SENATOR RELEASES VA REPORT ON FEMALE VETS
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY/AP) – A new study says female military members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to be diagnosed with mental-health conditions than their male counterparts. But men are more likely to be suffering specifically from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
The Veterans Administration’s Office of Inspector General report, released Monday by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, also found that women are much more likely to have a harder time transitioning to civilian life after combat service than men. It advises that the Veterans Benefits Administration better inform female veterans about specific services available to them.
The study also found that the benefits administration denies payment for PTSD claims at a higher rate for women than for men, and denies a higher rate of male veterans’ claims for mental health conditions other than PTSD.
Warner said he wanted to study the quality of Veterans Affairs services for women who returned from overseas suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Warner’s office says the inspector general’s report found that many VA facilities aren’t equipped to meet the health needs of women.
At a news conference in the Hampton V-A Medical Center Warner told reporters “I think getting rid of that combat ribbon requirement in terms of qualifying (women vets) for PTSD is a giant step forward.”
Senator Warner released a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki urging him to act promptly to correct the issues identified in the Inspector General’s report.
Posted by wwlp.com
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