New 'Undercover' Review of PTSD cases being planned by VA!

[Gimpy]

The VA has adopted a plan to shaft veterans with a new undercover, behind the scenes, knife in the back approach. Just days after the last PTSD review was stopped because of the public outcry because it was blatenly unfair (and possibly illegal?), the VA has begun a new PTSD review.

However, the "new" study has been broadened to include every veteran. This new review was at the urging of Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), the Chairman of the House Veterans Committee. This is simply a NEW way to deny new benefits to our newest veterans, and reduce or cut VA benefits from those who are currently receiving VA benefits.

Pass the word, and let your Congressman & Senators know of your disgust with them. Write your Representatives, Senators and all the news media you can to voice your outrage over this NEW underhanded approach to reduce benefits to military veterans!

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Military.com

Monday November 29, 2005

--- SECRETIVE VA LAUNCHES NEW PTSD REVIEW---

Just six days after canceling one PTSD review, the VA ?sneaks in? another ? Culture of secrecy makes agency designed to help veterans their biggest foe.

by Larry Scott

http://www.opednews.com

Over the past year, the Department of Veterans? Affairs (VA), led by Secretary Jim Nicholson, has turned a deaf ear to veterans and quietly made numerous decisions designed to strip veterans of benefits and compensation.

Secretary Nicholson came to the VA with no understanding of veterans? advocacy and no experience in the healthcare sector. He had been Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Ambassador to the Vatican. As one pundit put it, ?Jim Nicholson can write a good political bumper sticker and knows how to kiss the Pope?s ring. That?s about it.?

But, with Secretary Nicholson at the VA helm, veterans have come to feel isolated from the agency?s decision-making processes. And, recent developments have done nothing quell that uneasy feeling. Earlier this year, veterans were surprised by the VA?s ?second signature required? (SSR) policy. SSR applied to approved claims for many ?high-dollar? disabilities and stipulated that the claim be re-approved by another VA staffer.

However, if the claim was denied by the first staffer, there was no second review. Veterans? groups claimed that a SSR policy should apply to all claims for any condition whether they were approved or denied. The fact that the VA chose to apply SSR to disabilities with ?high-dollar? compensation was proof to many veterans that the agency was just trying to save money by denying benefits.

The SSR policy was NOT announced by the VA. Only some very good investigative work by Cheryl Reed of the Chicago Sun-Times brought the story to light. This is just one of many instances where the VA has instituted policies detrimental to veterans without making the actions public.

The latest ?unannounced? move by the VA is a new review of PTSD diagnosis, treatment and compensation. The VA?s plans came to light on November 16, just six days after they had canceled a review of 72,000 PTSD claims awarded at 100 per cent disability. Pressure from veterans? groups and Democrat members of Congress forced the cancellation.

The VA?s latest "new" PTSD review was not announced by the VA. There was no VA press release. There was no VA press conference. The information was not posted on the VA web site. Information about the new PTSD review was made public in a press release by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans? Affairs. The release, in part, said, ?The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that it has contracted with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on a two-pronged approach to the examination of PTSD.?

Except, the VA hadn?t announced anything. They were using Senator Craig as their conduit to hand out the bad news. Since Craig?s press releases don?t have a high readership, this information has gone virtually unnoticed. Upon reading Senator Craig?s press release I called the Public Affairs Office at the VA. They had no knowledge of the review. I then called the Institute of Medicine. They had no knowledge of the review.

Senator Craig?s office was more helpful. They forwarded the two documents the VA had sent to them. One document is a Fact Sheet detailing the contract between the VA and the IOM. The other is a Question and Answer sheet. (NOTE: The VA documents are available at the following URL ? http://www.vawatchdog.org/newsflash/...-23-2005-3.htm ) I encourage all veterans to read the VA documents.

They detail a plan to redefine PTSD by altering diagnostic and treatment techniques that will then lead to a complete restructuring of VA compensation. Following are a few excerpts from the VA Fact Sheet:

The IOM ??will review the utility and objectiveness of the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- IV), and will comment on the validity of current screening instruments and their predictive capacity for accurate diagnoses.?

This will allow the VA to write an alternate definition of PTSD exclusive of the DSM-IV and institute new methods of treatment outside of normally accepted guidelines. I wonder what the American Psychiatric Association will say about this?

