PTSD Case Review Vote

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) joined with fellow Democrats Richard Durbin ( Ill. ), Patty Murray ( Wash. ) and Daniel K. Akaka ( Hawaii ) Sept. 22 on an amendment to block the Department of Veterans Affairs from reviewing case files of 72,000 veterans rated 100-percent disabled by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Senate, on a voice vote, adopted the amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriation Act (HR 2528).

The House version of the bill has no such language, so a House-Senate conference committee will decide its fate during final negotiations on the bill. VA officials believe some PTSD claims have been decided for veterans without proper documentation.