Zachary Hearn, deputy director of claims for The American Legion's National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, recently testified on the VA's processing of Gulf War Illness claims during a joint hearing on Capitol Hill. A Government Accounting Office (GAO) report and the Legion's findings paint a bleak picture of the development and adjudication of Gulf War-related claims. Medical providers have optional training, in which only 10 percent participate, and Veterans Benefits Administration personnel complain of a lack of adequate training on the subject, according to Hearn. A video of the hearing and relevant documents are available on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website. Highlights of the GAO Report are available on the GAO website.
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