VA?s decision to NOT initiate a review 72,000 claims

[darrels joy]

NEWS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS? AFFAIRS

CRAIG SUPPORTS VA?S DECISION TO STOP PTSD REVIEW



Sen. Larry Craig and VA Secretary Jim Nicholson


November 10, 2005
Contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) VA Secretary Jim Nicholson received praise today from a top Senate leader for the VA?s decision to not initiate a review 72,000 claims for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder .

"I applaud the Secretary and his staff at the VA for this decision, which was made after a careful review of the facts" said Sen. Larry Craig, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans? Affairs.

Earlier this year the VA's Inspector General reported on its examination of 2,100 randomly selected files of veterans with disability ratings for PTSD. The IG cited insufficient documentation in 25 percent of those files and a dramatic increase in veterans filing for disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder since 1999.

The VA has now reviewed all 2,100 files and, according to VA officials, the problems appear to be confined to clerical errors, such as missing documents, and not fraud .

"It?s important that we look at hard issues from time to time, to ensure that veterans are getting their earned compensation and to balance that with protections for taxpayers who foot the bill," Craig said.

"While no veteran should receive benefits that cannot be supported by evidence from their service, it?s sensible to stop the review process, even as the VA rachets up the training of its personnel so that we don?t see a 25 percent clerical error problem again."

In a statement released to the media, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson said that the agency will improve its training for VA personnel who handle disability claims and toughen administrative oversight to ensure that errors are avoided.

"Not all combat wounds are caused by bullets and shrapnel," Nicholson added. "We have a commitment to ensure veterans with PTSD receive compassionate, world-class health care and appropriate disability compensation determinations."

####

See this release on-line at: http://veterans.senate.gov/index.cfm...eleases&id=325

Got this news from a friend? Sign up for your own news at http://veterans.senate.gov.

No longer want this in your in-box? Send a kind note with ?Delete? in the subject line to: jeff_schrade@vetaff.senate.gov

Thank God someone stuck up for us. Thank you Jim Nicholson.

How can I e-mail Secreaty Jim Nicholson and thank him for sticking up for veterans.

[Gimpy]

like all the letters, E-mails and 'snail mail' to our Senators and Legislators as well as all the hell we've been raising in the news media about this crap FINALLY PAID OFF!

Thanks to evryone that took the time and effort to send the message out that we are SICK & DAMN TIRED OF THIS $HIT!

PS-----------ain't it funny that they made this decision the day before Veterans Day?????

Bunch of SCUMBAGS!

[Arrow]

It's good to hear this decision. But someone is going to have to talk pretty fast to convince methey have reviewed all those files. I believe this is a direct result of the pressure they got from service oganizations and individual veterans. How tragic Gregg Morris of New Mexico who was100% service connected for PTSD a Vietnam Veteran that had been awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received took his life over a few clerical errors. Rest In Peace Gregg

Robert the offical VA website didn't not give a e-mailaddress but here's a number for you to call. It's a generic number and they will probably ask what region you are in and then kick you over to your regional office. Maybe someone else knows another way to get through. 1-800-827-1000

[Packo]

The Battle Continues......Everyone, please read Gimpy's latest Thread on the SO's being locked out of Congress. Give us a "treat" with one hand.....then a kick in the balls for taking it. Scumbags is not a strong enough term, Gimp!

Pack

[MORTARDUDE]

Having been in the bowels of a Federal Govt. bureacracy for a good number of years, something about this story from start to finish just doesn't ring true.....It looks like one of those diversionary tactics where something is threatened to be done, and then stopped, to show that... well... we aren't the heartless bastards you thought we were......................

Larry

[PHO127]

Went to my OTC medical review for diabetes at the obstrectics and family medicne clinic today and it was closed. FUCK EM ALL

[SuperScout]

While not yet ready to concede the Machiavellian factor, I find it a bit more than curious that this "on-again/off-again" fiat ever occurred except for the spring-buck mindset of some upper level bureaucrat in the VA. I can fully believe that some GS-18 or whatever decided that it would make him look good to purge all us no good deadbeats who are receiving ptsd benefits. So he initiates contracts with incompetent doctors and clinics, fully observing the "we must use minority clinics and doctors to further the affirmative actions plans of the government" and lo and behold, Friday's payday and stuff rolls downhill. If you doubt this, just ask Sid about being tasked to go to an OB/GYN clinic. And it was not for a short-arm inspection.

As with any bureaucracy, especially at the top federal level, the ship is difficult to steer, and much more difficult to turn around. Word finally trickled upstairs to the HMFIC, and the dogs of lunacy were called off. Once again, the lack of accountability arises, and sadly, we'll probably never know who the original culprit was, and what he fate was.

Who ever he was oughta hang is mama up by her arms and beat her for having him. Musta threw away the baby and kept the after birth with him.