Army IG's report points to faulty rating of wounded soldiers (disability)

[babylonsister]

http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=44277

Army IG's report points to faulty rating of wounded soldiers


Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes online edition, Tuesday, March 13, 2007

ARLINGTON, Va. — An Army Inspector General’s report released Monday details shortcomings in the Army’s system for rating how wounded soldiers are.

Among the findings: The Department of Veterans Affairs system for disability ratings needs to be updated to better represent how soldiers are injured, the report says.

The report recommends that the U.S. Army Medical Command look at a having a common physical for both the VA and Army.

The Army Times has reported that critics claim the Army is deliberately giving wounded soldiers less of a disability rating than they deserve to save money, but the Army has vehemently denied this.

“The U.S. Army highly disputes allegations made by one or two think-tank analysts that our veterans’ service is in any way attempting to shortchange wounded soldiers on their needed disability benefits,” said Army spokesman Paul Boyce in a February e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

Other findings include: The Army is not meeting its own standard for when evaluation boards should take place; the Army needs more personnel to deal with increased caseloads; and some soldiers are not coming back for checkups after being put on temporary retirement, the report says.

The report is available here (.pdf).

http://www.army.mil/institution/operations/reports/IGReport-APDESI/IG%20Report%20-%20Army%20Physical%20Disability%20Evaluation%20System%20Inspection.pdf

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[Monkeyman]

1. Its about time they own up