900 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks.
For more information, call the lodge at 707-998-3740.
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- Written by: San Francisco VA Health Care System
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. ― San Francisco VA Health Care System announced today it has earned a four-star rating as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2025 hospital quality ratings.
CMS’s hospital ratings are based on five categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience and timely and effective care. A higher star rating, out of 5, indicates better performance on these quality measures.
Within the last year, San Francisco VA Health Care System has instituted several improvements to better serve veterans.
These include reduced Emergency Department wait times and length of stays, improved communication with doctors and nurses, and an emphasis on care coordination and sharing of discharge information.
"These ratings highlight the excellent care San Francisco VA Health Care System provides,” said Neil S. Gordon, interim health care system director, San Francisco VA Health Care System. “Our job is to continue raising the bar for customer service and convenience throughout the department, so San Francisco VA Health Care System works better for the Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors we are charged with serving.”
As part of CMS’s 2025 ratings, 77% of VA hospitals that received an Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating received 4 or 5 stars, and no VA hospitals received a one-star rating.
More than 90% of VA hospitals with ratings maintained or improved their 2024-star rating.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge 2284 will hold a free dinner for veterans on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
It will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The event is free to all veterans, with a $10 donation requested for non-veterans.
The Moose Lodge is located at 15900 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks.
For more information, call the lodge at 707-998-3740.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will soon propose a rule to extend the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers eligibility for certain veterans and their family caregivers through Sept. 30, 2028.
The new rule will extend program eligibility for legacy participants, legacy applicants and their family caregivers for three years while VA continues the rulemaking process to refine the program.
The extension will ensure that legacy participants and applicants can maintain their benefits and stability during this time.
Legacy participants are veterans, service members and their family caregivers who were participating in PCAFC as of Sept. 30, 2020, and legacy applicants are veterans, servicemembers, and their family caregivers who applied for PCAFC before Oct. 1, 2020, and were accepted into the program on or after Oct. 1, 2020.
“Legacy caregivers have helped shape VA’s Caregiver Support Program for many years,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “This decision underscores VA’s commitment to veterans and caregivers across the nation and will help provide consistency and stability to nearly 15,000 legacy participants for years to come.”
PCAFC is part of VA’s broader Caregiver Support Program, and offers enhanced clinical support for family caregivers of eligible veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty, and meet other eligibility criteria.
PCAFC benefits include education and training, respite care, counseling, technical support, a monthly stipend and access to health care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs and certain travel expenses.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
More than 35 companies are primed to hire at the upcoming Western Region Virtual Career Fair for Veterans organized by DAV & RecruitMilitary.
This vital event supports veterans transitioning to civilian careers, highlighting their unmatched skills and dedication.
The job fair is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, online from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific.
The event will offer free registration to transitioning military personnel, veterans and their families.
This initiative not only facilitates employment but also celebrates the profound capabilities that our nation's heroes bring to America's civilian workforce.
For more information and to register, visit the event website.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This event originally was planned for July 16 but was rescheduled.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge 2284 will hold a free dinner for veterans on Wednesday, July 30.
It will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
They will serve meat loaf, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad and dessert.
There also will be music by Randy Hood and Gloria Strasburg.
The event is free to all veterans, with a $10 donation requested for non-veterans.
All donations will go to Operation Tango Mike and the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team.
The Moose Lodge is located at 15900 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks.
For more information, call the lodge at 707-998-3740.
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