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Pattern of misconduct

The Pentagon and the services have come far in fixing the many flaws in the disability review process for combat-injured troops. But Congress often has had to push them to do the right thing.

And the job is hardly done; anecdotal reports continue to come in indicating that some services and local commands are still creatively interpreting the rules, to the detriment of troops.

For example, some combat troops with previously clean records who return from war with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury are being administratively discharged for a “pattern of misconduct” — even though the military readily acknowledges that PTSD and TBI can contribute to such behavioral changes. worse yet, some of these troops are being booted out even before their disability reviews are completed.

Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., has introduced HR 1701 to address this problem. His bill would create a special Defense Department board that would allow service members with PTSD or TBI who are less-than-honorably discharged to seek review if they thought their condition was not taken into consideration, and require a complete physical examination board review before administrative separation of any active-duty member diagnosed with PTSD or TBI.

His bill would be an important piece of the safety net for troops returning from war with mental health problems. Congress should approve it as soon as possible.