Washington, D.C. – At a press conference today on Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) were joined by representatives from the National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), the National Military Family Association (NMFA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), who announced their support for H.R. 1701: PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act. The bill has also been endorsed by Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Marine Corps League.

Introduced by Congressman Jones on March 25, 2009, H.R. 1701 aims to address problems that arise when service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) are not properly treated and subsequently self-medicate or experience changes in behavior that lead to serious legal issues and the threat of separation from their service without benefits or treatment.

Provisions of the PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act would:

- Create a special review board at the Department of Defense for service members who were less than honorably discharged. Separated service members would be permitted to seek a review of their discharge if their PTSD or TBI was not taken into consideration. The board would be authorized to change the characterization of discharge to honorable; and

- Mandate a physical examination board before an administrative separation proceeding for active duty service members if the service member has been diagnosed with PTSD or TBI by a medical authority. If the service member is found unfit for duty, then the service member would be retired and given a disability rating. Otherwise, the separation board must consider the effects of PTSD/TBI on the service member’s conduct.

“Our nation has asked many of its military personnel to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan and, unfortunately, many of these service members are returning home with symptoms of PTSD and other mental health challenges,” Congressman Jones said. “A 2008 study by the RAND Corporation found that nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have symptoms of PTSD or major depression. This study also found that many service members say they do not seek treatment for psychological illnesses because they fear it will harm their careers. If our government and the military fail to address problems associated with PTSD, the situation will only grow worse in future years.”

NMFA Deputy Director Barbara Cohoon said: “Service members may have residual hidden wounds following their combat tour. These conditions can go undetected by the service member and undiagnosed by their health care provider when leaving the service. Our association believes service members should not be discharged without first undergoing a screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI); however, this is not being done consistently across services. Your call for a referral to a physical evaluation board following detection will ensure our service members and their families are being treated fairly during the discharge process.”

MOAA President VADM Norb Ryan said: “One of the tragedies imposed by wartime requirements for repeated, extended-duration combat tours is that undiagnosed PTSD/TBI conditions have contributed to adjustment problems, alcohol or substance abuse, and/or disciplinary action against many service members who exhibited no such difficulties before being deployed. MOAA supports passage of H.R. 1701 and is grateful for this important initiative to ensure fair treatment for service members struggling with physical and psychological effects of extended and repeated combat deployments.”

NAUS Legislative Director Rick Jones said: “NAUS shares your concern about instances of military members struggling with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) receiving a punitive discharge stemming from military court martial action. One would like to believe these cases are fully investigated, but without an independent review there is no way of knowing.”

AFSA Chief Executive Officer Richard Dean said: “This legislation recognizes the extraordinary impact of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries on those who serve this nation. It also recognizes that such injuries can definitely impact the performance and behavior of an individual. Should a discharge be less than honorable without considering either of these conditions, it is only right that the discharge should be reviewed for propriety. The bill’s emphasis on review prior to separation and full consideration of medical conditions would serve to protect the benefits to which the member is entitled.”

“The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act is a courageous measure that would bring justice to so many of America’s struggling wounded warriors and their families,” said Congressman Pascrell, the co-chairman of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. “The effects and prevalence of PTSD and TBI are too severe and too widespread for our military leaders to overlook. Congress has a moral responsibility to ensure that every wounded warrior is discharged and reentered into society with the benefits they have earned.”

Reps. Todd Platts (R-PA) and Gene Taylor (D-MS) are also cosponsors of the bill.

For additional information, or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones, please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.