Fort Lewis probe reveals 6 of 14 cases confirmed in PTSD re-evaluation
After complaints that their PTSD findings were reversed based on comments over financial outcome for the Army, the results were announced this week to the affected soldiers and their families.
After less than one year after Col. Dallas Homas has been in command, he has been administratively removed from command at Madigan Healthcare System while the Army investigated the outcome of the possible mishandling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases.
In late January the Army began examining the conduct of a Madigan Army Medical Center psychiatric team that reversed the diagnoses of 14 soldiers previously diagnosed with PTSD and tagged them as malingerers.
Having the PTSD diagnoses helps to qualify a servicemember for medical retirement.
Under the VA system, a 25-year-old veteran with a 100 percent PTSD disability currently can receive $2,769 per month, and at that rate of compensation would tally more than $1.5 million in payments over 46 years.
Sen. Patty Murray, Chair for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, has oversight of the Army Medical Command's investigation. She said that doctors should not be taking financial considerations into account as they make a mental-health diagnosis according to a Seattle Times news report.
In a statement released in Feb. by Western Regional Medical Command, a second round of evaluations were ordered by Maj. Gen. Philip Volpe, commanding general, Western Regional Medical Command, after the facility came under scrutiny.
The office of the Army Surgeon General arranged for the soldiers to fly to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where they underwent examinations by another team of Army doctors. Of the 14 soldiers, six were notified and confirmed that they suffer from PTSD according to a Los Angeles Times report on Wednesday.
The hot button issue of treatment for wounded warriors and the handling of PTSD cases spans the country. Last Thursday, Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, announced that he was ordering an investigation into the practices and procedures of Fort Bragg's Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB).
With 576 soldiers in the WTB suffering from either physical wounds and mental impairment, 65% of Patch readers voted that the WTB needs some improvements meeting the needs of soldiers and the care they receive.
Under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, if a soldier receives a disability rating based on a PTSD diagnosis, he receives at least a rating of 50 percent. This may not be permanent, however, as the soldier will be placed on the Temporary Disabled Retired List and periodically re-evaluated. During this re-evaluation period, the soldier's level of benefit could be adjusted based on the stability of his mental health findings.
Aurora J.
12:22 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Good to know these soldiers were taken care of. So perhaps the Col. was correct? About the 'malingering' with the other 8?
MSG 34 Years
3:04 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Aurora J.
Unless YOU have reviewed the records of the 8 Others-- Your comment is part of the problem!!! And if You have --eather way -- It is wrong for YOu to comment --soley for Your own warm fuzzy feeling. Maybe the lable (malingering) should be in Your 201 file !!! or maybe, You have not been in the miltary??
For Your comment is Self serving- And is the social negitive bases that -- Has plaged America for far to many years.
Retired MSG 34 Years
Elizabeth
12:31 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
I'd be interested to find out the numbers that are claiming to maintain their PTSD to leech off the government. We know amputee soldiers who got fixed up and went right back over - they insisted. I'd like to think that our soldiers are doing the right thing by not taking advantage of the sytem.
John Bittner
12:21 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Those of us who have "invisible" illnesses and disabilities are put through a lot of discrimination in our military community as well as on the home front from ignorant mindsets that try to quantify the pain and suffering of others. In the military one chooses to serve, but that person also looses many civil liberties. We cannot say "no" to an anthrax shot, or a deployment. We cannot avoid a camp ground that is contaminated or avoid a training exercise for fear of heat stroke. If someone with Lupus walked by you, would you know? What about Grave's Disease, or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, or Crohn's Disease, or a pulmonary disease contracted in Iraq from breathing in burning trash and feces, or Narcolepsy possibly caused by a strepptococal virus infection while in a close-quartered enviornment with 60 fellow Soldiers. Do not comment on things you are not willing to comprehend.
Kelly Twedell
1:54 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
John, I hope you feel the support of the community here. It's always been here. I'm glad to see that on a national level awareness is being raised and funds are being specifically for what our soldiers and veterans have been through. There are no words to express the thanks. You are right, those of us who have not served cannot begin to comprehend what you have seen or experienced over the years.
Ryan Smith
10:53 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
John,
You make good points. PTSD is not an imaginary illness. It is very real and very difficult for those who battle with it. Many people seem to think that it's so vague an illness that people can just "fake it." Not true. There are very specific methods of diagnosis. Soldiers suffering from PTSD and other "invisible illnesses," as you said, need treatment and understanding. Thanks for your comment.
Tiara Padron
6:28 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
It is important to note that 100% disability is not a common diagnosis. Although $2,769 appears a steep compensation, it only covers those who have total social and occupational impairment. This level of dysfunction includes gross thought impairments, hallucinations, inability to perform daily tasks, etc...
I agree entirely that doctors should not take financial considerations into account while deliberating a mental health diagnosis. However, I also concern myself with the financial standing of the United States. VA disability benefits range from $127 - $3100 a month. It is easy to see where a lifetime of benefits provided to a young generation of veterans with a long life expectancy ahead, can become very costly.
As a combat veteran, I do not underestimate the psychological effects of combat stress. I have the upmost respect for my fellow service members and their continuous selfless service. In time, I hope to see more people treat this issue more objectively, not so black or white. We should not deny the grounds of PTSD or compensation measures; nor should we glorify and over-compensate service members who experience the expected stresses of combat. Checks and balances should continually be evaluated and reevaluated over time.
hjmc
1:10 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
I'm sure those suffering from PTSD would prefer not to have the disease over any amount of money. Because money cannot compensate for the loss they suffer.
Kelly Twedell
8:38 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
It is sad; glad there is an awareness and probes going around surrounding PTSD.
Kirsten Eugene Zucati
2:22 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012
i was told i was one of 4 joes that had been mis treated for ptsd, and have been discharged 4dec2011 with 10%spinal injuries from the army 90% va for multiple joint injuries and many other injuries i have received since my first enlistment in 1993, yes they called me a malingerer ,in February i received a call from d.c. asked if i would return to jblm to get re diagnosed i have been to fort lewis every week since i was retired with no help from any office
i received fusion cell letters the day of my same day surgeries at spokane va feb 14
and have been recently diagnosed with more physical ailments not phyc issues and now the fusion cell refuses to comply with Congressional directives, i called patty Murry office no effect i called Cristine Gregoire same i all so figured if i was going to expire soon i should start outing all the feds i ever worked with and state and locaL clowns so i called atf fbi dea and gave fair warning that the real truth is all ready out.........