State Journal Runs Good Piece on New PTSD Rules

Steven Verburg has a good, local follow-up in the State Journal on veterans' reaction to the new PTSD VA rules that cut through the red tape with which our veterans contend.

Verburg presents the case of local veteran Stephen Jackson, who served in Vietnam from 1972 to 1973, was diagnosed with PTSD and still can not get benefits--but likely can now under the new rules.

The piece dwells too much on the knockdown; too much neocon twaddle about the potential for fraud and the ever-present danger that our veterans are a bunch of liars.

"Dane County Veterans Service Officer Michael Jackson said he expects claims from Vietnam-era and earlier veterans 'will be coming out of the woodwork, grasping at straws,' and unrealistic claims will be denied," writes Verburg.

The sourcing of veteran service officers ignores what is common knowledge among veteran advocates: Veterans service officers are often part of the problem. It's a roll of the dice for veterans of whom they talk to.

And the neocon, ‘crat culture that veterans run into? No mention.

And describing veterans as coming out of the woodwork and grasping at straws? Sounds like a VA bureaucrat trying to deny, delay and hope the veterans die.

Talk to any Vietnam veteran and they will tell you in so many words: It's often guys waiting and listening but not engaging who come home the worst for it. But it's unpredictable.

Servicemen and women take an oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution, but their word on how they're doing afterwards is not taken at face value.