Readers of Tom Philpott’s Military Update column sound off.

Disability Pay Reform Could Leave Earlier War Vets Behind

How will changes to disability compensation, as proposed by the Dole-Shalala Commission, impact disabled Vietnam veterans are forced to go to the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] medical facilities for what is sometimes sub-standard healthcare?

Many of us career Soldiers (Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guard personnel) had our careers ended abruptly and were put out with nothing from the military branch we served and to end up in the VA system. Will TRICARE benefits be available to us? Will we have TRICARE coverage to use private doctors?

I see the Vietnam veteran being left out again, which was a big factor in our healthcare. We were laughed at when we came home, walked our neighborhoods at night, were sent to sham medical evaluation boards, given 10 percent disability ratings from the military, only to have the VA later rate us 100 percent disabled the same injuries.

Do we get justice, equality or more dog crap at the airport?

ROBERT BOSHEARS
Former Infantry Captain

The Dole-Shalala recommendations regarding improved disability compensation, as endorsed this month by the Bush administration, would only impact future disabled service members and, if they elect to make a switch, to veterans disabled since Oct. 7, 2001, the date of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. But in the months and years ahead, it will be Congress that ultimately decides how any changes to disability compensation are applied. – Tom Philpott

STILL WAITING FOR CARE

I am a 51-year-old veteran who reenlisted two years ago. While under Title 10 [mobilization] orders to deploy to Iraq, I was injured at Camp Shelby, Miss. I suffered heat exhaustion and a neck injury, which also affect nerves related to my eyes. The unit I was attached to was not allotted proper time to acclimate to the weather in Mississippi as they wanted us to complete training in 60 days instead of 90.

Instead of receiving treatment for the injuries, I was put aboard a plane and was home within two days. I was not given instructions on whom to contact or where to seek medical treatment even though a report from an Army physician stated that I needed follow-up care.

I went to the VA. They set up an appointment two months after I returned from Camp Shelby. During this time my injuries worsened. When I arrived for my appointment they did not want to see me because their computers were down. When I asked to see the VA hospital’s chief of staff, they changed their minds. The appointment lasted five minutes. The doctor told me to fill out forms requesting a formal evaluation for a disability claim. Once the claim is approved, she said, I could contact her for treatment.

California National Guard Headquarters in Sacramento advised me that the unit I was attached to had not filled out a Line of Duty form though my medical records confirmed the injury. They left it up to me to correct this. After I called the camp IG, the form was filled out and sent.

I took it back to Office of the Adjutant General in Sacramento and was advised there was a packet of forms to be completed. Until that was done, I still could not be treated under TRICARE. I was advised they would take care of it. After not hearing from them for a couple of weeks, I called. They said I needed to take care of the problem though I was 400 miles from the unit I was attached too. I received a call a week ago from an individual who said the forms would be completed soon.

I am still fighting to get treatment two-and-a-half months after being kicked out for being injured while on duty. My concern is that there are young soldiers the system is rolling over because they do not know to fight back. I am well into my savings. I was self-employed before deployment and my business was closed. Due to my injuries, I have not been able to put in the time I need to get my business back to where it was before deployment.

Why isn't there a section in every National Guard headquarters with one job, to follow up on every individual who returns from duty injured and ensure they receive prompt treatment? Does the Army hope many of these individuals will just go away? That is what it looks like.

GORDON R. HOLMES
Elk Grove, Calif.

RESERVE RETIREMENT AGE

I recently retired from the Washington Army National Guard. I served in the Guard for over six years, deploying to Iraq. I also spent 15 and a half year on active duty in the Marine Corps.

I am having a hard time understanding why Congress, citing lack of funds, can’t approve an earlier retirement age than 60 for Guardsmen and Reservists in my situation. We can spend billions on Iraq and on the war but we can’t afford to pay an earlier retirement to those of us old folks who have served our country for years. What is wrong with this picture?

STEPHEN C. SCHMIDT
Staff Sergeant, Army National Guard
Via e-mail

The Senate last month included in its 2008 defense authorization bill a provision that would move the start of retirement annuities up by three months for every 90 days that a Reservist or National Guard member has been recalled to active duty since 9/11. We will know perhaps by mid-November whether a House-Senate conference committee, meeting now to shape a final defense bill, accepts the Senate provision. – T.P.

RETIREE HARASSMENT

I just read your column about the new law to stop employer-paid TRICARE supplemental plans. I am one of the victims of this scheme because I work for a defense contractor. I now will have a choice of taking the company's insurance or TRICARE. If I take the company's plan it will cost me $3000 a year to cover my wife and me.  I also will have to pay 20 percent of the doctor bill and more than that for drugs.

If I take TRICARE Standard as my insurance I pay nothing a year, the drug benefit is about the same [and I will have doctor co-pays and a small annual deductible]. There is absolutely no choice. Ending the company-paid supplement is only harassment. It won't wean me away from TRICARE. It is just another instance of messing with retired military personnel and reneging on promised benefits.

DAVID BARLOW
USN-Ret.

Letters may be edited for clarity or length.  Write to Military Forum, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA  20120-1111, send e-mail to militaryforum@aol.com or visit www.militaryupdate.com

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