VA under fire for plan to review all post-traumatic stress
disorder claims
Since 10-21-05
From:
Waspscpo@aol.com [mailto:Waspscpo@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 3:29 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: VA under fire for plan to review all post-traumatic stress disorder
claims
VA under fire for plan to review all post-traumatic stress disorder claims
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?article=32397
By
Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday,
October 21, 2005
WASHINGTON — Veterans groups and House Democrats blasted VA plans to review all
post-traumatic stress disorder claims because of irregularities in their
compensation system, calling it insulting to heroes who have served their
country. “To the VA, this is simply a process seeking out voids in paperwork,”
said Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M, at a Thursday hearing on Capitol Hill.
“But to veterans, it’s a jolting realization that their day-to-day struggles are
being questioned again.” In August, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced
plans to review 72,000 cases where veterans had received a 100 percent
disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder, after an investigation of
2,100 such cases found that more than 25 percent lacked justification for those
claims.
Jon Wooditch, acting inspector general for the department, said Thursday that
the goal of the comprehensive review was not to cut benefits but to find reasons
behind inconsistencies in the way claims are rewarded. For example, in Illinois,
only about 2.8 percent of PTSD cases receive the 100 percent rating, and the
average yearly payment for treatment is $6,961. But in New Mexico, more than 12
percent of PTSD receive that highest disability claim, and the payment average
there is $12,004.
“We want to make sure everyone is receiving what they’re entitled to under the
law,” he said. But critics called it a way for the department to save money by
shirking its duty to care for disabled veterans. Quentin Kinderman, deputy
director of legislative service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States, called the IG report flawed and the proposed review a waste of money.“
There is very little potential to reduce the number of cases here,” he said.
“And we’ve very concerned about the impact of the review and publicity on
veterans, especially those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, who need the
kind of counseling that the VA can provide.” Democrats echoed those concerns,
and called for a halt to plans to review the cases. Udall said in one case, a
veteran in his district committed suicide after hearing about plans for the
review.
Officials from New Mexico found the man, a Vietnam veteran, with information
regarding the review beside his Purple Heart when he took his life. “The manner
in which [VA officials] have proceeded has done more harm than good,” he said.
Cynthia Bascetta, director of income security issues at the Government
Accountability Office, said the VA does need to review how it handles cases for
efficiency purposes, but she told the committee the department’s proposed
approach is flawed.
She said officials need to sample both completed claims cases and rejected
applications to find inefficiencies and mistakes in the process, which Democrats
also asked for. Ranking member Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., also questioned the
review, noting that federal law prohibits veterans benefits from being revoked
unless officials can prove fraud occurred. Wooditch said cases reviewed that
lacked evidence to prove the 100 percent PTSD disability claim were likely not
the result of fraud, but instead simple mistakes in paperwork or administrative
review.
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)