Army Accused Of Holding Back Benefits

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Forum Spin Doctor
Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
February 24, 2007
By Kelly Kennedy, Army Times
WASHINGTON - The Army is shortchanging troops on their disability retirement ratings to hold down costs, according to veterans advocates, lawyers and service members.
The number of people approved for permanent or temporary disability retirement in the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force has stayed relatively stable since 2001.
But in the Army, in the midst of a war, the number of soldiers approved for permanent disability retirement has plunged by more than two-thirds, from 642 in 2001 to 209 in 2005, according to a Government Accountability Office report last year. That decline has come even as the number of soldiers wounded or injured in Iraq has soared above 15,000.
Meanwhile, the number placed on temporary disability retirement has increased more than fourfold, from 165 in 2001 to 837 in 2005. After 18 months, troops on temporary disability are re-evaluated and either returned to duty, rated for separation or permanent disability retirement, or sent back to temporary disability for another 18 months, up to five years.
Along with paying them reduced wages during that time, the eventual re-evaluation often leads to downward revisions in their disability ratings - and lower disability payments.
"It's a bureaucratic game to preserve the budget, and it's having an adverse effect on service members," said Ron Smith, deputy general counsel for Disabled American Veterans.
The Army denies there is any intentional effort to save money by avoiding approvals for permanent disability status.
"It really is a fair process," said Col. Andy Buchanan, deputy commander of the Army's Physical Disability Agency. "It's wide open. We have nothing to hide."
Pentagon officials said troops have ample opportunity to appeal any decisions they deem unfair.
But the Rand Corp. think tank has said the system is "unduly" complicated. Counselors who advise troops often have insufficient training or experience, critics say.
Service members assume that after months in a war zone, the military will look out for them. Many troops being evaluated for disability retirement accept the first rating they are offered. Few appeal, which may get them more benefits.
 
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