ptsd Combat Cets With Diagnosis Of Ptsd No Longer Have To File Stressor Letter

[jessejames]

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/...dproof_080218w/

PTSD victims no longer need to prove trauma

By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer

Posted : 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.

[john999]

So for all the vets who start to have PTSD symptoms years after discharge this will not mean a thing? Most Vietnam vets did not start to have symptoms until months or years after discharge. What good does this ruling do them if it only applies to an in-service diagnosis of PTSD? Is this just goobly gook. For the guy who was not awarded a CIB but who drove into an ambush in Afghanistan or even Vietnam as a truck driver how does this help unless he has immediate symptoms of PTSD. Do you still have to prove the event happened and document it all? This would just be the same standard others with mental disorders who were treated in service get now. The vet is still liable to get a PD diagnosis and booted out of service. When I was in Vietnam I actually say a shrink and he talked to me for ten minutes and said I was a personality disorder and should be discharged. This was after ten minutes. Unless things have changed a great deal no soldier is going to ask for that kind of deal.

[evandc]

VA Announces New Guidelines For PTSD Claims

Terri

February 19th, 2008

In The News, Life, Military, PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Medical Issues

In the past when a Servicemember filed a claim for PTSD, they had to also provide written verification that they witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. That written verification had to be a statement from a commander, doctor or fellow servicemembers, stating that he or she was involved in a traumatic situation leading to PTSD, before the could receive disability compensation for PTSD from the VA. Today, the Veterans Affairs Department announced that combat veterans will no longer have to verify in writing that they have experienced a traumatic event, according to the chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

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

Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have joked about keeping a pen and paper handy to document when they witness a shooting or explosion, or perhaps are injured themselves. That joke isn’t such a joke when they have to prove that that they were involved in a traumatic event, even when they are injured from the event. Or when a servicemember has to prove that they witnessed a friend be injured or die, in order to qualify for benefits. That requirement has slowed the process, as veterans wait for the required documentation before their claims can be processed. Akaka said he spoke with VA Secretary James Peake about this and the delay the rule caused in processing claims. Peake agreed that the rule could be removed.

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

With the changes in the rule, veterans will be diagnosed with PTSD through a medical examination and won’t have to provide any further proof. According to Akaka, he was told that Peake has already informed VA regional offices of the new rule.

Hopefully, this will help to speed up the process of the diagnosis of PTSD and the compensation to the Servicemember. I’m interested to see if this indeed will help to speed the process up and help to eliminate some of the backlog for VA claims.

[Berta]

I am seeing this info misinterpreted in the electrontic vets community-

here is the Press Release from Senator Akaka:

http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/

"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 quick action

February 15, 2008

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 quick 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. "

___________________________

[Pete53]

Well looks like they rushed to make this the same as it was. If you were diagnosed with PTSD in Service there would be no problem in first place. Like John999 says most PTSD surfaces after Vet has left the Military. Or even the cruelest of all the Vet hides it while they serve

[cowgirl]

I am a peacetime vet who has a clear diagnosis of ptsd on AD. Now I am SC for mdd, sure wish I could get my claim corrected to EED. My mind boggles with so much. Hoping for current VA diagnosis of PTSD (sounds strange I know, no one should hope for ptsd). Next step to correct ptsd issue claim denial if possible. AH, the paperwork.

*Found interesting PTSD reading material,

PTSD Compensation and Military Service Progress and Promise 2007

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11870&page=1

VA Should Institute Better Claims Process For PTSD, Study Finds

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/70429.php

well looks like they rushed to make this the same as it was. If you were diagnosed with PTSD in Service there would be no problem in first place. Like John999 says most PTSD surfaces after Vet has left the Military. Or even the cruelest of all the Vet hides it while they serve

Edited February 20, 2008 by cowgirl