Veterans discharged after 2002 with PTSD to receive health care for life

This is good for these veteran but what about all the others?

Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to receive health care for life
By Michael Doyle - Bee Washington Bureau
Friday, Jan. 13, 2012

WASHINGTON -- A federal judge has quietly approved a settlement that will deliver better benefits to nearly 2,100 veterans who've been medically discharged since 2002 with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Under the settlement, one of several similar efforts now under way, affected veterans discharged with PTSD will get lifetime health care and post-exchange privileges. The affected veterans had been discharged with disability ratings that were too low to receive such benefits.

Anthony Koller, for one, is an Army veteran who lives in Little Elm, Texas, about 50 miles north of Fort Worth. He survived 14 months in Iraq before being discharged with PTSD. His initial low disability rating, though, left the married father of three adrift.

"We live on a month-to-month basis," Koller said in a court declaration.

Under the recently approved class-action settlement, Koller's family will receive health care under TRICARE, and he can apply for special compensation payments, among other benefits.

Chris Crotte of Sacramento was medically discharged with PTSD in April 2008 after two tours in Iraq as a forward observer with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade. His back, he said, was "messed up." He slept poorly. His mind was jumpy. Officials marked him as only 10% disabled and cut him loose.

"I got out, and hit the road," Crotte said. "I constantly bounced around; I was moving from state to state for a while."

Now, he's studying auto mechanics and living in West Sacramento. "Getting medical care would be good," he said.

From December 2002 to October 2008, the military medically discharged about 4,300 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines with PTSD and disability ratings below 50%.
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