WSU to Study Iraq Toxins' Effect
Spokesman-Review
by Bert Caldwell
Research to examine how exposure might damage offspring of soldiers
Washington State University scientists will use a $1.7 million grant to study what multi-generation genetic damage might be done by toxins U.S. troops could encounter in Iraq.
The research using laboratory rats, not humans, will be the first for the military to examine the epigenetic effects of pesticides, herbicides and other compounds, said lead scientist Michael Skinner, director of the university's Center for Reproductive Biology.
Previous studies have looked at the health effects of other substances, notably the Agent Orange used to defoliate jungles in Vietnam, on the soldiers directly exposed, he said, not on their children or grandchildren.
"The science really had not caught up with the trans-generational stuff," said Skinner, one of several WSU pioneers in the field of epigenetic, or multi-generational, inheritance.
Besides herbicides and pesticides – which and in what combinations has not been determined – the study also will look at the effects of explosives residues, he said.
The four-year study will allow researchers to see how any changes in genetic chemistry that develop are passed along through two subsequent generations of rats, he said, noting that only the first two years of research have been funded.
Among the problems that might develop are kidney disease, or changes in the male and female reproductive organs, he said.
If any genetic markers are identified in rats, Skinner said, follow-up research could look at whether they might show up among members of the military as well.
That would be of particular interest to Dave Holmes, interim chief operating officer of the Institute for Systems Medicine, which was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense grant passed through to Skinner.
Holmes' son, Tim Hammond, did two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.
"They sprayed all kinds of stuff on them," Holmes said.
Although the grant money, the first awarded ISM, will fund work in Pullman, he said the organization's supporters hope any subsequent clinical studies will be done in Spokane.
"There's a lot of excitement about making it happen," he said.
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VA Extends Routine Future Examinations Schedule By Three Years
VA will now schedule routine future examinations at five-year intervals instead of two-year intervals hoping to cut claims backlog.
VBA Fast Letter is posted below.
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Benefits Administration
Washington, D.C. 20420
July 29, 2010
Director (00/21) Fast Letter 10-14 Revised
All VA Regional Offices and Centers
SUBJ: Procedural Change Regarding Routine Future Examinations
Revision
This fast letter is revised to comport with 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 3.344. We changed the information on handling the results of a routine future examination on page 2.
Purpose
At the recent VBA Leadership Workshop, a recommendation was made to modify compensation claims processing procedures to schedule routine future examinations at 5-year intervals instead of 2-year intervals. This fast letter implements this procedural change to aid in the reduction of the rating-related claims inventory.
Procedure
This procedural change applies to reexaminations under 38 CFR §3.327 and is effective immediately. Claims should be thoroughly analyzed to determine if a routine future examination is necessary. Once it is determined that a routine future examination is needed, schedule the examination 5 years from the date of the rating decision, with the following exceptions:
o Prestabilization rating decisions under 38 CFR §3.327(b)(1).
o Discharge from military service due to a mental disorder caused by traumatic stress under 38 CFR §4.129.
o Malignancies that require reevaluation 6 months following cessation of treatment for active disease.
o Any other future examination required under other sections of 38 CFR Part 3 and Part 4.
38 CFR §3.327 states that reexaminations, including periods of hospital observation, will be requested whenever VA determines there is a need to verify either the continued existence or the current severity of a disability. Reexaminations will be required if it is likely that a disability has improved, or if evidence indicates there has been a material change in a disability or the current rating may be incorrect.
Routine future examinations established prior to the date of this fast letter (excluding the exceptions listed above) will be automatically rescheduled for 5 years from the date of the rating decision through a software program. Regional offices will be notified when this has been completed. Until notified, all routine future examinations that mature should be advanced to a date 5 years from the date of the rating decision that established the need for the routine future examination.
Per 38 CFR §3.344(a), when the results of a routine future examination (set at 5 years out) show improvement of a disability that is subject to temporary or episodic improvement, a reduction in evaluation cannot be made based on only one examination, unless all the evidence of record clearly warrants the conclusion that sustained improvement has been demonstrated. The second examination should be scheduled for 18, 24, or 30 months from the date of the new rating decision per 38 CFR §3.344(b). Note that the provisions of 38 CFR §3.344(a) and (b) do not apply to disabilities which have not become stabilized and are likely to improve. Reexaminations showing improvement in these disabilities will warrant reduction in rating.
Adjudicate and promulgate all routine future examinations under end product 310 and 810 work items.
Point of Contact
Questions about this fast letter should be submitted to VAVBAWAS/CO/212A.
/S/
Thomas J. Murphy
Director
Compensation and Pension Service
