Judge considers new e-mail evidence in veterans care trial
“Judge considers new e-mail evidence in veterans care trial”
A recently surfaced e-mail by a Department of Veterans Affairs psychologist was added Friday to the evidence a federal judge is considering in deciding whether to order a massive overhaul of the agency’s health care system.
Heather Moser, a lawyer for the veterans groups, told the judge [sic] said the March memo written by Norma Perez, who helps coordinate a post-traumatic stress disorder clinical team in central Texas, shows that VA bureaucrats routinely attempt to deny veterans proper health care.
Moser told the judge that Perez was encouraging counselors to make more initial diagnosis of “adjustment disorder” rather than the more severe post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, because it was less costly and time-consuming to do so.
“The adjustment disorder diagnosis is a way around paying benefits to the veterans,” Moser said
Justice Department lawyer Daniel Bensing told the judge that the e-mail was a mistake and didn’t represent VA policy. He said Perez had been disciplined and that her e-mail was inartfully worded and is being misconstrued as an attempt to unfairly deny benefits…
“It was an honest mistake by a junior staff member,” Bensing told the judge. “There really is nothing more to this matter. We submit that it should have no effect on this case.” Read on…
In response to the Court’s decision, Veterans for Common Sense issued this statement:
“The Court’s ruling is an important victory for veterans. The ruling adds critical new evidence the judge will review as part of our lawsuit against VA on behalf of all veterans. VA’s anti-PTSD e-mail is a shocking example of how serious the problems are within VA. When combined, the e-mail and the evidence presented at trial clearly demonstrate a systemic failure by VA to provide prompt and high-quality mental healthcare to our Nation’s veterans suffering from PTSD.”
