Serving Those Who Have Served Us
The soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who have given some of their most productive years to our nation are often hidden heroes who are not fully recognized for their achievements and their unwavering service to our country. My commitment to veterans and their families is steadfast, and I am pleased that some good news is in store for those who have made such incredible sacrifices for our nation.
Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a critical step forward for our nation’s veterans by making the process easier for those who seek health care services and disability compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a medically recognized anxiety disorder resulting from experiencing an event that involved actual or threatened serious injury or death to which a person responds with intense fear, helplessness or horror. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon among war veterans.
The newly-released rules will make it easier for veterans – including those who may have been denied benefits in the past – to receive the health care and benefits they need and have earned. For far too long, these servicemen and women suffering from PTSD have gone without the care they so desperately need and deserve. Nearly one in five veterans suffer from PTSD or major depression, and many veterans in North Carolina have been silently suffering without receiving appropriate care. Finally, veterans of both current and past wars will receive the VA health care and disability compensation they deserve.
Previously, veterans had to undergo lengthy investigations in order to apply for disability benefits for PTSD. The VA required extensive documentation of the specific cause of the disorder in addition to a doctor’s diagnosis, and ultimately denied benefits to thousands of veterans who were unable to document their experiences. The new science-based reforms will simplify the process, requiring a VA doctor’s diagnosis for veterans who served in a combat zone. The VA expects this rulemaking to decrease the time needed to make decisions regarding PTSD, and combined with shorter claim forms, the streamlined approach will allow for faster and more accurate decisions that will also expedite access to medical care and other benefits for veterans. Importantly, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has also expressed strong support for the new rule, and I applaud the VA’s plan to better assist those veterans who are suffering from this debilitating and devastating disorder.
I remain committed to improving and expanding access to health services for all veterans across Southeastern North Carolina. Supporting our veterans in every way possible is our solemn obligation to those who have sacrificed and served in the name of freedom and democracy. I hope you will join me in supporting and honoring our veterans.
