Well... any discussion of this topic tends to become overheated immediately. However, as to the possibility/probability for "some nitwit of a federal employee" becoming involved in the decision making process on the cases, that IS rather high. There are remedies for their misconduct... and I would certainly concur on the matter of "pill pushing Doctors who pencil whip the paperwork..." But, that is an entirely different subject.
I do recognize that this issue is disputable, but the Bush administration has been trying its best to increase VA budget across the board, and is doubtless among the foremost in demonstrating compassion for Veterans by deeds as well as by words.
As close as I am able to get to witnessing any part of this debate is to see what is posted here on PF, and to watch Congressional hearings which deal with the matter. My own VA medical rating is so far down the ranks I'd be lucky to get an autopsy if I died as a wino in a gutter. It is Congress who is responsible for approving the national budget. The President receives monetary recommendations from the VA and those are vetted by OMB etc., before they ever appear on a proposed budget for vote in Congress.
From what I have been able to determine, the Bush administration has accomplished some rather significant gains for all VA Vets up to now. When I see Congress in action, what I must conclude is that they are ducking and hiding most of the time, scapegoating anyone but themselves. They get plenty of mail and anger from Veterans, but they actually DO precious little about it.
In the end, I simply came to a different conclusion after having read the article that began this thread. I did not see any outright evidence that there is going to be any "axing" of PTSD benefits being paid out.
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