03:28 PM ET 04/05/00

Gulf War Vets Die Awaiting Benefits

By LARRY MARGASAK=

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Rob Booker tried for nearly two years to qualify for veterans' compensation, arguing the Lou Gehrig's disease ravaging his body was connected to his service in the Gulf War.

But because in almost all cases Gulf War illnesses aren't automatically recognized by the government, a lengthy investigation ensued.

At one point, he and his wife were even urged by a Veterans' Affairs doctor to get their private physician to change his diagnosis to improve their chances of securing benefits.

``We didn't even bother,'' Lynn Booker recalled. ``No doctor is going to change a diagnosis and set himself up for malpractice.''

The VA finally agreed this week to grant Booker benefits. But it was too late for the former Army national guardsman from Evergreen, Ala. He died in February at age 35, leaving behind his wife, two daughters _ ages 2 and 7 _ and lots of frustration.

The family's compensation will amount to $1,300 a month in survivors' benefits.

A decade after the U.S. victory in the Persian Gulf, there are the first glimmers of hope that veterans suffering from a variety of ailments _ some affecting the nervous system _ may one day automatically qualify for compensation.

VA officials have announced a yearlong study to determine whether there is a higher incidence of Lou Gehrig's disease among the 700,000 veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War.

At least 28 Gulf veterans have been diagnosed with possible amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which destroys the brain and spinal cord nerve cells. It is the most deadly of so-called Gulf War illnesses, which also include severe reactions to certain smells, night sweats, lower back pain, diarrhea, cramps, fatigue and memory loss

If researchers establish a higher incidence among veterans, their finding could trigger a presumption that it was service-connected and lead to automatic compensation.

``We see this as a solid victory and a very positive move by the VA,'' said Paul Sullivan, spokesman for the National Gulf War Resources Center, a nonprofit group. ``It clearly opens the door.''

Until then, Gulf veterans still must prove that ailments or injuries are connected to their service. About 136,000 veterans of the war have succeeded in securing disability payments.

For Mrs. Booker, a study seems like a waste while sick and dying veterans are being denied compensation. ``It has been nine years since the war,'' she said. ``They should use the money to help guys who need it.''

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., criticizes the VA for not giving Gulf veterans ``the benefit of the doubt. The worst that could happen is you help someone who needs help.''

And Rep. Bernard Sanders, a liberal Vermont independent, said he is concerned that serious researchers on Gulf War illness ``are not getting the kind of support we need from VA and the Department of Defense.''

One researcher, Dr. Robert Haley, has concluded that Gulf veterans suffered brain injuries due to chemical exposure during the war. The chief of clinical epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center also found the veterans have a higher death rate from auto accidents and suicides.

``In medical science, people who have brain injuries have higher rates of automobile accidents and a higher rate of depression and suicide,'' Haley said. ``We proposed that as an explanation and they (the VA) have not accepted it.''

Dr. John R. Feussner, the VA's chief research and development officer, said the agency has been ``very receptive to following leads that might help explain Gulf War illness.'' He said the agency is spending $160 million for 150 projects.

Those researchers are trying to learn whether Gulf veterans' ailments resulted from exposure to depleted uranium, tropical diseases, oil well fires or chemical weapons.

``Part of the difficulty that lay people don't understand is the research process is quite methodical,'' Feussner said. ``Gulf War syndrome isn't as precise as fever or pneumonia. My fear is that people misunderstand how long it may take to clarify a difficult issue'' and view the VA as ``bad or inattentive.''

He said that the 28 likely ALS diagnoses made so far would approximate the rate expected for the general population. But the VA proceeded with the study because of other warning flags, including that veterans with the disease were generally younger than average ALS sufferers.

On the net: ALS Association:

Department of Veterans' Affairs: