Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki announced the adoption of a new rule that will make it easier for veterans who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to receive treatment. The new rule grants a presumption of service connection to any veteran who served in a combat zone and has been diagnosed with PTSD.

Under the old rules veterans were required to provide documentation of so-called “triggers”, such as specific bomb explosions that caused the disorder. Providing evidence of specific incidents in a war zone is a nearly impossible hurdle for veterans seeking treatment to overcome, as many do not have records of every location or dates for every combat mission in which they served.

Under the new policy veterans will only need to prove they were deployed to a combat zone and have been diagnosed with PTSD. The new rule applies to all veterans, but will be particularly helpful to Vietnam veterans who have long been denied benefits due to the difficulty in providing documentation of events that occurred 40 or more years ago. The new rule will cut down on the lengthy paperwork required and will help more veterans receive the treatment they need and deserve.

The New G.I. Bill

Otherwise known as the Post-9/11 GI bill the new GI Bill provides new financial support for education and housing to individuals who have served in the U.S. Military on or after September 11, 2001.

As of August 1, 2009 the Post-9/11 GI bill is effective for training including graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational and technical training offered by institutions of higher education. Tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are also approved under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The new GI Bill will pay a tuition rate that is based on an amount up to the highest in-state tuition charged by a public educational institution in the state where the school is located. The amount of support a veteran may receive depends on where s/he lives and what kind of degree is pursued.

Other new benefits for eligible individuals include payment of tuition and fees (paid directly to the school), a monthly housing allowance for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school, and an annual stipend of up to $1,000 for books and supplies.

Never before have veterans been able to transfer benefits to children and spouses. But now under the new bill, any member of the Armed Forces who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill may apply to transfer their GI Bill benefits to their loved ones.

For information about eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill contact the Veterans Administration: 1-888-GI-BILL or www.gibill.va.gov.