Vietnam veterans still have to fight for justice on PTSD

Whenever I tell OEF and OIF veterans none of what they are going through is new, they have a hard time believing me. They think that the government would have done the right thing by now for older veterans, especially the Vietnam veterans that came home and fought the government to make sure every generation of veterans was treated for PTSD.

Well, now you know that when it comes to PTSD, they still have to fight for justice.

Vietnam veterans sue military in Conn. over PTSD
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN
Associated Press
December 3, 2012

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The military has failed to correct the wrongful discharges of thousands of Vietnam veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, an advocacy group says in a federal lawsuit.

Vietnam Veterans of America on Monday joined a proposed class action lawsuit in Hartford against the Army, Navy and Air Force. The lawsuit, first filed last year by a veteran, says the Vietnam veterans suffered PTSD before the condition was recognized and were discharged under other-than-honorable conditions that made them ineligible for disability compensation and other benefits.

The lawsuit says the military has refused to review or upgrade the discharge statuses of thousands of Vietnam War-era veterans with service-related PTSD.

‘‘People did not understand PTSD during the Vietnam era,’’ said John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America. ‘‘Now that we do, these service members must not be denied the recognition and benefits they long ago earned.’’

The U.S. attorney’s office, which is representing the military in the lawsuit, said it’s reviewing the matter and will respond in court. A Department of Defense spokeswoman said the agency is highly committed to addressing concerns related to PTSD and has taken numerous steps, including conducting PTSD assessments of service members at military treatment facilities at least once a year.
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