On this Sunday’s edition of News You Can Use on WTIC Newstalk 1080 at 5:30 AM and 9:00 AM, host Ann Baldwin welcomes Diane Gates-Dulka, Gold Star wife and former president of the Connecticut and Western Massachusetts chapter of Gulf War Veterans of New England. Diane shares her powerful story of being denied death benefits for her husband, Joseph Dulka Jr., a 15-year veteran of the National Guard who tragically passed away from early-onset pancreatic cancer.

She opens up about the emotional and financial toll this denial has taken, and the many challenges she continues to face in advocating for families who deserve recognition, support, and rightful compensation.

In addition, Diane sheds light on the ongoing struggles Gold Star families face when navigating the benefits system, including her own frustrating experiences with ChampVA, where it can take over four months just to receive a response to basic correspondence. This candid conversation reveals the urgent need for reform in how we care for our veterans’ families and emphasizes the importance of continuing the fight for fairness, dignity, and justice.