Berta Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Recent VA News Releases "Secretary Shinseki Moves to Simplify PTSD Compensation Rules WASHINGTON (Aug. 24, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to assist Veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its transformation to the 21st century," said Secretary Shinseki. The VA is publishing a proposed regulation today in the Federal Register to make it easier for a Veteran to claim service connection for PTSD by reducing the evidence needed if the stressor claimed by a Veteran is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days. A final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received. Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat Veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. This rule would simplify the development that is required for these cases. PTSD is a recognized anxiety disorder that can follow seeing or experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear, helplessness or horror, and is not uncommon in war. Feelings of fear, confusion or anger often subside, but if the feelings don't go away or get worse, a Veteran may have PTSD. VA is bolstering its mental health capacity to serve combat Veterans, adding thousands of new professionals to its rolls in the last four years. The Department also has established a suicide prevention helpline (1-800-273-TALK) and Web site available for online chat in the evenings at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans <http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans/> ." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Testvet Posted August 24, 2009 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted August 24, 2009 it sounds good Berta, but will RO's really start awarding claims if no combat is involved and the "patient" has PTSD from "fearing" a terrorist attack? Maybe I am reading it wrong but I don't think it will make the Ro's approve PTSD claims any faster than they do now this appears to be a window dressing "fix" I am hping it is more than that, but a year from now we will know if the VARO's are approving claims without verified stressors or not...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68mustang Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Recent VA News Releases "Secretary Shinseki Moves to Simplify PTSD Compensation Rules WASHINGTON (Aug. 24, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to assist Veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its transformation to the 21st century," said Secretary Shinseki. The VA is publishing a proposed regulation today in the Federal Register to make it easier for a Veteran to claim service connection for PTSD by reducing the evidence needed if the stressor claimed by a Veteran is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days. A final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received. Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat Veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. This rule would simplify the development that is required for these cases. PTSD is a recognized anxiety disorder that can follow seeing or experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear, helplessness or horror, and is not uncommon in war. Feelings of fear, confusion or anger often subside, but if the feelings don't go away or get worse, a Veteran may have PTSD. VA is bolstering its mental health capacity to serve combat Veterans, adding thousands of new professionals to its rolls in the last four years. The Department also has established a suicide prevention helpline (1-800-273-TALK) and Web site available for online chat in the evenings at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans <http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans/> ." I wonder if this new procedure will cover those non combat veterans who experienced a stressor not related to hostile military activity? 68mustang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator broncovet Posted August 24, 2009 Moderator Share Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) I know it sounds like I am a "nay sayer", however, Shinseki also recently promised to reduce homelessness in Veterans by 131,000. However, under his watch we saw the Veterans claim backlog actually grow..and keep on growing to almost one Million Veterans waiting on benefits. Further, his implementation of the new GI bill was even worse, adding 200,000 Veterans waiting on the VA to process education benefits to this mix. This new GI bill fiasco will frustrate Veterans who are counting on the VA to provide education benefits as it will be nearly impossible for the VA to deliver the post 911 GI bill benefits in time for school to begin this fall with this new backlog. Can someone tell me how delaying Veterans claims even more than they have been is going to reduce Veteran homelessness? I really do not want to see any more promises by Shineseki, I would like to see someone keep promises to Veterans for a change before I will believe him. Did politicians ever hear of under promise and over deliver? I heard the promises, but, so far there has been not only no delivery on promises, but the VA's problems are actually much worse than before. Edited August 24, 2009 by broncovet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder john999 Posted August 24, 2009 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted August 24, 2009 If the VA would just concede PTSD as presumptive for vets who served in a combat zone. They don't even do that now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzai Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 I wonder if this new procedure will cover those non combat veterans who experienced a stressor not related to hostile military activity? 68mustang I would be one to fall under this category, but my stressors were all involved in trainings. I trained to be a front line Interrogator/PSYOP Specialist, and to be deployed with other units. I was also trained to be paranoid, avoid having my picture taken, how to lie convincingly, etc... There were times in trainings when people died, but I only know vague dates, and cannot remember their names. But then again, my DD214 has many gaps, such as no record of Airborne School, but somehow being Airborne qualified. There is also no mention of a 6 month language course taken at JFKSWC, Ft. Bragg, NC. So I was told that I have PTSD without verifiable stressors, back in the late 90s. I sincerely doubt recognition of non-combat PTSD will be forthcoming any time soon. jmo Louis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Commander Bob Posted August 24, 2009 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) Over four decades ago, when I was 18 years old, serving in a light weapons infantry line company, I entered a mine field with my company commander, to render aid to the wounded. Incoming fire was reported. I was wounded after the fourth explosion. Last year the VA denied my request for a PTSD rating. The denial letter said ..." Your service treatment records show no complaint, treatment, or diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder". Edited August 24, 2009 by Commander Bob 92-93 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
Berta
Recent VA News Releases
"Secretary Shinseki Moves to Simplify PTSD Compensation Rules
WASHINGTON (Aug. 24, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking
steps to assist Veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD).
"The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and
comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its
transformation to the 21st century," said Secretary Shinseki.
The VA is publishing a proposed regulation today in the Federal Register
to make it easier for a Veteran to claim service connection for PTSD by
reducing the evidence needed if the stressor claimed by a Veteran is
related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Comments on
the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days. A final
regulation will be published after consideration of all comments
received.
Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor
related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA
psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience
recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the
Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor.
Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a
non-combat Veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile
military activity. This rule would simplify the development that is
required for these cases.
PTSD is a recognized anxiety disorder that can follow seeing or
experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or
serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear,
helplessness or horror, and is not uncommon in war.
Feelings of fear, confusion or anger often subside, but if the feelings
don't go away or get worse, a Veteran may have PTSD.
VA is bolstering its mental health capacity to serve combat Veterans,
adding thousands of new professionals to its rolls in the last four
years. The Department also has established a suicide prevention
helpline (1-800-273-TALK) and Web site available for online chat in the
evenings at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans
<http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans/> ."
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