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Lily Gilleland
Lester/Hamilton
10th Honors Lit
For May 4, 2012
Are Veterans With PTSD Being Treated Fairly For Fighting For Our Country?
When veterans return home from their deployment, some bring back badges or medals;
some bring back physical scars to show their bravery. However, some veterans return with a
mental scar, a suffering from an event that they have experienced. Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) is what they could be diagnosed with. This is a mental disease where a soldier
or veteran has been traumatized. Symptoms of PTSD are self-blame, reoccurring nightmares,
flashbacks, angry or violent outbursts, having feelings or guilt, worry, sadness, and many other
symptoms. PTSD is almost always mixed with more issues such as depression and can often lead
to drug abuse as an attempt to ease the symptoms (Espejo). PTSD is most common in soldiers
between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four. Many times when these veterans return home,
they are not treated kindly or fairly, and some are told to simply “move on” (Disorder Disease
Counseling Should Continue for Veterans); others are simply denied help because the veterans
who are taking therapy have been in the therapy program too long. Veterans are not being treated
fairly for their service in the military. There are more effective ways for PTSD to be treated and

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the therapy they might or might not be receiving is not helping them, and the government is not
helping veterans receive the Healthcare insurance and benefits they deserve.
There are many different forms of treatment for PTSD. One form is the program
Operation Wolfhound (Caprioli). In this program dogs are trained to perform various tasks for
veterans with PTSD. This includes calming the veterans during flashbacks and waking them
from nightmares. The dogs chosen to work with veterans must meet certain standards. They
cannot be more than four years old; this is so the emotionally venerable veteran will not have to
cope with the loss of their companion. The dogs must also come from parents that have been
screened for genetic diseases and temperament problems, usually back to at least four
generations. This is so the dog is as healthy as possible and to be sure it is suited to take care of
the veteran. After a dog goes through the minimum amount it can be trained and its trainer
believes it is ready, the dog can be given to a veteran for weekly hour long training sessions.
This will not only bring to the dog and the veteran closer together, but it also lets to veteran train
the dog for their specific needs. By being able to train and take care of this animal, this
indirectly gives the veteran more control of their condition.
Another program used to treat veterans diagnosed with PTSD is virtual therapy.
Although videos games are commonly seen to promote violence, this could actually help
veterans with PTSD. Virtual Iraq, a video game used by therapists and researchers, puts the
soldiers back in the war in a safe controlled way (Katz). Video games treat soldiers by letting
them face their fears by duplicating the sights and sounds of the battlefront, making it easier for
soldiers to open up to their therapists. People diagnosed with PTSD tend to ignore and attempt

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to avoid their problems. This tends to keep their trauma alive and as a result, is what hurts them
the most. By using virtual reality the veterans are put back in the moment in a controlled way
and this is what helps therapists understand their patients and helps patients explain how they
feel. This program allows them to release their fears and when the fear is gone, the veterans
begin to look at the situation more rationally (Ziezulewicz). This type of treatment allows them
to realize that the event wasn’t their fault or there was nothing they could do. This relieves them
of their stress and lets the soldier get closer to closure. Unfortunately, most researchers have
found this new program and form of therapy to be inconclusive but times are changing and
researchers believe that with more time and more conclusive results virtual therapy will be a very
popular choice for treating PTSD in the future.
One very effective therapy for the treatment of PTSD is Emotional Freedom Technique
(EFT). While, the legitimacy of this technique or therapy is very controversial, supporters of
EFT say that the technique is based off of 5,000 years of Chinese medicine. However skeptics
consider EFT to simply be the power of suggestion. Chuck Elberti, a Vietnam veteran, was
treated using EFT; he states that the EFT was effective as a treatment but not as a “cure”. EFT is
not like other treatments were you sit on a couch and talk to a therapist or psychiatrist (Jordan).
It uses certain energy points in the body and the mind’s ability to put new distance between the
mind and the traumatic experiences (Innes). This is done by having clients tap on “acupuncture
points” on their body while repeating words that represent their issue. This helps them release
the stress of their issue and recover. Patients and veterans can also be taught to use this
technique so they can do it outside of a therapist’s or doctor’s office. Veterans find this form of

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therapy desirable because the military teaches soldiers to get over traumatic events move on.
They don't teach them how to deal with what comes later. Veterans now learning about new
therapies available so that they can overcome, adapt, and essentially deal with the negative
experiences of their deployment.
Because the veterans either do not know they have PTSD, or they just simply refuse help,
over half of veterans with PTSD do not seek help. Suicide hotlines have helped more than
22,000 veterans and avoided more than 1,000 suicides (Katz). In response to this Secretary of
Defense Robert Gates acknowledged that the military health care system had failed the veterans .
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee passed a bill to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA), allowing the VA to use paid advertising to promote its efforts (Katz). Only about half of
the estimated 300,000 soldiers with mental health problems have sought treatment. This
alarming rate shows the American public the truth about veterans and raises the visibility and the
attention that is needed. This is also raising the attention of the U.S. Military. In November
2007, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Bill was signed by President Bush, making
it into a law, which aims to help veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (New Data Shows
Alarming Rates of Military Mental Health Problems). This bill contributed to the rise and
attention for veterans with PTSD. Many states have begun to recognize and become aware of
PTSD and other mental illnesses brought on by the negative experiences during deployment.
Gates said that members of the military should not be reluctant to report their mental problems
after combat (Colville). This statement means that the government is trying to improve life for
veterans. As stated before, more suicide hot line advertisements have been put up since surveys

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showed an alarming number of veterans who are not seeking help. However, it is unfortunate
that some veterans are not even aware that they have PTSD and do not seek the help they
desperately need to move on with their life and they tend to suffer silently. Chuck Elberti stated
that he was not even aware that he was traumatized so badly. PTSD causes such emotional
detachment that veterans might not even be aware they have it and might not realize it until they
reach a “breaking point”. The worst outcome of someone reaching a “breaking point” is suicide
and by then it is too late. With the help of his family and friends, Mr. Elberti was able to receive
treatment before it was too late for him. Many veterans might not be as fortunate.
The scary part about the failure of therapies or treatments for patients with PTSD is that it
could result in veteran suicide. The number of suicides reported by the Army has risen to the
highest level since record-keeping began three decades ago (Goode). The Pentagon and the
veteran’s agency have responded to this rise in suicide rates by implementing programs and
increasing efforts to understand and address the problems. They have also supported suicide-
prevention programs and have hired hundreds more mental health providers. Veterans suddenly
find themselves without a job. They no longer have a mission or purpose. They have lost their
war unit and the support and comradery that comes with it. They are completely lost, but do not
get help. This often leads to homeless veterans, loss of family, and suicide. At Fort Campbell, in
Kentucky, at least 14 soldiers have killed themselves this year alone (Goode). To help other
soldiers there, training and other activities were stopped for three days and replaced with suicide-
prevention training. The Army also commissioned a five-year $50 million dollar study of the
causes of suicide among soldiers. The Army turned to four outside experts to lead the research.
Sergeant Blaylock, stationed at Fort Campbell, tried to pick up the pieces of his life but grief and

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guilt from the death of two members in his unit trailed him. That grief and guilt combined with
other stresses (financial troubles, disputes with his wife over their daughter, the absence
comrades who had helped him make it through a year of war) was more than he could handle and
he reached his “breaking point.” (Goode). On December 9, 2007 he decided to end his own life.
Financial troubles, guilt, and PTSD combined with other issues veterans face can eventually
consume their mind and without receiving true help, it can cause veterans to feel there is no other
option other than suicide. That added in with the stress war can put on family ties is very
dangerous.
In some cases, veterans with PTSD are denied treatment for their mental disease.
Therapy is being discontinued because the veterans who are taking therapy have been in the
program “too long” (Disorder Disease Counseling Should Continue for Veterans). The veterans
who have served in the military are very important people, yet treatment like this is not
respectable and it is not helping veterans with PTSD at all. This shows that sick veterans are
being swept under the rug after fighting for their country, simply because the government does
not want to spend the money to meet their needs. Soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital were forced
to live in unhealthy conditions and were denied treatment (Colville). In response, U.S. Secretary
of Defense, Robert Gates, acknowledged the problems with military healthcare saying that
soldiers would now be encouraged to seek mental and physical treatment. He also admitted that
the U.S. military has made mistakes in handling the treatment and rehabilitation of returning
soldiers. Not all of the more than 1.5 million military service members who have been deployed

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overseas have received needed medical treatment and accommodations (Colville). This was also
admitted by Robert Gates. He initiated an overhaul of the military's medical system after a
scandal last year at Walter Reed hospital in Washington where soldiers were found living in a
building infested with mice, mold, and cockroaches and many soldiers were unable to get
treatment because of bureaucratic red tape. In another case, a Veterans Administration
psychologist was encouraging other staff psychologists to avoid diagnosing Veterans returning
from Iraq with PTSD because so many veterans are seeking disability payments (Lee). This is
an extreme injustice to veterans, and is considered fraud. The reason behind this crime is to
“cut back” on the amount of diagnosed PTSD veteran because so many are seeking payments for
their condition. The therapists were urged to instead diagnose patients with an adjustment
disorder, which is very similar to PTSD, but is much milder and less permanent, usually lasting
only six months. By diagnosing these veterans with inaccurate mental diseases is a strong
injustice and could result in the death of a soldier who fought for our freedoms, which is not fair
or appropriate for their service.
Veterans diagnosed with PTSD are entitled to benefits, but at times the government finds
ways to deny veterans the compensation they deserve. Veterans diagnosed with PTSD are
entitled to additional health and financial benefits (Platt). Though this has been changed, the only
veteran eligible for PTSD benefits were ones who fought in combat arms. This shows that the
VA has had a very narrow view of what a traumatic event is. In addition, veterans were required
to recall the names of people involved with the traumatic event, as well as the time it occurred.

