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President Obama: Fixing VA and Providing More Help for Veterans with PTSD
Pres Obama Weekly Address on Fixing VA and Providing More Help for Veterans with PTSD
The first thing one needs to do to fix something is see that it’s broken. I have never seen a president acknowledge what President Obama is stating. President Obama: “But for years, many veterans with PTSD who have tried to seek benefits – veterans of today’s wars and earlier wars – have often found themselves stymied. They’ve been required to produce evidence proving that a specific event caused their PTSD. And that practice has kept the vast majority of those with PTSD who served in non-combat roles, but who still waged war, from getting the care they need.” -
In his weekly radio and Internet address on July 20, 1010, President Obama says the government will make it easier for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to receive federal benefits
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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release July 10, 2010 Weekly Address: President Obama Announces Changes to Help Veterans with PTSD Receive the Benefits They Need
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama announced that on Monday the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary Shinseki, will begin to make it easier for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to receive the benefits they need. For many years, veterans with PTSD have been stymied in receiving benefits by requirements they produce evidence proving a specific event caused the PTSD. Streamlining this process will help not just the veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, but generations of veterans who have served and sacrificed for the country.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
July 10, 2010
Last weekend, on the Fourth of July, Michelle and I welcomed some of our extraordinary military men and women and their families to the White House.
They were just like the thousands of active duty personnel and veterans I’ve met across this country and around the globe. Proud. Strong. Determined. Men and women with the courage to answer their country’s call, and the character to serve the United States of America.
Because of that service; because of the honor and heroism of our troops around the world; our people are safer, our nation is more secure, and we are poised to end our combat mission in Iraq by the end of August, completing a drawdown of more than 90,000 troops since last January.
Still, we are a nation at war. For the better part of a decade, our men and women in uniform have endured tour after tour in distant and dangerous places. Many have risked their lives. Many have given their lives. And as a grateful nation, humbled by their service, we can never honor these American heroes or their families enough.
Just as we have a solemn responsibility to train and equip our troops before we send them into harm’s way, we have a solemn responsibility to provide our veterans and wounded warriors with the care and benefits they’ve earned when they come home.
That is our sacred trust with all who serve – and it doesn’t end when their tour of duty does.
To keep that trust, we’re building a 21st century VA, increasing its budget, and ensuring the steady stream of funding it needs to support medical care for our veterans.
To help our veterans and their families pursue a college education, we’re funding and implementing the post-9/11 GI Bill.
To deliver better care in more places, we’re expanding and increasing VA health care, building new wounded warrior facilities, and adapting care to better meet the needs of female veterans.
To stand with those who sacrifice, we’ve dedicated new support for wounded warriors and the caregivers who put their lives on hold for a loved one’s long recovery.
And to do right by our vets, we’re working to prevent and end veteran homelessness – because in the United States of America, no one who served in our uniform should sleep on our streets.
We also know that for many of today’s troops and their families, the war doesn’t end when they come home.
Too many suffer from the signature injuries of today’s wars: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. And too few receive the screening and treatment they need.
Now, in past wars, this wasn’t something America always talked about. And as a result, our troops and their families often felt stigmatized or embarrassed when it came to seeking help.
Today, we’ve made it clear up and down the chain of command that folks should seek help if they need it. In fact, we’ve expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets.
But for years, many veterans with PTSD who have tried to seek benefits – veterans of today’s wars and earlier wars – have often found themselves stymied. They’ve been required to produce evidence proving that a specific event caused their PTSD. And that practice has kept the vast majority of those with PTSD who served in non-combat roles, but who still waged war, from getting the care they need.
Well, I don’t think our troops on the battlefield should have to take notes to keep for a claims application. And I’ve met enough veterans to know that you don’t have to engage in a firefight to endure the trauma of war.
So we’re changing the way things are done.
On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary Ric Shinseki, will begin making it easier for a veteran with PTSD to get the benefits he or she needs.
This is a long-overdue step that will help veterans not just of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, but generations of their brave predecessors who proudly served and sacrificed in all our wars.
It’s a step that proves America will always be here for our veterans, just as they’ve been there for us. We won’t let them down. We take care of our own. And as long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, that’s what we’re going to keep doing. Thank you.
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Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=39660
Posted by Yanira Farray on Jul 10 2010, With 0 Reads, Filed under Benefits, Vet News, Veterans Affairs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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So long as the process doesn’t end up adding insult to the mental injuries endemic with service in a combat zone, I laud this recognition of the need to expand and improve mental health programs and disability procedures for PTSD and TBI
by our CIC.
Hear that.
I don’t write about PTSD to cheerlead the president.
Screwing veterans has been a bipartisan exercise the last 45 years.
But this is indeed a long-overdue step against the Sally Satel, neocon swine who could not care less if veterans live in the streets.
So, I salute President Obama on this one. He has changed the direction of the DVA and VBA, giving veterans’ advocates like Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense a seat at the policy-making table.
As for Satel and your service-is-over-get-past-it crowd at the VA: They can go … themselves.
FINALLY!!! Someone took the initiative to do what was right. I would venture to say the majority of the push was from Veterans Groups that carry a lot of VOTES. Regardless of where the push came from, a RIGHT and JUST decision was made after way to many years of not wanting to deal with the facts. May God bless those who worked so hard for this victory and May God Always bless the Veteran.
Gary Moreland
Vietnam Vet
1974 i have a split ring 2 1/2 ton truck blew up i was not fixing it during station at fort hood motor pool it crack my skull an d mess up my neck . i ets 1976 3 1/2 years in th earmy . i file for help 1976 for post traumatic syndrome and it has no effect in helping me i have been fighting this for 34 -35 years . i was told be a medical benift doctor i had ptsd @ tbi but still no help the regional office of houston has denid m y case year after year need help 361 455 9271 phone
me jesse again e-mail jcrickett55@yahoo.com when tire exploded we were getting ready to drive to fort chaffy ark with the new arrivel from viet nam. 1974 i still finish my tour of duty even being sick due to injury. i hope that pres obama would see how vet are treated at va clinic i was told at a va clinic in corpus christi tx not to be coming out there and be looking for hand out i was trying toget help for my injurts only for many years i have been treated so bad sad i hope i can get help after 34 year when i filed for ptsd it was not know as ptsd back then. but still i file back then and the medical report from my doctor when i ets said compinsation related but no help or money for injury 34 years looking for help i hope they will follow this new law i am tire sick and i have not given up yet . if god wants i give them 34 more years
WHAT ABOUT THE BLUE WATER VET’S WITH AGENT ORANGE?
This is the first thing I have heard come out of his mouth that has sounded as if he means it. I hope and pray that this means help is available for all for this horrific and expensive condition. So many people end up paying for the wars of the bankers’ and other financial conglomerates.
Where will the cash come from?
It is time this and other “hidden” conditions be faced. Acknowledgment is, however, a big step coming from this office.
Many thanks to all !! Thanks to you Michael Leon your a true friend of all the veterans !! Many thanks to Congressman John Hall of New York. I hope this is all true here what the presidnet said. God bless all who have helped in this just cause. I know my prayers have been answered. God bless us all.
Vietnam Combat Veteran
Tet Offensive 1968 1969
” IN GOD WE TRUST “
Sorry I misspelled President wrong !!!