An internal e-mail written by a Veterans Affairs Department employee suggested avoiding a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans and instead considering a diagnosis that might result in a lower disability payment.
A copy of the e-mail was distributed Thursday by the groups Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a congressional watchdog group, and VoteVets.org. The e-mail dated March 20 had been forwarded to VoteVets.org, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans lobbying group opposed to the Bush administration’s handling of the war and veterans issues.
“Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I’d like to suggest that we refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out. Consider a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder, R/O PTSD,” the e-mail said.
It also said, “Additionally, we really don’t or have time to do the extensive testing that should be done to determine PTSD.”…read on
3 comments:
Thanks to CREW for sure...I am thankful to them and VoteVets.
They left my poor kid, a teenage reservist from the suburbs, with no follow up for PTSD. If I had not recognized the symptoms and gotten him help with REAL insurance, who knows what would have happened. I caught it, before it caught him completely.
One family I know wasn't as lucky-their son couldn't gain relief and killed himself.
Please keep going, we so desperately need good people like you to fight for our veterans when their own government abuses them and forces them into unjust wars.
Militarymom:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Thank goodness that you detected your son's systems. But, it is a shame that a disease or treatment [for example, PTSD] has to be picked and choose to either for a cover-up and/or profit. I am glad that the CREW and VoteVets have undercovered this cover-up and will continue to follow this story.
Too bad this VA official can't be charged with treason.
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