http://tomallen.house.gov/inde…
Rep. Tom Allen Praises VA Decision to Change Rule on Proving PTSD is Service-Connected
Tuesday February 19, 2008
Says passage of the Full Faith in Veterans Act is still necessary “to ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality of care”
Portland, Maine (February 19, 2008) — U.S. Representative Tom Allen today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) decision to no longer require combat veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while on active duty to provide written documentation that they witnessed or experienced a traumatic event during their service that caused their PTSD. On February 11th, Representative Allen unveiled H.R. 5448, the Full Faith in Veterans Act at an Augusta press conference with veterans and representatives of veterans service organizations.
“I am pleased with the VA’s decision to drop the requirement that some veterans must provide additional written documentation to prove that their PTSD is connected to their service,” Representative Allen said. “I am disappointed that this rule change only applies to service members diagnosed while on active duty. We can and we must do more. The new procedure will require only a diagnosis of PTSD during a medical examination for some veterans, while a change my bill, the Full Faith in Veterans Act, would apply to all veterans.”
“This change is a step in the right direction towards easing the process for veterans seeking care and compensation for PTSD,” Representative Allen said. “However, my legislation is still necessary in order to enact this change into law, so that the VA cannot reverse this decision in the future, and to ensure that it applies to all veterans, not only combat veterans. This legislation is necessary to ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality of care, which they have earned and deserve.”
The Full Faith in Veterans Act also requires the VA to review and update its diagnosis and treatment procedures for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and other mental health disorders. It stipulates that VA employees responsible for rating disability compensation claims involving PTSD must successfully complete a certification program that incorporates best practices issued by the VA’s National Center on PTSD. It directs the VA to audit the examinations Department of Veterans Affairs mental health professionals conduct for veterans who submit claims for PTSD disability compensation to ensure that such employees take sufficient time necessary to diagnose and accurately rate the severity of the disorder. Representative Allen’s legislation also requires that the documents mental health professionals consider when evaluating for PTSD and raters rating the claims must include the veteran’s records from VA Vet Centers along with written opinions of any medical professional providing mental health care.
3 comments
Certainly, it moves care in the right direction for our service men and women. I hope it gets passed — I will call my Congressman, on Monday!
Thank you for this update!