ptsd BIG Class Action suit filed-will affect thousands of vets

[Berta]

http://www.disabledveterans.org/2017/04/17/yale-law-school-files-class-action-on-behalf-of-us-army-veterans/

In part:

"Yale Law School is representing thousands of US Army veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in a class action lawsuit against Secretary of the US Army.

The lawsuit names the present Secretary of the Army concerning less-than-honorable discharges unlawfully given to soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The lower discharges were intended to force mentally ill soldiers out of the military without the retirement, benefits and care to which they were entitled.

The lawsuit implicates unlawful discharges of tens of thousands of veterans who were victimized by unlawful scheme perpetrated by the US Army to reduce the taxpayer burden of the present wars. It involved falsification of administration and mental health diagnosis to force servicemembers out of the military without help or compensation.

Instead of forcing taxpayers to internalize the cost of the wars by way of paying the full price for benefits and health care for veterans affected, the fraud scheme wrongfully placed the burden onto the shoulders of state programs and family coffers.

Said a different way, taxpayers got off the hook for the true cost of the wars (veterans benefits, military retirements) despite continuing to elect officials who place our brave servicemembers in harm’s way to fight wars that never end.

When taxpayers internalize the real cost of war, it is likely the chickenhawks will be forced into a position of accountability. Until then, we will fight covert and overt wars on every continent.

US Army Madigan Fraud

From 2007 to 2012, the US Army engaged in an unlawful scheme that injured soldiers suffering from PTSD. That scheme was implemented in part by medical staff at the Army Medical Command located in Madigan.

There, forensic mental health professionals refused to diagnose at least 40 percent of the soldiers seen with PTSD to save taxpayers money. In a lecture, one Madigan psychiatrist told colleagues that a PTSD diagnosis can cost taxpayers $1.5 million if medically retired.

At Madigan Army Medical Center, soldiers would have their PTSD cases reviewed by forensic mental health professionals to verify the diagnosis before granting retirement. Over 40 percent of the soldiers seen at the facility had their diagnosis changed or reversed entirely.

Soldiers impacted would then receive general or less-then-honorable discharges for behavioral abnormalities linked to PTSD."

more info at the link.

( as I recall Jerrel Cook, JBasseer and I interviewed a lawyer from Yale Law school, in our radio show archives and they had some input into the Hagel Memo so this could really be a big Class action..........something to watch as it progresses.

 

[MikeR]

This will be very interesting to watch. It never ceases to amaze me about how the Army does what it can to save money on personnel. "Mission First, People Never" should be the motto.

[CaravanDan]

Seems like Hagel in 2014 made a request they Consider PTSD when deciding OTH discharges and they are not doing that,,,

 

Edited April 19, 2017 by CaravanDan

[CaravanDan]

 I posted in comments about how the military--VA has Screwed me over decades!! Someday if I live long enough I hope to get Justice!!

 

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Fairfield-veteran-sues-to-upgrade-thousands-of-11078002.php

[MikeHunt]

Is the VA the correct defendant? Joe punches Phil in the nose and Phill sues Sally

[ArNG11]

Very interesting article and figures.  I am one who would also be interested in the outcome of this.