VA RATING SYSTEM. Via WaPo: the Institute of Medicine released a report yesterday asking the department of Veterans Affairs to update its rating system to evaluate disabled veterans. This system, which has been around in some form since World War II, doesn't account for many kinds of brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. Adjustments to iitwould allow veterans with such disabilities to get a higher rating, and therefore greater disability compensation. Changes to how the VA and DoD evaluate mental disability are long overdue, and the Institute of Medicine is one of many institutions demanding reform. --Kay Steiger
