The Pentagon has decided that PTSD is not worthy of a Purple Heart, saying it was not intentionally caused by an "outside force or agent." According to Stars and Stripes, which reported some of the story in May, a military spokesperson explained that the Purple Heart
has never been awarded for mental disorders or psychological conditions resulting from witnessing or experiencing traumatic combat events (e.g., combat stress reaction, shell-shock, combat stress fatigue, acute stress disorder, or PTSD).The Purple Heart has long been symbolic of injuries resulting from combat injury or death. It has been estimated that roughly 20 percent --about 300,000 -- of Iraq vets are returning with post-traumatic stress. Their service-related needs, stemming from multiple deployments, combat, traumatic brain injury, have become the topic of widespread concern and loss of respect for the military.
Lawsuit over PTSD
A class-action law suit was filed in federal court in December charging the military had denied legal benefits for PTSD, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The law suit, filed on behalf of five soldiers who were discharged because of PTSD, was brought by the non-profit National Veterans Legal Services Program. It charged defense department ratings fell short of the 50% disabiity to which these vets are legally entitled.
I was just diagnosed with PTSD and I don't really care about the whole not getting a purple heart for it.. I was not injured. Although I was struck by a IED and have TBI... If I don't get the purple heart for that I will be greatly pissed off as to I have major residual effects from it.
My beef is why the hell does it take so long for them to get approved/denied. I got struck by the IED september 06, 2007... Here is it FEB 18, 2009 and I have heard nothing.
Better yet get this,
I am in the National Guard.. And I was told I will know if I have the purple heart by looking online at my IPERMS file!! WTF!
(IPERMS is your online SRB)
I'm 100% permanently disabled since 2004, with quadruple heart attack, double stent month after, renal dysfunction, blind right eye, and now a difribillator due to CHF (conjestive heart failure), and NO purple heart! I was only 55 when all this started happening. They blame it on Agent Orange, presumably. If i'm not worthy, who is? Perhaps if you have PTSD and 100% due to it, maybe they should reconsider. But where do you draw the line? 50%, 40%, 0% ??? We are dealing with a lot of presumptions here. At least I have visible and quantyfiable harm. I find it astounding why there's never been any discussion of 100% disabled vets in all this. I have a friend with 100% disability due to PTSD, and believe me, he deserves the recognition. Classic signs: can't work, etc. So, PTSD purple heart? Yeah but only in severe cases like 100%, in my opinion.
Posted by Hector Rosario | April 28, 2009 12:51 PM
The Pentagon's Purple Heart ruling against people with PTSD and brain injuries seems unjust and discriminatory. Surely all who serve our country in the military deserve the right to be considered for special honors. The ruling preemptively dismisses extraordinary bravery and sacrifice. More, it belittles hundreds of thousands of men and women who acquired PTSD and traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ruling must reconsidered quickly before its prejudical tone becomes mainstream.
Posted by Jean Arnold | January 9, 2009 12:38 PM