A recent WaPo piece revealed that the VA and FAA are comparing records to:
1) Identify pilots with medical issues that are known to the VA but were not disclosed to the FAA
2) Identify individuals who fraudulently claim VA disability benefits for conditions they didn't report to the FAA.
It seems about 5000 folks have been scrutinized, about 600 pilots flying for commercial operators remain under investigation, and about 60 pilots have been grounded.
Lots of angles to this one. On the face of it, it seems like a good common sense way to root out fraud in the VA program and to identify medically unfit pilots who were legally required to report their conditions to the FAA. Still, it will discourage veterans who are pilots from seeking medical help (esp for PTSD, in which the VA has expertise and actually has earned a lot of praise).
Will the FAA seek and receive medical records from private insurers under the same rationale? Why not?
1) Identify pilots with medical issues that are known to the VA but were not disclosed to the FAA
2) Identify individuals who fraudulently claim VA disability benefits for conditions they didn't report to the FAA.
It seems about 5000 folks have been scrutinized, about 600 pilots flying for commercial operators remain under investigation, and about 60 pilots have been grounded.
Lots of angles to this one. On the face of it, it seems like a good common sense way to root out fraud in the VA program and to identify medically unfit pilots who were legally required to report their conditions to the FAA. Still, it will discourage veterans who are pilots from seeking medical help (esp for PTSD, in which the VA has expertise and actually has earned a lot of praise).
Will the FAA seek and receive medical records from private insurers under the same rationale? Why not?
