Are vets being well treated?

Are vets being well treated?

Kansas City Star: Many military personnel who acquired post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are being inappropriately discharged, despite Pentagon assurances that proper policy is being followed.

That’s the conclusion of Sens. Kit Bond of Missouri and Sam Brownback of Kansas, both Republicans. The two recently sent a letter to President Obama urging him to ensure returning veterans get the health care they deserve.

The problem is that the Pentagon views personality disorders as a pre-existing condition, often requiring discharge. Many veterans are thus denied benefits they would otherwise receive.

Last year, the Government Accountability Office looked at the issue and found that the Defense Department was releasing people without following proper policy. According to the GAO, compliance with mandatory counseling rules ranged from 40 percent to 99 percent of the time.

The military said it had adjusted its procedures and proper policy was now being followed. But Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense said the Pentagon had been doing a poor job of diagnosing mental disorders.

Despite the Pentagon assurances, a double-check — which is essentially what the senators are urging — is warranted. The Obama administration should look into this and report to Congress.