ptsd New Va Law Review

[allan]

New VA Law Review

Posted on October 31, 2009 by testvet6778

I am posting this as it was written by a friend of mine and I think it should be read by the veterans community.

Ilona Meager met many of us, especially us veterans, through using this technology, especially in research and posting on interactive community boards, and her awaking interest in a subject she had never thought much about until reading reports about suicides by returned veterans of the Afghan and Iraq occupations well into the start of both conflicts.

Her interest caused her to start researching the why these were happening, joining her were other online researchers, many like her who might have heard about but never really thought about an extremely important issue, we veteran advocates have been fighting to get much more recognition for from the masses since especially our occupation Vietnam. That issue is Combat PTSD.

Using the communities found online, like Daily KOS and others, she and her online friends, started posting up what they were finding, then started their own site ePluribus Media as well, and she moved to starting her own site PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within

Taking the research they were finding Ilona moved on further to write a book on the subject, "Moving a Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops", more like a great little reference guide on the issue of Combat PTSD for those seeking information and understanding, just as she has posted with her online site.

From not thinking much about she has become one of the many dedicated advocates on the subject with a wealth of understanding and caring, along with her work, those of her online friends, as well as those civilians over these years who joined us veterans, it has helped do what many of us 'Nam Veterans have been trying to do for close to four decades, joined by Veterans of WWII and forward. Bringing the subject of our occupations of others and war as to what that causes to many in the form of Post Traumatic Stress from the trauma's of War into the minds of the country and beyond as well as into the main stream media, investigative journalism, and touching subject lines of the drama's and movies made. And not only as to Combat PTSD but also the understanding that many who never face combat but do live through extreme traumatic events in their lives can and do suffer from same, Silently, up until now.

"Moving A Nation To Care" Subject of Extensive Book Review Essay in VA's Premiere "Veterans Law Review" Journal

A book review any author would be bowled over by {this one being no exception} appears in the premiere issue of the VA's Veterans Law Review journal.

It's much more than a mere review, however.

Written by Holly Seesel, Mary Sorisio, and Paul Sorisio -- Associate Counsel with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals at the Department of Veterans Affairs -- the 24-page (!) 'book review essay' provides an in-depth look at my book (Moving a Nation to Care) and another by Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., and Daryl S. Paulson (Haunted by Combat)."Consequences of Combat" {pdf} begins:...>>>Rest Found Here

Visit Ilona's post, at her site, on this well deserved recognition, at the links above, and visit the premier issue of the

Veterans Law Review Vol. 1 – 2009

Secretary’s Forum {pdf}

I am pleased to introduce the seminal issue of THE

VETERANS LAW REVIEW. As part of the Department’s (VA)

outreach to all veterans and their families, this volume highlights

legal issues and legal-policy concerns that are currently faced by the

Office of General Counsel, the Veterans Benefits Administration,

the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and the Court of Appeals for

Veterans Claims (Court) in their service to our men and women

who have served this nation in uniform. Topics addressed in this

issue include VA’s duty to provide medical examinations, our duty to

assist under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, the effects

of representation by attorneys in cases before VA, and the causes

and effects of remands emanating from the Court. As additional

foci, the REVIEW examines both the role of the new media in the

delivery of veterans’ benefits and how the Department is addressing

undiagnosed illnesses from the first Gulf War with Iraq...>>>Rest Found Here {pdf} also top link at site.

Once again the two books, and authors, recognized and referenced:

"Moving a Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops"

"Haunted by Combat: Understanding Ptsd in War Veterans Including Women, Reservists, and Those Coming Back from Iraq"

http://imagineaworldof.blogspot.com/2009/10/congradulations-ilona-and-va-moving.html Jim Staro's website

http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2009/10/moving-nation-to-care-subject-of.html Ilona Meager's website

http://www4.va.gov/vbs/bva/lawReview_contents.htm VA Law Review

SOURCE: http://www.veteranstoday.com/article9206.html

[broncovet]

One of the links that Alan posted had comments from Ms. Childers, a Veterans attorney representing the VA against Veterans, who argues that the one year time period for Veterans to file a NOD is excessive. She cites Social Security's 60 day period, and some other federal programs, trying to get legislation changed to further limit Veterans from filing a NOD.

She argues that shortening this time period will eliminate some appeals, and benefiting other Veterans waiting on their appeals.

I disagree with Ms. Childers. Instead of Veterans having time limits, a time limit should be imposed upon the VA. It is the fault of the VA for the claim backlog, not the fault of the claimants. The VA currently has an unlimited period of time in which to process Veterans claims. Many Veterans claims are more than 10 years old, and some are more than 30 years old. Before considering further limits on Veterans, it is high time that time limits be imposed upon the VA for processing claims. For example, did it occur to Ms. Childers that some disabled Veterans may well be in the hospital more than 60 days, and it may well not be practical for a Veteran to file a NOD from their hospital bed?

By shortening the appeal period, some legitimate claimants who, for whatever reason, are unable to file a NOD within the specified time period, will be denied. Veteran claimants deserving of their benefits but unable to file a NOD in time, hardly deserve to be denied appeal rights.

If Ms. Childers wishes to compare the VA to Social Security or other government agencies, this comparison will not make the VA look good!

This is a very good example of the needs of the Agency (VA) taking precedence over the needs of Veterans because, while this change may well reduce some appeal backlog since Veterans who file nod' past the appeal period are automatically denied, it will do so on the backs of deserving Vetrans. Lets reduce the backlog, yes, but not by denying Veterans who are not able to dot all the VA's I's and T's.

Ms Childers comments were posted at the VA website at the link provided by Allan's post.

Edited November 2, 2009 by broncovet