Hagel Helps Vets with PTSD Get Discharge Upgrades

[JJ_BPK]

I think Chuck has just added 25,000,000 Vietnam vets to the VA claims backlog?

PRB,

Here is another reason the VA claims system is exponentially expanding...

Hagel Helps Vets with PTSD Get Discharge Upgrades, Stars and Stripes, Sep 04, 2014, by Jon Harper

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel signed a directive Wednesday to make it easier for veterans with PTSD claims to get their unfavorable discharges upgraded.

Many Vietnam veterans claiming to have service-related PTSD have been petitioning the applicable “board for correction” for an upgrade to their discharge status. During the Vietnam War era, the U.S. military did not recognize PTSD as a legitimate medical diagnosis.

A less than honorable discharge can have many negative effects on a former servicemember, including a loss of benefits.

“Liberal consideration” will now be given in cases where there is any evidence to indicate that PTSD might have contributed to misconduct that led to a less-than-honorable discharge, Hagel said in the memorandum.

Hagel noted that records for troops who served before PTSD was recognized often lack important information, which makes it “extremely difficult” to document PTSD or establish a connection between PTSD and misconduct.

The new policy guidance will make it easier for veterans to make their case that undiagnosed PTSD negatively influenced their behavior while they were in the service. It also clarifies how boards should judge applications.

Hagel said that PTSD and related conditions will be considered potentially mitigating factors if they can simply be “reasonably determined” to have existed when the person was discharged for misconduct.

However, the existence of PTSD or PTSD-related symptoms at the time of discharge will not necessarily result in an upgrade.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...tml?ESRC=eb.nl

[blacksmoke]

Good. A few soldiers with a couple years in pissed hot for weed and lost their benefits or told their 1SG to f%&k off after probably deserve better than a dishonerable. The clowns that got kicked out for stealing gov't property and selling it to the surplus store IDK.

[Pete]

I still say there is a big "BANG" coming in the future.

The government is making it easier and easier to get on the PTSD wagon.

One of these days we are going to wake up and see ex military with PTSD are now banned from owning or buying guns.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Pete

I still say there is a big "BANG" coming in the future.

The government is making it easier and easier to get on the PTSD wagon.

One of these days we are going to wake up and see ex military with PTSD are now banned from owning or buying guns.

I concur.

And I know a lot of people faking it for the checks. Most were support types, some never even deployed.

TR

[fatfrank]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

I concur.

And I know a lot of people faking it for the checks. Most were support types, some never even deployed.

TR

I entered a PTSD rehab program in Miami a couple yrs ago. Vets were a mix of wars and ages and combat status. There were some from Gulf 1 and 2 along with Afghanistan, and VN like myself, Korea and WWII. And some that had never been deployed overseas but had had traumatic events, including rape, while in service.

What struck me was that it appeared to be easier for the post VN vets to get PTSD treatment and benefits. Took me more than 4 yrs and presenting maps and presenting descriptions and names of places, people, and units I had served with or I had been "along for the ride" with. A number of the younger vets without regard to combat status got 100% within months of leaving service.

Don't know that I disagree with most getting the bennies but there were some that caused some of us older guys to just want to call "BS". Except you can't do that because assummably all had been verified before entering program.

Seems the military now assumes everybody coming home has PTSD and now you have to prove you DON'T have it.

[PRB]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

I concur.

And I know a lot of people faking it for the checks. Most were support types, some never even deployed.

TR

I do too....guy never left Cu Chi basecamp as a clerk....getting 2500 a month after a successful career as a contractor.
Puke.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by fatfrank

Seems the military now assumes everybody coming home has PTSD and now you have to prove you DON'T have it.

The DHS bureaukrats do in formulating their threat statement.

[PRB]

When the Fed offers programs, and pushes them, folks will sign up for the free money.
I've told the story how the Psych at the VA ran me down to see if I had PTSD, I'll bet that is not unique at all.....she gets a patient, she keeps her job humming along...all I have to do is tell a war story and increase my VA check.
How simple is that.

Like the south American kids hitting the border...the 'word' is out.

[Flagg]

Originally Posted by Pete

I still say there is a big "BANG" coming in the future.

The government is making it easier and easier to get on the PTSD wagon.

One of these days we are going to wake up and see ex military with PTSD are now banned from owning or buying guns.

Doesn't it also reduce the pool of potentially successful political candidates in opposition to the left?

The left is more than happy to support disabilities, but I suspect they would absolutely crucify anyone on the right who attempted to run a political campaign with a history of PTSD that is military service related....I reckon the left would try to turn them into a political leper.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Flagg

Doesn't it also reduce the pool of potentially successful political candidates in opposition to the left?

The left is more than happy to support disabilities, but I suspect they would absolutely crucify anyone on the right who attempted to run a political campaign with a history of PTSD that is military service related....I reckon the left would try to turn them into a political leper.

I suspect you are correct, the Left would squeal like a Liberal..

But then again, I would be very leery of any politician that uses PTSD as a job qualifier..

I am not in the medical profession, but I hope that PTSD is a heal-able condition. If it is not, them it needs to be renamed & classified with appropriate warnings.

A person should not equate a medical condition with welfare. I am afraid that the VA is more than willing to do just that.. Now with the DoD's help.


JJ_BPK,
aka: Attila the Hun's grand-son.