VA psychologist urges colleagues to refrain from diagnosing PTSD

(CNN) - A Veterans Administration psychologist sent an e-mail this month to her colleagues, who were mental health specialists and social workers, urging them to refrain from giving soldiers and veterans a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Given that we are having more and more compensation-seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest that you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out," wrote VA psychologist Norma Perez in the May 1 e-mail. One reason, she said, was that "we really don't or have time to do the extensive testing that should be done to determine PTSD."

VA spokeswoman Alison Aikele told CNN the e-mail was the work of a lone "rogue" employee who has since been counseled. "That e-mail was sent as a suggestion," she said. "It wasn't something that others followed up or that was a policy. It is 100 percent against our policy."

She called the note "really unfortunate."