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VA Seeks to Ease Requirements for Stress-Related Disability Payments
[Editor's note: This updates and expands a story we ran yesterday from the VA. Bob Higgins]
By Kimberly Hefling The Washington Post
Troops serving in dangerous roles behind the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan have long said that it was hard to prove their combat experience when applying for disability for post-traumatic stress disorder.
But the Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed reducing the paperwork required for veterans to show that their experience caused combat-related stress. Even just the fear of hostile action would be sufficient, as long as a VA psychologist or psychiatrist agreed.
VA says the change would streamline claims and recognize the "inherently stressful nature" of war service. The agency is accepting comments until Oct. 23.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told lawmakers Wednesday that he is committed to improving trust in the claims process between veterans and his agency, and to helping veterans receive benefits.
"We will change the culture," he said. "I will assure you of that."
Read more at The Washington Post
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Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=8977
Posted by Bob Higgins on Oct 15 2009, With 0 Reads, Filed under Vet News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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I have been having a Hard time with My Dad’s Claim , he is WW-II Veteran and has been to Doctors on the outside and they said PTSD and the VA said Prove it !! Well we did and i’am still fighting for my Dad , his next Visit to the Mental Unit in Tampa is Oct. 21st and i hope they see what your what you have Printed in this News Release . There in Left Field , its always been very hard for PTSD Veterans . My dad is tired of Fighting the System and wants to give up and i won t let him, I feel thats what they want you to do ,just go away , we are not going ,Sorry .
david, your last sentence is spot on. many of us feel that the VA tries to make a vet “just go away”. this is to include dying. please keep up the fight. one thing that irritates me about the PTSD “ratings”: many of the VA “shrinks” i have spoken to feel that there are no 40% cases. if you have it, you have it! and if you would, thank your father for me for his service to his country.
hooray for you David,never give up,the benefits are attainable so keep on fighting for your Dad.
Tell your Dad to keep fighting because the VA will have to back pay him.
My husband is a Vietnam War vet. He served in the Navy on the USS Jason from ’67 to ’69. He was in Vung Tau and he has been granted disability for Diabetes and Neuropathy for exposure to Agent Orange. However, he was initially diagnosed with PTSD in ’99 we have not been able to get the VA to grant disability because he was not in combat. He worked on ships and while doing so he went into Vung Tau and saw people shot as well as seeing bombing attacks. His ship’s deck logs substantiate the bombing attacks but it is not specific as to who was in Vung Tau with the exception of two men. I’ve had a shipmate to write a letter stating the ship’s liberty policy was “open” Even though my husband didn’t have a gun in his hand he repaired the ships that were in combat so I believe he played a major role. My husband also suffers from major depression and suicidal tendicies and everytime he is denied from the VA he goes back into this dark hole. I’m not the kind of person to give up but I’m afraid my husband is. We have the DAV helping with his claim and we are waiting to go before the Board of Appeals. If anyone can help or let me know when the VA plans to implement this proposal it would be greatly appreciated. You may contact me at giselahaynie@yahoo.com Thanks to all service men and women!