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By that definition, PTSD sufferers do not qualify for the Purple Heart, she said.
“The Purple Heart recognizes those individuals wounded to a degree that requires treatment by a medical officer in action with the enemy or as the result of enemy action where the intended effect of a specific enemy action is to kill or injure the servicemember,” she continued.
Other factors that resulted in the advisory group’s findings are:
-- Based on the definition of a wound -- “an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent” -- other Purple Heart award criteria, and 76 years of precedent, the Purple Heart has been limited to physical, not psychological, wounds.
-- PTSD is specifically listed as not justifying award of the Purple Heart in Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
-- The requirement that a qualifying Purple Heart wound be caused by “an outside force or agent” provides a fairly objective assessment standard that minimizes disparate treatment between servicemembers. Several members could witness the same traumatic event, for instance, but only those who suffer from PTSD would receive the Purple Heart.
-- Current medical knowledge and technologies do not establish PTSD as objectively and routinely as would be required for this award at this time.
-- Historically, the Purple Heart has never been awarded for mental disorders or psychological conditions resulting from witnessing or experiencing traumatic combat events — for example, combat stress reaction, ‘shell-shock,’ combat stress fatigue, acute stress disorder, or PTSD.
Servicemembers diagnosed with PTSD “still warrant appropriate medical care and disability compensation” even though they’re not eligible for the Purple Heart, Lainez said.
She added that the department “is working hard to encourage servicemembers and their families to seek care for PTSD by reducing the stigma and urging them to seek professional care.”
WOTN Commentary: It is correct, given political pressure particularly, that DoD decided to examine this issue and they made the correct decision in the matter.
PTSD is a real issue, which is best prevented by proper training (see "On Combat" by LTC Grossman) that can afflict any Troop, whether or not combat is witnessed, and should be covered with professional care and proper benefits when properly diagnosed. Despite abuse by some in greedy desire for a paycheck for life, the benefit of doubt must go to the afflicted Veteran. And if a thorough investigation proves fraud (as has on occasion been the case, including with Jesse MacBeth and an accident in Italy un-witnessed by the claimant), the criminal should be prosecuted to the extent the law allows for fraud and for theft of money and resources devoted to Veterans entitled to that care.
The next step is to reduce the stigma attached to a diagnosis of PTSD, to protect those diagnosed with it from legal repercussions, to protect their doctor-patient confidentiality rights, as well as their 2nd Amendment rights.
Stumble It!
