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How the Pentagon Cheats Iraq Vets Out of Medical Care and Disability Pay
By Sherwood Ross
Created Apr 2 2007 - 1:23pm
Over the past six years, some 22,500 soldiers have been discharged on
grounds of "personality disorder" -- a condition that can be alleged to have
existed prior to their tour of duty -- thus absolving the Pentagon of its
obligation to provide their medical care and pay their benefits.
A six-month investigation by reporter Joshua Kors for the April 9th "The
Nation" magazine learned of "multiple cases" in which "soldiers wounded in
Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then
prevented from collecting benefits."
According to Kors, "The conditions of their discharge have infuriated many
in the military community, including the injured soldiers and their
families, veterans' rights groups, even military officials required to
process these dismissals." They say the military is purposely misdiagnosing
soldiers "to cheat them out of a lifetime of disability and medical
benefits, thereby saving billions in expenses."
With an average disability payment of about $8,900 a year and a medical cost
of about $5,000 per year over a 40-year period per soldier, separating
22,500 of them would save the Pentagon $8-billion in disability pay and
$4.5-billion in medical care over their lifetimes, the article says.
Specialist Jon Town, of Findlay, Ohio, was separated on a "personality
disorder" diagnosis even though in October, 2004, a 107-millimeter rocket
struck two feet over his head as he stood in the doorway of his battalion's
headquarters in Ramadi, Iraq. Town's ears were leaking blood from the blast
and rocket shrapnel was removed from his neck. The blast caused substantial
deafness, and he suffers from memory failure and depression as well.
Inexplicably, doctors at Fort Carson, Colo., diagnosed Town with
"personality disorder", depriving him of disability and medical benefits.
Russell Terry, founder of the Iraq War Veterans Organization pointed out
that each soldier is screened psychologically when they join the military
and asks, "if all these soldiers really did have a severe pre-existing
condition, how did they get into the military in the first place?"
In the last six years, according to "The Nation," the Army alone has
diagnosed and discharged more than 5,600 soldiers because of personality
disorder, and their numbers continue to rise. Between January and November
of last year, 1,086 soldiers were discharged on such grounds. One military
official who was not identified told Kors, "It's like, suddenly everybody
(on my base) has a personality disorder. They're saving a buck. And they're
saving the VA money too. It's all about money."
In the case of veteran Town, he was told to give back the bulk of his
$15,000 enlistment bonus and left Ft. Carson owing the government more than
$3,000. According to the magazine, Fort Carson psychologist Mark Wexler
assured Town he would receive disability benefits, VA medical care, and
would get to keep his bonus. When he found out he was being discharged
empty-handed, Town said, "It was a total shock. I felt like I'd been
betrayed by the Army." When asked if doctors at Fort Carson were assuring
patients set for a 5-13 pre-existing condition discharge they would receive
benefits, Colonel Steven Knorr, Wexler's boss, replied, "I don't believe
they're doing that."
Other veterans contacted by Kors, however, said military doctors tried to
force the diagnosis upon them and turned a blind eye to physical ailments
and post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Army Specialist William
Wooldridge said he struck and killed a young girl who was pushed in front of
his ammunition truck in Iraq and has heard voices and suffered
hallucinations ever since. He was discharged with "personality disorder" but
18 months later a review board in Memphis voided that 5-13 dismissal,
stating his PTSD was so severe he was, in fact, "totally disabled."
Another veteran, Chris Mosier, of Des Moines, Iowa, put a note on the front
door of his home saying the Iraqis were after him and then shot himself. His
mother, Linda, said her son's problems began in Iraq when a truck in front
of his was blown up by a roadside bomb and the men inside were burned alive.
"He was there at the end to pick up the hands and arms," Ms. Mosier said.
"They take a normal kid, he comes back messed up, then nobody was there for
him when he came back. They discharged him so they didn't' have to treat
him," she added.
Steve Robinson, director of veterans affairs at Veterans for America, a
Washington, D.C.-based soldiers' rights group, pointed out military doctors
have been facing an overflow of wounded soldiers and a shortage of rooms,
supplies and time to treat them. "By calling PTSD a personality disorder,
they usher one soldier out quickly, freeing up space for the three or four
who are waiting," he said.
A lawyer for Trial Defense Services, an Army unit to guide soldiers through
their 5-13 discharge and who was not identified by name, told reporter Kors:
"Right now, the Army is eating its own. What I want to see is these soldiers
getting the right diagnosis, so they can get the right help, not be thrown
to the wolves right away. That is what they're doing."
As for veteran Town -- whose case was brought by Robinson to the attention
of Deputy Surgeon General Gale Pollock and others -- he says he is doing his
best to keep his head in check and that his nightmares have diminished. "I
have my good days and my bad days," he said. "It all depends on whether I
wake up in Findlay or Iraq."
