New benefit delay hits disabled vets

BY CHERYL L. REED Staff Reporter

The most seriously disabled veterans will now have to wait for their claims to pass a second review before they can receive any disability pay from the federal Veterans Affairs Department, according to a new policy ordered last week.

Veterans who have been granted disability for post-traumatic stress disorder or are judged to be 100 percent disabled or unemployable by one VA disability reviewer must now receive a second VA nod before the agency will grant any disability pay.

VA officials defended the policy, which went into effect immediately Tuesday and was issued to all 57 regional VA offices through a memo, a copy of which was obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

"It's always good to have an extra set of eyes on this stuff," said Scott Hogenson, a VA spokesman.

Obama fears trend of denials

Denials for those same disabilities, though, do not require a second review. Veterans advocates, as well as Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), fear the new policy sends a message that VA disability reviewers are not to grant high-paying claims.

"It appears there's going to be a bias towards the denial of PTSD claims," said Obama, who serves on the Senate VA Committee.

I was bushco would just go away!

Semper Fi