ptsd Active Duty Soldier With Ptsd Denied Re Enlistment For Personality Disorder

[jordan0226]

I hope I'm posting this in the right forum. I'm so distraught over my situation & am desperate for some help. My son recently served a year in Afghanistan. While on a mission, he was involved in an IED explosion & suffered a TBI & other minor injuries. The soldier who stepped on the IED lost both legs during the explosion. My son assisted in saving the soldier's life & was later awarded an ARCOM for his actions. My son spent several months in recovery suffering from obvious symptoms of PTSD. He was eventually diagnosed with PTSD while in recovery. He received a Purple Heart for injuries suffered in Afghanistan upon his return to the states. He has had a difficult time adjusting since returning 9 months ago. Unfortunately, it seems that he is now getting railroaded by his platoon. He has been fearful of contacting anyone because he's afraid of making the situation worse. He was recently asked by his CO to sign a paper denying him the opportunity to re enlist due to a personality disorder. I am terrified that the next step is gonna be a discharge for personality disorder which will cause him to lose all his benefits. He will ETS in the next couple of months. What steps are safe to take at this point? Can someone, please, point us in the right direction? I'm afraid time is not on our side. Any advice is much appreciated.

Edited January 14, 2013 by jordan0226

[meghp0405]

Please do not allow him to sign the request from the Commander. It is just what it is, a request. This will cause the soldier to be released with less than an honorable discharge. Please tell him NO! He will then have a hard time obtaining benefits from the VA.

I would suggest that he goes and see a doctor, whether it be on sick call, or by calling and make an appointment. Tell them anything to get an appointment. Once he is with a doctor, he needs to explain that he needs a refferal to a mental health provider. Most installations, have a walk in,. The soldier just walks in and tells them that he needs help.

If you would tell me what installation he is at, I will find some phone numbers for him to call.

I am a service officer who assist veterans applying for benefits through the va. I am currently assisting another veteran in the same senerio as your son. Please don't let him sign anything!

I am providing my e-mail if you would like to contact me. Send me your phone number, I will speak with you or your son and help anyway I can!!

r.seekman07@insightbb.com

[john999]

He should be getting help in the form of treatment at military mental health. Unless he is getting Article 15's or being a discipline problem I don't see how or why the army would give him general discharge or LTH discharge. His exit physical will be important. He needs to really point out his problems both physical and mental. As long as he shows up for formations on time and does his job for the next few months until ETS he should get honorable discharge. I wonder why he never got medical discharge? He needs to apply for disability now while he is still in service from what I hear of new methods the VA and military are using. The Army may be trying to just get rid of him with hopes of never having to pay a dime themselves.

[Philip Rogers]

This sounds like just another tactic to screw the soldier(vet). I'd contact an attorney specializing in military & VA law. The DoD/Army are looking at ways to cut costs down the road.

pr

[10thFO]

I sent this Mom, here to ask for advice. Told her about the wealth of knowledge on here. Herein lies the current situation. unfortunately the soldier did sign the paper denying himself re-enlistment because of a Personality Disorder. So now we aer at the point of how do we stop the process. Soldier signed the paper, doing what he had been instructed to do by his commanding officer. For enlisted personnell obviously when the Captain has you in his office you lock up, do what he asks and step out with a quickness. Soldier already goes for treatment once a month to mental health, is there a way to get records to see if someone has actually listed him with the PD now?

Hard to see how you can be changed from a PTSD diagnosis, especially that when it comes to PTSD with the VA, a Purple Heart is an auto qualifier (I am correct on that right?) as far as the potential being there for it. Also soldier got cold clocked in the barracks a couple months ago, broke a jaw bone, and lost some teeth. Filed a complaint against other soldier. Was told not to do it by superiors, and subsequently was given 5 negative counseling statements within the following week. All at a time when said soldier was adjusting to a new medicine.

I know there is a difference between what kids tell their parents, but I think there is a legitimate concern here, I'm just trying to stop the kid from losing his honorable discharge, so he's still avaiable for the benefits he rightly deserves now, especially since he's an infantryman, and saw combat duty in Afghanistan.

Does the young man need to go to the IG office now, and tell them that he signed the paper, because his CO asked him too, and that he doesn't know what to do, but that he is being seen for PTSD, not a "personality disorder". Remember if he gets less than an honorable discharge, he isn't eligible for the VA home loan program, or any state benefits taht he could be awarded as well.

A truly concerned friend, as the parents brought the son to meet with me, when he was wanting to join.

[bluenote]

jordan0226:

Has the unit initiated adminstrative chapter proceedings? My advice is he talk to the installation's TDS office even if he hasn't received his chapter paperwork. Feel free to email me with with the installation information, I may have a POC at that installation or a local pro bono organization that can assist. The ABA started up a pro bono project a few years ago. Most of the requests seem to be family law related but many of the volunteers are former active-duty or reserve military attorneys. http://www.militaryprobono.org/

Seth

[Berta]

Good advise......... Seth ----Is TDS like a Jag??????

Our mil has pulled this crap many times in the past.He must fight back.

Very upsetting news.