Also, the IOM ??will review the literature on compensation practices for PTSD?and how changes in the frequency and intensity of symptoms affect compensation practices for PTSD; assessing how compensation practices and reevaluation requirements for PTSD compare with other chronic conditions which have periods of remission and return of symptoms; and reviewing strategies used to support recovery and return to function in patients with PTSD.? And, this will allow the VA to lower PTSD compensation based on ?frequency and intensity of symptoms? and ?remission and return of symptoms.?

The VA will also be looking to deny PTSD benefits based on the concept of ?recovery and return to function.? VA Secretary Nicholson has often used the word ?recover? (terribly close to the word ?cure?) when speaking of veterans with PTSD. The IOM reviews will be completed in a year.

Also, there were two big surprises found in the Question and Answer document:

?QUESTION: Why is this study being conducted now?

ANSWER: Over the next two years, the [VA] Secretary and the Veterans? Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) is closely examining compensation for all health conditions, including PTSD.?

Surprise number one is that the VA has not announced that Secretary Nicholson is examining compensation ?for ALL health conditions.? Veterans can only look forward to fewer benefits and lower compensation with Nicholson directing this endeavor. The second surprise is Secretary Nicholson?s mention of the VDBC. The VDBC, by law, is ?independent of the Department of Veterans? Affairs.?

However, to discover that they are coordinating their efforts should not be a surprise. The VDBC is made up of 13 members who are currently studying all areas of VA compensation. Nine VDBC members were appointed by the President or senior Republican leadership. Secretary Nicholson was appointed by President Bush.

Then there is the matter of timing. The VDBC?s charter stipulates that their reports must be done by October of 2006. But, the VDBC has also contracted with the IOM for studies that will not be complete for at least a year. They will be asking for an extension. This means that the VDBC reports from IOM and the VA reports from IOM will be released at the same time, well AFTER the 2006 elections!

I don?t believe in coincidence. Do you?

Sometime in early 2007, after the elections, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson will be armed with reports from the VDBC and the VA?s IOM studies. Expect a two-fisted attack on veterans? benefits and compensation from an administration that is the first to shout ?Support Our Troops??until they become veterans that is.

http://www.vawatchdog.org

http://www.opednews.com/articles/ope...va_launche.htm --end -- VETERANS RESOURCES NETWORK http://www.valaw.org

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OK folks, it's about damn time we had some serious thoughts and plans about that 'march' on Washington that my friend Packo has been talkin about!

[Stick]

It's 5:30 a.m. and this morning at 9:30 I have an appointment with my "case manager" at the VA due to PTSD. I've been awake since 4:00 because of dreams first and then worries about what she's going to ask me. PTSD doesn't exist.

[Packo]

Only have a minute to respond before going to PI to do Recruit Psych evals and see permanent party for their Non-exhistant PTSD. I am again OUTRAGED to the max and cannot come up with the words to make this outrage sound coherant. The march, yes.....but I will be voting in the next elections, then the presidential in 08'. Fool me once...shame on you....as the Who said, "we won't be fooled again!" Lets see, get rid of the VSO's, now underground screwing......My dissapointment is only outweighed by my disgust.

Pack

[catman]

Steve...Thanks for sharing, promise not to re-enact an old Roman tradition.

Funny, I personally am back on meds and attend group and individual counseling every week for this non-exhistant problem.

Trav

Carrying a rifle everywhere saves me a fortune in anti-anxiety meds,;but does seem to get me talked about some.

[Gimpy]

Originally posted by Stick It's 5:30 a.m. and this morning at 9:30 I have an appointment with my "case manager" at the VA due to PTSD. I've been awake since 4:00 because of dreams first and then worries about what she's going to ask me. PTSD doesn't exist.

Stick,

My thoughts and prayers are with you today my friend. Hopefully all will turn out OK today and in the future.

[Gimpy]

this back "up front" so to make sure everyone gets a chance to see it.

[Stick]

Hey Gimpy. I was doing OK this morning until I got to this;
QUOTE]Originally posted by Doc.2/47 Carrying a rifle everywhere saves me a fortune in anti-anxiety meds,;but does seem to get me talked about some.[/quote]
ROTFLMAO
Thanks Steve, I'm on my way to the bunker now. Cover my 6 will yah?

[Gimpy]

sweat my friend!

Let us know how it went.

[Gimpy]

This back on top!

We REALLY need to get on the ball and write our Senators and Congressmen (or women) to voice our outrage and total disgust about this issue folks.

C'mon guys & gals, PLEASE take the time and try and do what our friend Boats did. He got a positive response from HIS Senator, maybe we can get some of the same!