PTSD patients no longer need to prove trauma

[Gimpy]

This from the Air Force Times:


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PTSD patients no longer need to prove trauma


By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Air Force Times---- Monday Feb 18, 2008 16:45:50 EST


The Veterans Affairs Department has dumped a policy requiring combat vets to verify in writing that they have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event before filing a claim for post-traumatic stress disorder, said the chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

“This change provides a fairer process for veterans with service-connected PTSD,” Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, said in a written statement. It “leaves claim adjudicators more time to devote to reducing the staggering backlog of veterans’ claims.”

In the past, a veteran has had to provide written verification — a statement from a commander or doctor, or testimony from co-workers — that he or she was involved in a traumatic situation in order to receive disability compensation for PTSD from VA. The Defense Department uses the same rules in evaluating PTSD for disability retirement pay.

In Iraq, troops joke about keeping a pen and paper on hand in case they witness a shooting or explosion or are injured themselves. That way, they can run around and have all their buddies sign a quick statement saying it really happened. The joke loses steam when a Marine has to prove he was involved in a traumatizing event when he had a hand blown off in that event, or when a soldier has to prove he watched his friends die to qualify for benefits.

The rule also slows the process as veterans wait for yet more documentation before their claims may be processed.

Akaka said he asked VA Secretary James Peake if the rule was necessary, and asked that it be removed. Peake agreed.

“I am pleased that the secretary took quick action to reverse this requirement after it was brought to his attention,” Akaka said.

In the future, veterans will be diagnosed with PTSD through a medical examination with no further proof necessary, Akaka said, adding that he’s been told that Peake has already informed VA regional offices of the decision.

VA officials were not immediately available for comment Monday, a federal holiday.

However, individuals involved with the VA claims process said the details of this new directive would come soon.


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Looks like these new Vets won't have to go through the hell of trying to "prove" their "stressor" that most of our brothers & sisters did.

I'm certainly curious as to the "method" used by VA doctors and/or counselors that would determine "service-connected".....or not????



Gimp

[catman]

Thanks for posting this! let's hope that it works in the coming months!



Trav

[1CAVCCO15MED]

This has been one of the most maddening and humiliating things about getting disability. How do you get statements from people you haven't seen in fourty years? I was in the first Cavalry Division so there is a lot of history written about actions. I used the book Incursion to get dates that the VA supposedly already had in their history archives they had access to. It was a process of writing something and then the VA checking to see if you had got the dates right. I've got guys in my group that have been in therapy for three or four years with multiple people diagnosing them as totallly disabled and they don't haven't written an acceptable "trauma letter" so they are still struggleing to get compensation. I mean, what has convoy duty on Thunder road every day have to do with PTSD?

[Gimpy]

Just got an "UPDATE"....................

UPDATE: VA'S NEW PTSD POLICY APPLIES ONLY TO THOSE DIAGNOSED WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY -- VA agrees that veterans who are diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty should be recognized as having PTSD for VA purposes.

Yesterday I reported that the VA had a new policy regarding proof of trauma in PTSD claims.

Unfortunately, a confusing story published by the Military Times Group did not mention that the new policy applies only to those diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty.

We now have a clarification from Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


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VETERANS DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD ON ACTIVE DUTY NO LONGER REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE OF PTSD


Responding to Akaka’s inquiry, new VA Secretary takes action


WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, commended Veterans Affairs Secretary Peake for agreeing that veterans who are diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty should be recognized as having PTSD for VA purposes. This decision will end VA's requirement that veterans diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty provide additional evidence of exposure to specific stressors during their service in order to establish their diagnosis of PTSD. Responding to an inquiry from Chairman Akaka, Secretary Peake has directed the VA regional offices to no longer require such evidence but instead to immediately schedule examinations for such veterans in order to determine the severity of their PTSD for VA compensation purposes.

"I am pleased that the Secretary took this action to reverse this requirement, after it was brought to his attention," said Senator Akaka. "This change provides a fairer process for veterans with service-connected PTSD, and leaves claims adjudicators more time to devote to reducing the staggering backlog of veterans' claims."


Secretary Peake notified Senator Akaka about the change this week, in response to a January 2008 inquiry from Akaka. In his inquiry, Senator Akaka pointed out that VA was requiring veterans already diagnosed with PTSD during active duty to otherwise prove they had PTSD. Senator Akaka requested that VA quickly end this practice.


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So then, this "new" directive DOES NOT change the process for military veterans who are diagnosed with PTSD after they have been discharged from active duty. Same old, same old.

Sorry folks, I got some bad info on this before it was confirmed----from the Military Times of all people!

Gimp

[Packo]

Gimpy.....just reporters and such sometimes just don't understand the system the way we do. I think this is great.

Now, to address the other. Everybody knows me, so I don't have to explain myself in what I say here. I have always felt that having to have some proof of trauma was a good thing. There are so many wannabee's out there trying hard to add PTSD to their lives so the VA money can make up for their failure to plan for retirement or for just living a screwed up life, then saying....gee, I'm going to have to work forever. Having worked in the VET CENTER program I saw it DAILY. Guys coming in saying..." ah, I got that Vietnam thing". When asked what they meant....replies...."ah, you know, what Vietnam Vets got". I'd usually answer, "Oh, the Clap?". Michael Hauser was treating almost more wannabee's then Vietnam Vets. One or two hadn't even served in the military! let alone Vietnam.

What I did not like is when the Veterans own records prove the stressor, and the VA still screws with them. Used to be if you had a recognizable stressor, CIB, PURPLE HEART, DECORATION FOR VALOR, CMB, AIR CREW WINGS, that was enough to get a C&P for PTSD. Now, you have to go through what Pighumper, Me, and I'm sure Ray is going through, our records indicate the stressors, but had to tell of direct incidents causing those. Took the Army almost 2 years to get Dan and my info back....but it does weed out the wannabees. Problem is, and Doc Fred hit the nail on the head, guys like Convoy guys etc. could really be screwed trying to get bennies.

More later,

Pack