Apache Pilots Rescue Critically Wounded Soldier

Army, Sep 2007

The report also recommended:

* Creating one standardized medical examination that DoD administers to determine fitness to serve and that the VA uses to determine initial disability level.

* Restructuring VA disability payments to include transition payments, then earnings-loss payments, and a quality-of-life payment.

* Reevaluating disability status every three years.

* Reducing the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and enabling all veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and need care for it to get treatment from the VA.

* Establishing a network of public-and private-sector expertise in traumatic brain injury and an expanded network for PTSD.

* Making combat-injured service-members eligible for TRICARE respite care and aide and personal attendant benefits currently provided in the extended care health option program.

* Amending the Family and Medical Leave Act for up to six months for a family member of a veteran who has a combat-related injury and meets the law's eligibility requirements.

* Making clinical and benefit data more accessible to users within the next 12 months and creating a user-friendly web site for medical records.

The entire report is available at www.pccww.gov.