Obama, Durbin Amendment Ensures VA Review of 72,000 PTSD Claims Cannot Revoke or Reduce Benefits
Friday, September 23, 2005
Printable FormatFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Obama Contact: Robert Gibbs or Tommy Vietor, (202) 228-5511
Durbin Contact: Joe Shoemaker, (202) 224-7028
Date: September 23, 2005
Obama, Durbin Amendment Ensures VA Review of 72,000 PTSD Claims Cannot Revoke or Reduce Benefits
WASHINGTON - On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to ensure that no veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder would see a reduction or revocation of benefits received as a result of a Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) review of 72,000 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases.
The bill would also require the VA to report the cost of the review to the Senate Appropriations Committee before proceeding. The VA has said it will review 72,000 cases in which the maximum amount of PTSD disability benefits was awarded because of the VA's belief that 2.5% of these cases are "potentially fraudulent."
"I am extremely wary of this unnecessary and costly review of settled PTSD cases" said Obama. "The veterans who received full benefits for PTSD are some of those who need our help the most, and I believe it's wrong to make them endure another stressful review. This legislation will ensure that no veteran will have his or her benefits reduced or revoked as a result of this VA review."
"Our amendment permits the VA to conduct this review if it results in a plan for staffing and funding improvements," said Durbin. "The VA cannot correct its errors by taking money away from veterans who now depend on that income. Veterans should not now - years later - be punished with a loss of income due to the late discovery by the VA of its own error."
Obama and Durbin have repeatedly voiced their concern with the VA's PTSD review and believe it should not result in any veterans losing benefits. In a joint letter sent by Senators Obama Durbin on June 21, 2005, the Illinois Senators wrote that they strongly objected to a VA proposal to require a concurring second signature for PTSD cases in which full benefits were granted.
On August 10, 2005, Obama sent an additional letter to Secretary Nicholson asking that he not readjudicate old PTSD cases where veterans had received full benefits. Obama said the VA should instead focus on veterans who received no compensation for PTSD. Obama also passed legislation that would require the VA to create uniform standards for awarding PTSD benefits.
"Since the VA is only reviewing cases where veterans received full benefits, it is hard for me, as well as for veterans in Illinois and across the country, to believe that the VA's primary concern is increasing the quality of care," said Obama. "Instead, it seems the VA is attempting to cut costs on the backs of veterans who need our help the most. But we can't ever forget that when we make the decision to send our troops to war, we also make a promise to care for them when they come home. The VA cannot put cutting costs before providing care for veterans who desperately need it."
"America's veterans deserve the undying gratitude of the people of this nation," said Durbin. Our veterans deserve speedy and accurate processing of their claims with the VA. They do not deserve to be given compensation one day, only to have it taken away years later. Fortunately, the Senate has acted to prevent that from happening."
The legislation was included as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill.