I would hope it wouldn't be. Rather than go into generalities, I would like to suggest that if there had been an ombudsman for James Cotter, he would have received his pension and the necessary treatment many years before he did.
I'm a former federal servant myself. Bureaucracies sometimes tend to be slow, and if they're not sure what to do, they delay and delay and delay. I think in this case an ombudsman should have the authority, if necessary and within reason, to say, “Fine, these are the regulations, but this is an exceptional case, and this is my recommendation.” This has happened, if I remember correctly, with an air force person.
With regard to people in the other wars you mentioned, and the Agent Orange in the gulf, one of my very good friends is a lady by the name of Louise Richards. If you haven't met her, I'm sure you will. She will tell you about depleted uranium, believe you me.