VA Approved Internet Stressor Verification

Sandra Covin / Trista Barnum

Fall Conference, 2009

Objectives

General Development ConsiderationsIdentify Appropriate Stressor

DevelopmentGeneral and Local Development

Research

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

Stressor Development

No Evidence of Record to Support Claimed Stressor

PTSD Development LetterPTSD due to Combat StressorPTSD due to Personal Trauma

Service Department RecordsRequest for combat recordsRequest for personal trauma records

Local Stressor Research

• C&P 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 C&P Service

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

What Resources Can Be Used?

Transportation Histories from Fort EustisUnited States Air Force Class A

Aerospace MishapsUS Navy Seabee MuseumThe Dictionary of American Fighting

ShipsGulf LinkDefense Link

What Is An Acceptable Website?

C&P 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.

How Much Verification Is Needed?

Case - by - Case

All Evidence Must be Weighed

“Credible Supporting Evidence” to Corroborate the Occurrence of the Claimed Stressor

Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC)

Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast GuardHistorical Information on Individual UnitsSome Personnel Records Related to Stressful Events

Marine CorpsMarine Corps Archives

Summary of Findings OnlyNo Evaluation of Evidence, Opinions, Conclusions,

or Decisions

Joint Services Records Research Center

JSRRC Cannot Verify:

Almost Happened

Civilian Involvement

Enemy Prisoner Treatment

Sniper Attacks

Convoy Travel

Door Gunner Duty

Scenario

Questions??????

Thank You!!!!!