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F Y I - WHAT'S HAPPENING?

The Military as found a terrible way to save money

Soldier Jon Town, serving in Ramadi in 2004, was knocked unconscious when a rocket exploded two feet above his head. An account in The Nation, April 9, 2007 says, "Eventually the rocket shrapnel was removed from Townn's neck abnd his ears stopped leaking blood. But his hearing never recovered...." Three years later, his hearing has never recovered….” He also still suffers memory failure and depression.

In spite of these injuries and continuing problems, Town was not sent to a medical board. Instead, the doctors claimed his condition was caused by a personality disorder, a “pre-existing condition” and thus that the VA had no responsibility for providing medical care for him. He was given a “Chapter 5-13 Separation because of Personality Disorder.” He was assured that he would still receive disability and medical benefits. Not true.

Unfortunately, this "Chapter 5-13 Separation" has become a too-frequent way of avoiding the cost of health care for injured soldiers – a calculated saving of billions of dollars. Army doctors say that they have been pressured by superiors to give a diagnosis of personality disorder even where soldiers have clearly been wounded, as Town was.

At one point, Acting Surgeon General of the Army Gale Pollock promised a thorough review of all the Chapter 5-13 cases from the past years at Ft. Carson, where Town had been based. But several months later, despite claims of a "thoughtful and thorough evaluation," no one had been interviewed.

Without treatment, Town was unable to hold a job, and the family were soon on the edge of bankruptcy. Their phone service was cut off. None of his earlier years had suggested a personality disorder and during his seven years of army service, he had won a dozen medals. Obviously his deafness was not caused by a personality disorder.

Fortunately, an Admiral who happened to live near Town saw the article about him in the local newspaper. A medical evaluation was carried out and Town was declared 100 per cent disabled, guaranteeing him medical benefits for life.

The US Military has found a terrible way to save money.

Soldier Jon Town, serving in Ramadi in 2004, was knocked unconscious when a rocket exploded 2 feet above his head. An account in The Nation, April 9, 2007, says, “Eventually the rocket shrapnel was removed from Town’s neck and his ears stopped leaking blood. But his hearing has never recovered….” Three years later, he also still suffered memory failure and depression.

In spite of these injuries and continuing problems, Town was not sent to a medical board. Instead, the doctors claimed his condition was caused by a personality disorder, a “pre-existing condition” and thus that the VA had no responsibility for providing medical care for him. He was given a “Chapter 5-13 Separation because of Personality disorder.” He was assured that he would still receive disability and medical benefits. Not true.

Unfortunately, soldiers who go along with a Chapter 5-13 discharge do not keep their disability and medical benefits. Not only that, but if they haven’t served out their contracts, they have to give back part of their reenlistment bonus, which may be larger than their final paycheck. In Town’s case, he found he owed over $3000.

This “Chapter 5-1 Separation” has become a too-frequent way of avoiding the cost of health care for injured soldiers – a calculated saving of billions of dollars. Army doctors say that they have been pressured by superiors to give a diagnosis of personality disorder even where soldiers have clearly been wounded, as Town was.

Fortunately an Admiral who happened to live near Town saw the article about him in the local newspaper. A medical evaluation was carried out and Town was declared 100 per cent disabled, guaranteeing him medical benefits for life.

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