LAT: Disabled soldiers face uphill battle (getting disability pay)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-disabled21mar21,0,6670885.story?coll=la-home-headlines

A sniper shot Sgt. Joe Baumann on a Baghdad street in April 2005. The AK-47 round ripped through his midsection, ricocheted off his Kevlar vest and shredded his abdomen.

The bullet also ignited the tracer magazine on his belt, setting Baumann on fire.

Almost two years later, the 22-year-old California National Guard soldier walks with a cane, suffers from back problems and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder that keeps him from sleeping and holding a job.

"He can't even go to the grocery store by himself," said his wife Aileen, also 22.

The question pending before a military review board here is whether to grant Baumann a military disability pension and health care or cut him an $8,000 check for his troubles

[KT2000]

1. Looks to me like

insurance co execs are running this show. They have no concept of honor, just money.

Cutting the check will result in appeals where they can lose the paperwork, harrass the applicant and drag the thing on for years. They hope the injured will just get tired and give up.

If they can push the injured person to suicide or earlier death - that is to the benefit of the money men.

That is the game.