VA Staffer to Testify to Senate Committee about PTSD email

Norma J. Perez, former coordinator of the PTSD program at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Temple, Texas, will go before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Wednesday morning to answer questions on whether an internal email she sent was an attempt by the VA to circumvent paying benefits to soldiers with PTSD, or just misguided advice from an individual, reports CBS News.

In an email, sent on March 20, she wrote the following to the social workers and psychologists
under her supervision: "Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out."

Instead she said for clinicians to "consider a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder."

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a watchdog group based in Washington, obtained and distributed the email, along with VoteVets.org, a veterans lobbying group.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are pushing for an investigation. They want to make sure PTSD is being properly diagnosed at VA facilities.

Perez was recently reassigned to a VA hospital in Austin, TX. She works there as "Mental Health Integration Specialist."

-Dippold

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