THIS LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO CUT PTSD BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION!

Sorry about sending this your way on the eve of Thanksgiving...but I just got these very interesting documents today.

On the 16th of November, Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, issued a press release announcing a new PTSD review by the VA.  Press release here... http://www.vawatchdog.org/senatecvanews/senatecvanews11-16-05.htm

This came as a complete surprise.

What was interesting is that the VA PR people knew nothing about this.  Neither did the Institute of Medicine (IOM) who is doing the study.  Story here... http://www.vawatchdog.org/newsflash/newsflash11-18-2005-2.htm

Finally, Jeff Schrade, Communications Director for the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, forwarded the documents that the VA had given Senator Craig.  Thanks, Jeff!  See below to download or view documents...

Fact Sheet in MS WORD format          Fact Sheet in .TXT format (smaller file) will open in browser

Questions and Answers in MS WORD format          Questions and Answers in .TXT format (smaller file) will open in browser

The VA's fact sheet was prepared by the VA's Office of the Under Secretary for Health and details the study.  The Q&A sheet was prepared for members of Congress and the press.

Please read these carefully and I would appreciate your thoughts on where this review is going.  Initially, I feel it is just another way to "clamp down" on PTSD compensation.  The VA is looking to save money and they can do this by rewriting the PTSD diagnosis, treatment and compensation regulations.

Quotes of note from the Fact Sheet:  ...the committee will review and comment on the objective measures used in the diagnosis of PTSD and known risk factors for the development of PTSD. The committee will review the utility and objectiveness of the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), and will comment on the validity of current screening instruments and their predictive capacity for accurate diagnoses.

...the committee will review the literature on best treatment practices, types and timing of specific interventions, and comment on the prognosis of individuals diagnosed with PTSD (and existing comorbidities). The committee will review the literature on compensation practices for PTSD including examining the criteria for establishing severity of PTSD as published in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD); evaluating the basis for assigning a specific level of compensation to specific severity levels and how changes in the frequency and intensity of symptoms affect compensation practices for PTSD; assessing how compensation practices and reevaluation requirements for PTSD compare with other chronic conditions which have periods of remission and return of symptoms; and reviewing strategies used to support recovery and return to function in patients with PTSD.

This is all very upsetting to me.  They truly are trying to rewrite the book on PTSD.

Quote of note from the Q&A sheet:  Question:  Why is this study being conducted now?  Answer:  Over the next two years, the Secretary and the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission is closely examining compensation for all health conditions, including PTSD.

What the ____ is this?  The Secretary AND the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC)? 

First, who knew that the Secretary, Jim Nicholson, was studying "compensation for all health conditions."  No one.  This is just another way of saying that the VA is looking to cut benefits.  The part about "all health conditions" is particularly troublesome.

Second, since when did the VDBC and the VA start working together?  The VDBC is, by charter, an INDEPENDENT commission.  The documents page of the VDBC's web site states, "...the Commission is independent of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense." (VDBC web site here... http://www.va.gov/vetscommission/index.htm )

It is now obvious that the VA and the VDBC are working hand-in-hand...and that really spells bad news.  More on the VDBC and their political agenda here... http://www.vawatchdog.org/milcom/vdbcstackeddeck.htm

I'm sure that more will shake-out in this in the next few days...so, stay tuned.

And, again, please give me your input on this.  Where do YOU think this is leading?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Larry Scott

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