Bond Meets With VA Secretary Peake On PTSD, TBI

Press Release

BOND MEETS WITH VA SECRETARY PEAKE ON PTSD, TBI

Senator: Troops Deserve Improved Treatment of Invisible Injuries, Answers on PTSD

U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) today met with Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary James Peake to urge improved treatment for our troops and veterans suffering with mental injuries, like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Bond also told Peake our troops deserve an answer on troubling allegations that the VA has suppressed the number of veteran suicides and has refrained from diagnosing combat veterans with PTSD in order to reduce costs.

"We won't tolerate our government failing our troops and their families who have sacrificed so much for this country," said Bond. "Supporting the HONOR Act is an important first step in meeting our obligations to these heroes and Secretary Peake's backing is invaluable."

Bond called today's visit with Secretary Peake constructive. Peake was aware of the recent RAND Corporation findings that an estimated 620,000 returning service members suffer from PTSD, TBI or both. Bond told Peake that he was concerned that despite this figure, which represents about 30 percent of those who have served in combat, the Pentagon has failed to improve a military mental health system that is underfunded, understaffed, and extremely difficult to navigate. Also, the government has done little to address the silent stigma on "invisible injuries" many of our service members are suffering from when returning from combat.

A long-time veterans' advocate and former chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the VA, Bond asked Peake to support the bipartisan bill he and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced earlier this month. The Bond-Boxer bill will improve treatment for our service members and veterans suffering with mental injuries, better prepare them for the stress associated with combat, and increase care for military families. The Bond-Boxer Honoring Our Nation's Obligations to Returning Warriors Act - or the HONOR Act - is a critical step in correcting the Administration's inadequate response to the suffering of our troops with invisible injuries. Bond praised Peake for being eager to work with him and Boxer on seeing the bill become law in addition to other steps to help these returning veterans.

Bond told Peake that, even more troubling then the government's failure to help returning troops with mental injuries, are recent reports that the VA is purposefully suppressing the number of veteran suicides and misdiagnosing PTSD. Bond pointed to the recent release of court evidence that the VA withheld critical information on the rising number of veteran suicides and press reports about a possible pattern of PTSD misdiagnosis at a Texas Veterans' Affairs facility. Bond emphasized that it is essential that Peake address these disturbing situations immediately. Peake assured Bond that he finds these issues unacceptable and is currently addressing both.

"It is critical that the VA investigates these disturbing allegations," said Bond. "Restoring our troops' confidence in their government will take time and we can only start by fixing the military's mental health system. I only hope that Secretary Peake's willingness to tackle the mess he inherited is replicated at the Pentagon."

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