Murray, Levin call for better evaluation system for veterans with disabilities

Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) asked the Veterans Affairs’ Department and Defense Department to work together to improve the “broken” disability evaluation process.

In a letter the lawmakers sent late last week, they also called on the departments to establish a timeline for completing a review of the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). The request came after the Government Accountability Office released a report in which it found problems with the system.

The GAO report found that some service members are not being diagnosed with disabilities they have, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, at VA hospitals. Service members with disabilities continue to receive health benefits, among others, after service.

"I am not convinced the Departments have implemented a disability evaluation process that is truly transparent, consistent or expeditious,” said Murray, the chairwoman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. “Getting this right is a big challenge — but it’s one that we must overcome.”

“I’ve seen the impacts of a broken system — whether it’s from a wrong diagnosis, an improper decision or never-ending wait times. When the system doesn’t work accurately and quickly, or when service members can’t get a proper mental health evaluation or diagnosis, it means they are not getting the care they need and they are not moving on to civilian life.”

Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he believes if the two departments work together, a solution to help veterans is possible.

"I am convinced that the DoD/VA Integrated Disability Evaluation System can be improved to better address the needs of our wounded, ill and injured service members,” Levin said in a statement Friday. “This system is too complex, takes far too long, and still has an adversarial aspect that our service members should not have to endure.”

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