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This is difficult for veteran with PTSD because they are not remembering names or date, they are
remembering the faces of those they lost, and the fear and guilt that is associated with it.
Following their wartime service, 1,029 veterans with PTSD were denied those benefits upon
discharge from the military. These veterans felt that this was a huge injustice to them, especially
since their PTSD was so bad that they had to be discharged. They feel as though they have been
shortchanged on benefits. These veterans eventually received compensation for this injustice.
For the past 13 years, Arthur Laselle, a Vietnam veteran who has served for two tours, has
applied for PTSD benefits through the VA, yet he has been denied consistently. Though he has
been diagnosed with PTSD by a therapist, he is still pressed for information about the event he
suffers from. He cannot give the VA this information because it is not only too painful for him
to recall, but it was also too hectic for him to remember the exact date and time of the event. Not
to mention how, in addition, it is painful for him to relive these experiences every time the VA
cross checks his information and asks him painful questions. This in an example of how hard it
is for veterans with PTSD to receive the benefits they deserve.
However, there have been changes in favor of veterans with PTSD attempting to receive
benefits. As stated before, if a veteran wanted to receive benefits for they would have to provide
names, locations and times when a traumatic event occurred, something many veterans have
found impossible. Now a veteran from any military unit who has served in a war zone and can
prove that they suffered from a stressful or traumatic event can apply for benefits (Rules Change
for Vets' PTSD Benefits). Agreeing with these changes, U.S. President Barack Obama states, “I
don't think our troops on the battlefield should have to keep notes just in case they need to apply

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for a claim. And I have met enough veterans to know that you don't have to engage in a firefight
to endure the trauma of war (Rules Change for Vets' PTSD Benefits).” This statement shows that
the government is indeed making changes that are taking care of veterans. This quote also shows
that trauma can be measured in many different ways and that it may be difficult for veterans to
“prove” they were in a traumatic event. Fortunately for veterans, these efforts are a big step up
from what the rules used to be. Efforts made by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the National
Veterans Legal Service Program, and the government have resulted in the courts approving
retirement benefits to over 1,000 veterans with PTSD. A class action settlement between the
federal government and a group of disabled veterans will award lifetime healthcare benefits to
these veterans (Vogel). The veterans involved with this lawsuit are very pleased with this
decision, stating, “It’s getting your dignity back” and “It’s a huge relief.” This shows that
perhaps veterans are beginning to receive the justice and benefits they deserve for their service.
Not only are the rules for veteran’s benefits changing, but the timeliness of mental health
referrals and other important transactions for receiving benefits is also being changed as well. It
takes the VA’s system an average of four years for veterans to receive mental health benefits
(Sapien). This time frame is very unprofessional is also demands immediate reform. U.S.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates states, "I know that the department is not perfect and mistakes
have been, and will be made. Things happen too slowly (Morgan)." This statement shows that
the U.S. government plans to make changes to its ways of looking over referrals. Previously,
noncombat veterans had to convince claims adjudicators that they were traumatized by a specific
event with incident reports, statements from their peers or other evidence. The VA would now

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"presume that veterans are telling the truth." This is a good adjustment because veterans with
PTSD are not always able to recall every detail of the traumatic event that happened. PTSD
causes veterans to go into a state of “denial” usually in the form of emotional detachment, in
order to avoid facing the guilt they have. This poses as a problem to them when they want to
receive Veteran’s Healthcare Benefits.
Through research, it has been shown that there are many things not known about PTSD,
especially to the American public. Though there are many different treatments, there is still no
definitive cure for PTSD, but veterans are recovering in momentous ways. However, it have
been shown that Unfortunately, some veterans do not even know that they have PTSD or they
are denied or diagnosed falsely for government gain but the ones who do get help can recover or
at least learn how to deal with to move on with life. The government also is very difficult when it
comes to granting benefits to veterans with PTSD. Some bills are passed and changed, appeals
are looked over so slowly that it takes nearly four years or more, but most of the changes made
are for the benefit of the veterans. In America, veterans are suffering and at times nothing is
being done to help. Veterans can be helped through the love and support of their friends and
family and with treatments and therapies aimed at treating PTSD. When a veteran has somebody
behind them to give support, they are able to accomplish much more than anyone could expect.
So, are veterans getting what they deserve? Chuck Elberti, a Vietnam veteran, was asked this,
and his response was this, “Did I get what I deserved? I don’t think any Vietnam veteran was
treated fairly or respectfully. It was an unpopular war and very often ordinary military people
would be an easy target for blame. I am very happy to see that military veterans today are

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treated much better and get the respect they deserve. But I still don’t think that as a country we
do all that we can for them.” Though this is the opinion of one man, the statement rings true.
However, times are changing, and with the help of people who are willing to stand up for the
veterans who once put their lives on the line for others, then in the future, Chuck Elberti, and
many other PTSD victims can proudly exclaim that they got what the deserved.
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