Tens of Thousands of Soldiers Denied PTSD Care and Benefits

via The Physical Evaluation Board Forum (5.31.11):

How the Army Denied Tens of Thousands of Soldiers PTSD Care and Benefits

For eighteen years the Army used the wrong standard to determine the degree of disability and the amount of benefits due to Soldiers with mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The standard the Army used, at first, was at least recognizable as related to the correct standard. However, the correct standard was updated in 1996 and for 12 years afterwords the Army used a completely erroneous standard to deny benefits to those who need it most- disabled Warriors with injuries so severe they could not continue to serve. The result was denial of health care and compensation to the most vulnerable. Though there have been clear strides to address the problems, as late as this month the US government has defended its use of the wrong standard in court. And nothing has been done to address the tens of thousands of Soldiers who were improperly rated. In a time with record high suicides by Soldiers, this cannot stand...

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What steps do you feel the US government should take to address the issue of PTSD among soldiers? Please share your thoughts in comments below.

Comments

[The painfully aware.]

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