My bf has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder... Are they going to discharge him?

Question

He just entered Basic July 9th. He had no idea that he nightmares he was suffering from were PTSD. The Army apparently decided that it was PTSD and they are thinking about discharging him. He says he might be home by the middle of September b/c they consider him a risk with a weapon and therefore don't want him. Why didn't they find it when he first signed up? And will they do anything to help him get treatment b/c he hasn't been in that long? The PTSD was from the SWAT team busting down his door when he was 14 (he's 18 now) to take his grandfather away.

Answer 1

I feel sorry for him but yeah they should discharge him.

Answer 2

I do not think you understand PTSD or what causes it.....

A single "scary" event is not likely to produce PTSD..... and PTSD is treatable ..... I have PTSD.....many of my fellow servicemen have PTSD.... most of us live peaceful productive lives.

The media image is that we are walking time bombs that when triggered will go on a killing rampage slaughtering anyone we meet.....BS

As to treatment..... since it is by his admittion a "pre-existing" condition and NOT service related......I doubt he will get treatment

Why did they not diagnose it earlier.... PTSD has a variety of warning signs..... if he never complained they have no way of detecting it......it is not like a broken leg......it is a mental injury usually brought on by prolonged stress

To be honest......it smells very fishy to me...... I know you want to trust and believe your bf...... but I would need more documentation before I signed on to this story  

Answer 3

PTSD is automatically grounds for a medical discharge with the Army. Especially since it was not from the Army. It will be considered preexisting and he will likely receive an honorable discharge but no benefits due to the lack of time in service. My neighbor just got kicked out after 2 years of service for PTSD. As for treatment the Army will probably not provide treatment because it is a preexisting condition. If it were caused by a deployment to a combat zone everything would be different.  A reason why he was allowed into basic without this being caught is the Army is hurting in numbers. Recruiting quota is up and to say this nicely a lot of recruiters don't care about getting quality soldiers, they just care that their quota is met so they don't have the brass coming down on them.  I wish him the best of luck but in my honest opinion he will be meeting his co for the medboard process.  

Answer 4

If he has served less than 180 days then he is not eligible for benefits. The best he can do is apply for SSDI, and that in it's self is a nightmare. Get a lawyer.

Answer 5

For one they probally didnt know that he had nightmares, he probally didnt tell them. So there for they couldnt diagnose him with anything. Now that they know and have examined this medically, if they fill he is a risk with a weapon he will be discharged.  The best of luck to the both of you and God Bless.

Answer 6

It is a horrible situation and something he should without a doubt seek treatment for.

As far as the military is concerned, it really depends on the impact that it is having on him. With it being a preexisting medical condition they very well could discharge him. The military does not do a psychological examination on incoming recruits so unless he told one of the doctors doing his exam something that raised a red flag they never would have spotted it. That is true for every preexisting medical condition however. Had it been spotted the person with it would never have been accepted to begin with.

Time wise, the military has a 6 month window in which they can discharge him for having a preexisting condition. With him still being in training he is probably still inside that window.

The military has made great strides in treating PTSD but the sites that can provide the needed treatment are the hospitals that support the deploying units - since those are seldom training bases help for him is likely going to be unavailable on base.

If he is discharged for a preexisting medical condition there will be no benefits given. While it does sound unfair, the military's view on it is that they did not cause the problem and he should never have been in to begin with.

Sorry it isn't the best of news, hope it helps

Answer 7

Why should they do anything? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? I doubt it is from the swat busting in on him. We really got to stop putting labels on everything.