Senator Burr (R-NC) says that his goal is to empahsize wellness among veterans as opposed to claims for disability

At the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs review of Veteran's Disability Compensation: Expert Work on PTSD and Other Issues, Ranking Member Senator Richard Burr quotes the Institute of Medicine, saying that if there were a path to treatment that did not involve a disability rating, and then says that under his bill, the Veterans Mental Health Treatment First Act, there would be a wellness stipend while the veterans were waiting for treatment, and all the veteran would have to do is agree to comply with the treatment program and hold off on filing disability claims. His goal, he says, is to emphasize wellness as opposed to claiming disability. (1:04)
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Comments

[Archie C.Haase]

The issue is giving those who suffered in Combat the help they should have had since the day they left combat!

Giving combat disabilies priority over bad backs hernias is a threat to the DAV , like veterans organizations and career military.

[Weldon B. Roberts]

As a Veterans Service Officeer that deals with disabled veterans every day I see this only as another attempt to deny disability benefits. Grant the disability, treat them and if they respond re-evaluate and lower the benefits.

I see so many that come back with PTSD and can't get or hold a job and a wellness "Stripend" will not feed the family while they wait for treatment.

Sen. Burr's Wounded Warrior Act S 2674 is a disgrace and a slap in the face of every injured "Warrior"

[Peter J Sawyer]

The VA is a disgrace and now that the Iraq War is winding down Sen Burr does not want to pay the cost for the injured Veterans bot in this War and going back. How can anyone take away earned benefits such as Social Security when a Veteran turns 65 just because they receive Veterans Disability?

The intention of this bill is pure evil and should be withdrawn. It is unfair to all Veterans who earned benefits serving our Country. Where are the promises made when we went to War?