The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a final regulation that makes it easier for veterans to obtain health care and disability compensation for certain diseases associated with services in Southwest Asia (including Iraq) and Afghanistan, Business Wire reports.

"This is part of historic changes in how VA considers Gulf War Veterans' illnesses," said VA Secretary Eric Shinseki in Business Wire.

The new regulation says there is a positive association between service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan and the long-term effects of nine diseases, including malaria, salmonella and West Nile virus.

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