New Army PTSD Guidelines Fault Madigan's Screening Process

Full article at: Army's new PTSD guidelines fault Madigan's screening tests By Hal Bernton, Seattle Times staff reporter "The Army Surgeon General's Office has issued new guidelines for diagnosing PTSD that criticize an approach once routinely used at Madigan Army Medical Center. The policy, obtained by The Seattle Times, specifically discounts tests used to determine whether soldiers are faking symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It says that poor test results do not constitute malingering. The written tests often were part of the Madigan screening process that overturned the PTSD diagnoses of more than 300 patients during the past five years."

VA Releases 70 New Disability Benefits Questionnaires

Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) VA releases 70 new DBQ forms, following success with Agent Orange [AO] medical questionnaires. DBQs are used to guide physician in making their reports of medical findings, ensuring that VA has the medical information needed to make prompt decisions. Veterans have the option of visiting a private health care provider instead of a VA facility to complete their disability evaluation form. Veterans can have their providers fill out any of the more than 70 DBQs that are appropriate for their conditions and submit them to VA. Remember, doctors are not attorneys, so get help filling out these form so that the form clearly and fairly represents your medical condition and degree of disability. This will save time time not only in the initial evaluation but also during any subsequent appeals. Forms can be found here: http://benefits.va.gov/TRANSFORMATION/dbqs/ListByDBQFormName.asp