Sunday, January 01, 2012
The federal government is being sued by multiple Vietnam veterans’ organizations for allegedly classifying ex-soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with “personality disorder” instead. PTSD is covered by health care benefits, but personality disorder is not. The savings has totaled $12.5 billion, according to the plaintiffs.
PTSD claims have soared since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, going from 120,000 in 1999 to more than 345,000 in 2008. The number of veterans impacted by the alleged incorrect diagnoses was 22,656 between FY 2001 and 2007, including 3,372 who served in combat or “imminent danger zones.”
-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff
Money Saved at Misdiagnosed Vets' Expense (by Chris Coughlin, Courthouse News Service)
Vietnam Veterans of America v. Department of Defense (U.S. District Court, Connecticut) (pdf)
Veterans Groups Clash with VA over PTSD Diagnosis (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
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