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PTSD Bill To Aid Vets

By Marv Freedman

On the first day of the 99th Congress, Rep Robert Kastenmeier (D-WI) introduced H.R. 362 renewing his battle to create a presumption of service connection for Vietnam vets claiming VA disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorders. The proposed legislation would shift the burden of proof from the veteran to the VA unless the VA could establish that a stressor other than Vietnam service might have caused the vet's ptsd.

Kastenmeier distinguished himself during the last session of Congress when he introduced H.R. 4711, the first substantive federal legislation dealing with compensation for Vietnam vets suffering from ptsd. Forty members of Congress joined Kastenmeier in co-sponsoring the bill which was a respectable and encouraging level of support that prompted Kastenmeier to reintroduce the legislation as H.R. 362.

H.R. 362 is again attracting Congressional as well as veteran support. In less than three months, 50 members of Congress have already joined Kastenmeier in co-sponsoring H.R. 362. Last session VVAW was the only national veterans organization to endorse ptsd legislation. This year, DAV has already joined VVAW in backing the bill and Kastenmeier's determined efforts. Other veterans organizations are expected to lend their support in the months to come.

In a March 1985 letter asking all members of the House of Representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 362, Kastenmeier noted that the VA acknowledges that at least 20% of Vietnam vets have substantial war-related psychological difficulties impairing their lives. "This means that from 700,000 to 800,000 veterans, plus family members, are still suffering the effects of this tragic period in our history," Kastenmeier observed.

While noting that legislation passed by Congress during the last session provides for a study of ptsd in Vietnam vets, Kastenmeier called it only the first step since final results of the study are not due until 1988. He stated that the study approach would only postpone for three more key decisions on how to deal with ptsd, but that vets could continue with only sporadic compensation.

H.R. 362 is without question one of the most significant pieces of Vietnam veteran legislation introduced to date. VVAW members have played a crucial role in helping this bill get as far as it has. VVAW members need to increase their efforts if hearing are to be held by the House Veterans Affairs Committee this session. That means that H.R. 362 has to have as many co-sponsors as possible. Listed below are the names of the present co-sponsors. If your representative is not on the list, contact him or her to urge co-sponsorship already are also in order.

Rep. Kastenmeier introduced H.R. 362 for us and he is doing all her can to have it enacted because he cares about Vietnam vets. The battle for passage of H.R. 362, however, is really ours as Vietnam vets. It is one battle we cannot afford to lose.

—Marv Freedman
VVAW Madison