Senate Votes to Halt PTSD Investigation

Earlier this year, the VA announced plans to investigate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) disability claims of 72,000 veterans because an earlier study of a small number of cases by the VA’s Inspector General found errors in about one-third of the claims examined. Although many of the problems uncovered were paperwork errors, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and several veterans organizations feared the VA would use the review to strip benefits from veterans with mental illness. The review also would strip time and resources from current disability claims processing. Consequently, Sen. Murray inserted language into the FY 2006 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill on Sept. 22 that would block the review. The legislation passed the Senate 98-0 and will go to a House-Senate conference committee.