WASHINGTON (CN) - The Department of Veteran Affairs plans to amend a rule of evidence for post-traumatic stress disorder benefits that should shorten the time it takes to get a claim through the system.
The fact that a claimed stressor occurred need not be corroborated under certain circumstances.
If the claimed stressor is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressor could cause posttraumatic stress disorder, no further evidence that the event occurred need be submitted if all other evidence is consistent with the diagnosis.
According to the VA, current science bears out this conclusion. The proposed rule is "intended to acknowledge the inherently stressful nature of the places, types, and circumstances of service in which fear of hostile military or terrorist activities is ongoing."
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