Two Vet Groups Sue VA

By: fedweek

A 73-page lawsuit was filed July 23 in federal court in San Francisco charging the Department of Veterans Affairs with “shameful failures” in providing medical and mental treatment to service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. The suit cites the VA’s “unconscionable” backlog of 600,000 disability claims, and the long delays before veterans are seen for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems. Early identification is essential for PTSD treatment, declares the suit. The plaintiff organizations are Veterans for Common Sense, in Washington, D.C., and Veterans United for Truth, in Santa Barbara. The plaintiffs’ lawyers say they are not seeking monetary damages, but want to establish a class-action to create basic civil rights for all veterans. Among the defendants are outgoing VA head R. James Nicholson and several other high-level VA officials, as well as Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales.