Biden calls for change in way vets qualify for medical care

[gateley]

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden said the nation needs to radically streamline the way veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan qualify for medical care in government-run veterans hospitals.

Some veterans returning from war have had to wait as much as 170 days for their application for care to go through. If they have to appeal, many wait 200 or more days, said Biden, who was campaigning in Iowa on Sunday.

``There are intolerable delays in qualifying,'' he said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. ``We are bringing home so many veterans with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Because of the nature of deployment and repeated deployment, I want to make sure they don't get caught up in this delay.''

Biden, a Delaware senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he wants the government to presume that soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with brain injury or post-traumatic stress received their injuries because of the war. Currently, soldiers must prove their injuries were the result of war, he said. Biden wants the presumption to shift in favor of the soldier unless the government can prove the injury wasn't because of their service. (BOLD is mine)

He said returning soldiers need immediate treatment because they have the highest suicide rate of any generation of veterans, the highest divorce rate and the highest percentage of soldiers suffering brain injury.

``If we allow them to get caught up in this bureaucratic nightmare, we will inflicting another wound on them,'' he said.

He criticized the Bush administration for resisting attempts to increase funding for veterans care. He said the administration fears that acknowledging so many soldiers need care will bring out the true cost of the war in Iraq.

snip

http://wcco.com/iowawire/22.0.html?type=local&state=IA&category=n&filename=IA--Biden-Veterans.xml

[Cameron27]

1. This is a great idea

it's heartbreaking to see what happens to our vets when they come home. Did you watch KO last night?

[gateley]

3. No on Olbermann - don't have cable, but I'll go looking on YouTube -- thanks.

I posted a Biden video here (should still be kicking around if you're interested) where he was FURIOUS about the "help" the troops and vets are getting.

He mentioned more horrific treatment and neglect that I'd never heard before.

It's heartbreaking! :cry:

[jody]

2. Where is Sen. Obama? He is on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Why doesn't he do his job?

Biden isn't on the committee but apparently he is doing the job Obama should be doing.

[gateley]

4. Biden is PASSIONATE about this. Whether or not he becomes President, he'll

be fighting for rights.

This will sound snarky, but it' not meant that way, but I'm not aware of Obama doing ANYTHING these days except running for President.

Biden has been introducing legislation all along. Don't know how he does it...

[youthere]

17. Kicking

[Bucky]

5. In other words, why isn't every good suggestion his suggestion?

I back Biden. But twisting this thread into an attack on Obama is an idiotic tangent to drag us off to. I wonder if you can appreciate the beauty of a good (and overdue) idea without being a jackass.

[jody]

6. Sorry but Obama has not done anything of significance in his position on the Veterans Affairs

committee.

Perhaps he can demonstrate his leadership skills by doing something.

Sorry if you take offense at facts. :shrug:

[ginchinchili]

11. Obama's too busy with Obama to worry about such things.

[jillan]

7. This is definitely one of Biden's BIG issues.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x69047

[youthere]

19. Kicking

[slipslidingaway]

8. K&R esp. for the bold part n/t

[gateley]

9. I agree - it's like being presumed guilty until proved innocent. These are our

soldiers for god's sake! WHY are they being treated like criminals? It's unconscionable.

[slipslidingaway]

10. Yes it is :( n/t

[PatSeg]

12. I can't add anything to this

I'm glad someone seems to genuinely care about our Vets. All I hear from most is just lip service.

[youthere]

13. Kicking for Joe. It'sabout damn time someone looked out for our vets

[murbley40]

14. Kicking for vets

[PatSeg]

15. There was an article about this in

The Tehran Times. I didn't realize they followed our politics that closely.

[gateley]

18. I saw that, too -- The Tehran Times. Interesting. nt

[youthere]

16. Kicking for Biden!