ptsd Obama Pressures Peake

[Berta]

Source Ray B. Davis Veterans Resources

"Dear Readers,

We had asked in our last email that you contact the Presidential

candidates and ask what they think of the VA fraud of ordering staff to

falsify medical records and diagnosis in order to save money.

Senator Obama is the only one I have heard has any concern for this

issue. I don't know if the other candidates just have not heard or

don't care, I will post when I know their stand. (see article about

Sen. Obama below my signature).

Also all VA Doctors are under pressure by the VA regional Office

adjudicators to make decisions not based on sound medical judgment, but

on denying benefits, as such any other VA employee who can blow the

whistle (whistle-blowers) on VA corruption should be called forward and

given protection against possible harm. I commend the VA employee who

made known the email of Dr. Perez, and hope that this employee does not

face harm as a result of being an honest VA employee.

All VA people like Dr, Perez should be kicked out of the VA and

prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Your Editor,

Ray B Davis, Jr

http://www.valaw.org

--Start Obama call for investigation--

Obama Demands VA Investigation Into PTSD Diagnoses

By Daniel W. Reilly

May 16, 2008

(The Politico) Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is demanding an investigation

into reports that a supervisor at a Texas Veterans' Affairs facility

told staff members to refrain from diagnosing returning war veterans

with post-traumatic stress disorder in order to reduce costs.

On Friday, Obama sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary James

Peake expressing his "serious concerns" over the reports and demanding

an investigation.

The Washington Post broke the story on Friday, which included emails

from Dr. Norma Perez suggesting to her staff members that they "refrain

from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out," because of the

increasing costs of treating the disorder.

"Simply put, Ms. Perez's email is outrageous," Obama wrote in the

letter. "As you well know, PTSD is the most prevalent mental disorder

afflicting our returning...veterans."

"In order to receive their deserved benefits, these brave men and women

must endure a long and arduous process. To hear that a VA official is

promoting misdiagnoses of soldiers to save money is unacceptable and is

tantamount to fraud. "

Peake issued a statement on the matter, saying that Perez's email

was "inappropriate" and did not reflect VA policy.

"Too many veterans see the VA as a bureaucracy with the singular goal

of denying services and benefits to veterans," said Obama. "This recent

incident merely serves to promote that impression."

The Democratic presidential hopeful gave Peake a deadline of May 23 to

inform him if the department will open an investigation.

Obama, who is a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, also

wrote a letter to committee chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii)

asking him to look into the matter.

Copyright 2008 POLITICO

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/16/...co/thecrypt/mai

n4103492.shtml

--end--"

_

[Pete53]

I was drafted in 1968. I turned down OCS and a one week school that would have promoted me to E-5 Sgt cause I would have had to volunteer.

When I was drafted I made a promise to myself. That I would do the best job I could but that I would not volunteer.

From the very first day I was told that if I got injured in the Army that Uncle Sam would take care of me. They have kept that promise and I am grateful for that.

For all those still waiting just keep in mind that a good part of the wait is the VA waits for older disabled Veterans to die so they can make room on the train.

Never give up and work on your claim every day.

[john999]

I kicked myself for years for enlisting. However, when they marched the draftees off to 11Bravo shool I felt a little better. I went on a bus to Fort Polk and all the guys going to Advanced Infantry Training were draftees. Not one volunteer. I went to a school but not AIT. I even met one of my friends who was drafted in Vietnam. He fainted when he was chosen for Infantry School. He got out of it when he got to Nam because he could type and spoke French. Some high ranking Viets spoke French. When we rode from Ft. Benning to Ft. Polk there was not much laughing. It was like a death sentence had been imposed on many of us. I remember all both drafted and enlisted were placed under guard at Ft. Lewis, Washington while waiting to fly to Vietnam. So many were running for the boarder that they kept us under guard. This was in 1970 and you can believe me that no one wanted to be the last guy to die in Vietnam. The war had been lost in the eyes of the nation since 1968.

Start drafting people for Iraq and a solution would be found quickly. Of course, starting a draft again is like putting a gun in the hand of a child because the politicians cannot be trusted not to squander the lives of those drafted. They proved it in Vietnam.

[Ricky]

Obama, Bush, Kennedy, Smith Harrison or whoever, nothing said or done will result in any change. He is only pushing cause he is trying to get his stinking butt into a position of power just like all of those before him. Repub, Dems all the same so don't wager your coffee money on anything done by any of them cause they are all the same ----- stinking politicians!!!