The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Legislative News
Press Release
May 16, 2008
A press release from the Chairman of Senate VA Committee.
AKAKA CALLS VA EMPLOYEE’S SUGGESTION TO MISDIAGNOSE VETERANS DISTURBING AND DISAPPOINTING
Calls for Inspector General investigation and renewed guidelines for PTSD
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator
Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, issued the
following statement this morning regarding an email sent by a Department of
Veterans Affairs employee suggesting that in order to save time and resources,
VA should avoid diagnosing veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The email was sent by a mental health professional at the
“This incident is both disturbing and disappointing, and provides further evidence that VA’s mental health program requires significant attention,” said Akaka. “I have asked VA’s Inspector General to review diagnosis patterns at the facility involved as well as any benefits decisions based on diagnoses from that facility. I am also calling on VA Secretary Peake to provide renewed guidelines to all VA field offices on the proper diagnosis and treatment of PTSD and on handling claims for compensation for PTSD.”
Psychological war wounds are difficult to diagnose and harder still to heal, but they are no less real than any other service-connected injury,” added Akaka, who is working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to bring S. 2162, the bipartisan Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, to the Senate floor for a vote. “I continue to be concerned that VA’s mental health system is unprepared for the rising demands placed on the system by both younger and older veterans. I will keep working to improve standards and funding for veterans’ mental health care.”
The Senate VA Committee is also holding a hearing next Wednesday morning on several veterans benefits bills, and for those interested if you go to the www.senate.va.gov web site, you can find out more information and listen to the hearing as it is web cast.
Tom Zampieri
Blinded Veterans Association
BVA's Legislative Alerts Group
End of Document