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Bill to ease VA proof of PTSD moves forward

A bill designed to make it easier for veterans to receive benefits and immediate care for post-traumatic stress disorder moved to the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday and is expected to be voted on by the committee next week.

HR 952 would clarify that “combat with the enemy” is defined as duty in a combat theater during a time of war or against a “hostile force during a period of hostilities” for those seeking service-connected benefits for disabilities.

Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y., introduced the bill, saying it “essentially establishes service in combat as a presumptive stressor for the incurrence of PTSD.”

“No longer should veterans have to leap high hurdles and battle with VA in order to receive urgently needed benefits,” Hall said.

In the past, veterans have had to ask for witness letters from commanders or fellow service members to verify that they had been exposed to a traumatic event. In some cases, those people were difficult to find; some had died. In other cases, the veterans gave up because asking for the letters forced them to relive experiences they were not ready to talk about.

Those not in infantry or other combat-related positions — including all women — also have had a difficult time proving combat status.

In an April 23 hearing, Barton Stichman, joint executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, testified that Hall’s bill would save VA money because it would cut down on time spent processing each case, as well as resources needed to document exposures.

“According to VA, an extensive search for corroborating evidence is necessary even when the medical evidence shows that the veteran currently suffers from PTSD, and mental health professionals attribute the PTSD to stressful events that occurred during military service,” Stichman said.

“Often there is no corroborative evidence that can be found — not because the in-service stressful event did not occur, but because the military did not and does not keep detailed records of every event that occurred during periods of war in combat zones.”

Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense said the movement on the bill is exciting news.

Veterans for Common Sense filed suit against VA because of its large backlog of benefits claims, many of which are for mental health-related issues. Sullivan said this bill would help reduce the backlog.

Also Wednesday, HR 2270 — which would extend $1,000-a-month benefits to several World War II groups not covered by the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 but who were provided veteran status under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 — was forwarded to the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

That bill was introduced by Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., and came in response to HR 23, which provided monthly payments to Merchant Marines who served during World War II.

Buyer said veterans such as the Flying Tigers — only 18 of whom are still alive — and the United States Cadets Nurses Corps should also receive benefits.