_______
--
NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not
always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material
available to advance understanding of
political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. I
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107
"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson
By Sherwood Ross
Created Apr 2 2007 - 1:23pm
Over the past six years, some 22,500 soldiers have been discharged on
grounds of "personality disorder" -- a condition that can be alleged to have
existed prior to their tour of duty -- thus absolving the Pentagon of its
obligation to provide their medical care and pay their benefits.
A six-month investigation by reporter Joshua Kors for the April 9th "The
Nation" magazine learned of "multiple cases" in which "soldiers wounded in
Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then
prevented from collecting benefits."
According to Kors, "The conditions of their discharge have infuriated many
in the military community, including the injured soldiers and their
families, veterans' rights groups, even military officials required to
process these dismissals." They say the military is purposely misdiagnosing
soldiers "to cheat them out of a lifetime of disability and medical
benefits, thereby saving billions in expenses."
With an average disability payment of about $8,900 a year and a medical cost
of about $5,000 per year over a 40-year period per soldier, separating
22,500 of them would save the Pentagon $8-billion in disability pay and
$4.5-billion in medical care over their lifetimes, the article says.
Specialist Jon Town, of Findlay, Ohio, was separated on a "personality
disorder" diagnosis even though in October, 2004, a 107-millimeter rocket
struck two feet over his head as he stood in the doorway of his battalion's
headquarters in Ramadi, Iraq. Town's ears were leaking blood from the blast
and rocket shrapnel was removed from his neck. The blast caused substantial
deafness, and he suffers from memory failure and depression as well.
Inexplicably, doctors at Fort Carson, Colo., diagnosed Town with
"personality disorder", depriving him of disability and medical benefits.
Russell Terry, founder of the Iraq War Veterans Organization pointed out
that each soldier is screened psychologically when they join the military
and asks, "if all these soldiers really did have a severe pre-existing
condition, how did they get into the military in the first place?"
In the last six years, according to "The Nation," the Army alone has
diagnosed and discharged more than 5,600 soldiers because of personality
disorder, and their numbers continue to rise. Between January and November
of last year, 1,086 soldiers were discharged on such grounds. One military
official who was not identified told Kors, "It's like, suddenly everybody
(on my base) has a personality disorder. They're saving a buck. And they're
saving the VA money too. It's all about money."
In the case of veteran Town, he was told to give back the bulk of his
$15,000 enlistment bonus and left Ft. Carson owing the government more than
$3,000. According to the magazine, Fort Carson psychologist Mark Wexler
assured Town he would receive disability benefits, VA medical care, and
would get to keep his bonus. When he found out he was being discharged
empty-handed, Town said, "It was a total shock. I felt like I'd been
betrayed by the Army." When asked if doctors at Fort Carson were assuring
patients set for a 5-13 pre-existing condition discharge they would receive
benefits, Colonel Steven Knorr, Wexler's boss, replied, "I don't believe
they're doing that."
Other veterans contacted by Kors, however, said military doctors tried to
force the diagnosis upon them and turned a blind eye to physical ailments
and post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Army Specialist William
Wooldridge said he struck and killed a young girl who was pushed in front of
his ammunition truck in Iraq and has heard voices and suffered
hallucinations ever since. He was discharged with "personality disorder" but
18 months later a review board in Memphis voided that 5-13 dismissal,
stating his PTSD was so severe he was, in fact, "totally disabled."
Another veteran, Chris Mosier, of Des Moines, Iowa, put a note on the front
door of his home saying the Iraqis were after him and then shot himself. His
mother, Linda, said her son's problems began in Iraq when a truck in front
of his was blown up by a roadside bomb and the men inside were burned alive.
"He was there at the end to pick up the hands and arms," Ms. Mosier said.
"They take a normal kid, he comes back messed up, then nobody was there for
him when he came back. They discharged him so they didn't' have to treat
him," she added.
Steve Robinson, director of veterans affairs at Veterans for America, a
Washington, D.C.-based soldiers' rights group, pointed out military doctors
have been facing an overflow of wounded soldiers and a shortage of rooms,
supplies and time to treat them. "By calling PTSD a personality disorder,
they usher one soldier out quickly, freeing up space for the three or four
who are waiting," he said.
A lawyer for Trial Defense Services, an Army unit to guide soldiers through
their 5-13 discharge and who was not identified by name, told reporter Kors:
"Right now, the Army is eating its own. What I want to see is these soldiers
getting the right diagnosis, so they can get the right help, not be thrown
to the wolves right away. That is what they're doing."
As for veteran Town -- whose case was brought by Robinson to the attention
of Deputy Surgeon General Gale Pollock and others -- he says he is doing his
best to keep his head in check and that his nightmares have diminished. "I
have my good days and my bad days," he said. "It all depends on whether I
wake up in Findlay or Iraq."
_______
--
NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not
always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material
available to advance understanding of
political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. I
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107
"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson
