VA Approved Internet Stressor Verification

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VA Approved Internet Stressor Verification

• Sandra Covin / Trista Barnum
• Fall Conference, 2009

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Objectives

• General Development Considerations
• Identify Appropriate Stressor Development
• General and Local Development Research

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General Development Considerations

• Sensitive Nature of the Disorder
• Reluctance to Discuss Stressful Event
• Inability to Remember Details of Stressful Event
• Only Absolutely Necessary Information Requested
• Avoid Triggering Stimuli

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Stressor Development

• No Evidence of Record to Support Claimed Stressor
• PTSD Development Letter
• PTSD due to Combat Stressor
• PTSD due to Personal Trauma
• Service Department Records
• Request for combat records
• Request for personal trauma records

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Local Stressor Research

• CP Stressor Verification Databases
• Compiled by Chicago VA Regional Office Employee
  Over Several Years
• Contain Official Military Documents Collected
  from Publicly Available Sources
• Documents Organized by CP Service

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What Resources Can Be Used?

• Texas Tech University Database
• Military Assistance Command (MACV) Reports
• Virtual VA
• The Board of Veterans Appeals
• PTSD Rating Job Aids

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What Resources Can Be Used?

• Transportation Histories from Fort Eustis
• United States Air Force Class A Aerospace Mishaps
• US Navy Seabee Museum
• The Dictionary of American Fighting Ships
• Gulf Link
• Defense Link

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What Is An Acceptable Website?

• CP will endorse information from any website
  that is a military (.mil) or government (.gov)
  site.
• Other sites also have value, primarily as a means
  to find official information.
• Educational sites (.edu) like Texas Tech
  University, which contain PDF file repositories
  of official military documents and provide a
  search function.

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How Much Verification Is Needed?

• Case - by - Case
• All Evidence Must be Weighed
• Credible Supporting Evidence to Corroborate the
  Occurrence of the Claimed Stressor

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Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC)

• Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard
• Historical Information on Individual Units
• Some Personnel Records Related to Stressful
  Events
• Marine Corps
• Marine Corps Archives
• Summary of Findings Only
• No Evaluation of Evidence, Opinions, Conclusions,
  or Decisions

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Joint Services Records Research Center

• JSRRC Cannot Verify
• Almost Happened
• Civilian Involvement
• Enemy Prisoner Treatment
• Sniper Attacks
• Convoy Travel
• Door Gunner Duty

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Scenario
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Questions ??????

• Thank You!!!!!