WASHINGTON – An internal e-mail written by a Veterans Affairs Department employee suggested avoiding a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans and instead considering a diagnosis that might result in a lower disability payment.
A copy of the e-mail was distributed Thursday by the groups Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a congressional watchdog group, and VoteVets.org. The e-mail, dated March 20, had been forwarded to Vote Vets.org, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans lobbying group opposed to the Bush administration's handling of the war and veterans' issues.
The names of the sender and the recipients were blacked out by the groups. The e-mail has the subject title “Suggestion.”
“Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest that we refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out. Consider a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder, R/O PTSD,” the e-mail said.
It also said, “Additionally, we really don't ... have time to do the extensive testing that should be done to determine PTSD.”
VA Secretary James Peake issued a statement calling the e-mail sender's suggestions “inappropriate” and said the employee had been talked to and was apologetic. The VA did not release the employee's name.
“We are committed to absolute accuracy in a diagnosis and unwavering in providing any and all earned benefits,” Peake said. “PTSD and the mental-health arena is no exception.”
