Please PIN: PTSD and VETS >> New and Improved Regulations posted in the Federal Register 7/13/2010

[link to www.va.gov]


Questions and Answers on new PTSD policy:
[link to www.va.gov]

VETS this is worth your attention.

Thanks for you service,
^V^
Sunpar

Edit: Please PIN, if only for a little bit of time. Thanks.

Update Edit: July 13, 2010
Federal Register [link to frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov [link to frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov]

Stressor Determinations for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its
adjudication regulations governing service connection for posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) by liberalizing in some cases the evidentiary
standard for establishing the required in-service stressor. This
amendment eliminates the requirement for corroborating that the claimed
in-service stressor occurred if a stressor claimed by a veteran is
related to the veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity
and a VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or a psychiatrist or
psychologist with whom VA has contracted, confirms that the claimed
stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD and that the
veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor, provided that
the claimed stressor is consistent with the places, types, and
circumstances of the veteran's service.
This amendment takes into consideration the current scientific
research studies relating PTSD to exposure to hostile military and
terrorist actions. The amendment acknowledges the inherently stressful
nature of the places, types, and circumstances of service in which fear
of hostile military or terrorist activities is ongoing. With this
amendment, the evidentiary standard of establishing an in-service
stressor will be reduced in these cases. The amendment will facilitate
the timely processing of PTSD claims by simplifying the development and
research procedures that apply to these claims.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective July 12, 2010.
Applicability Date: This final rule applies to an application for
service connection for PTSD that:
Is received by VA on or after July 12, 2010;
Was received by VA before July 12, 2010 but has not been
decided by a VA regional office as of that date;
Is appealed to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
or after July 12, 2010;
Was appealed to the Board before July 12, 2010 but has not
been decided by the Board as of that date; or
Is pending before VA on or after July 12, 2010 because the
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Veterans Court) vacated a Board
decision on the application and remanded it for readjudication.

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Last Edited by Sunpar on 07/13/2010 03:38 PM