Comment on AO09-Interim Final Rule-LaShell, David D.

The unknown illnesses that resulted from the Persian Gulf War is a slow disease which manifests over time. Therefore the presumptive date for Gulf War Illnesses needs to be eliminated to cover all veterans of the Persian Gulf Area Of Operations. This will ensure those veterans who have been on ground as late as Decemember 2011 are covered for this unknown illness. As of this time it is unknown if those veterans in Afghanistan are free from any illnesses asscociated to combat as were Iraq veterans. Please, eliminate the presumptive end date to make sure our veterans are completely covered.