Subject: RELEASE: Senator Clinton Reiterates Call For Army Investigation Into Benefits Claims Of Fort Drum Wounded Soldiers
From: "Clinton, Press Office (Clinton)" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 15:45:01 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          

February 7, 2008

 

Contact: Press Office

(212) 688-9780

SENATOR CLINTON REITERATES CALL FOR ARMY INVESTIGATION INTO BENEFITS
CLAIMS OF FORT DRUM WOUNDED SOLDIERS

New Documents Suggest Army Advised VA to Stop Counseling Soldiers on
Disability Ratings

Washington, D.C. - Following the revelation today of documents
indicating that a team dispatched from the Army Surgeon General's office
in Washington appeared to advise the VA to stop counseling soldiers on
disability claims, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today again called on
the Pentagon to conduct an investigation into the possible obstruction
of VA assistance for wounded soldiers at Fort Drum, home of the Army's
10th Mountain Division near Watertown, New York. In a letter today,
Senator Clinton expressed her deep concern that we get to the bottom of
these allegations as soon as possible and reiterated her call for the
Army to conduct a thorough and complete investigation into the matter to
ensure our men and women in uniform receive the benefits they need and
deserve.

"Our men and women in uniform are not only deserving of proper treatment
and care but effective and proactive handling of their medical records.
We have a duty to get them the treatment they need and deserve. This
starts with complete and thorough compilation of medical history and
preparation of medical files fostering a seamless transition from one
medical entity to another. If true, the disclosure that the Army is
discouraging information about benefits from being shared with our
wounded warriors is deeply troubling," Senator Clinton wrote. "It is
critically important that we get to the bottom of these allegations as
soon as possible. Our men and women in uniform deserve no less." 

Today's action by Senator Clinton comes amid a new report that documents
have emerged contradicting the Army's claim that they do not have a
policy barring outside assistance in reviewing and/or assisting soldiers
in preparing their benefit claims, that the Army did not tell the VA in
Buffalo to stop helping Soldiers at Fort Drum or suggest to VA and
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) staff to stop helping wounded,
ill or injured Soldiers with their claims.  

Upon first learning of these allegations, Senator Clinton immediately
wrote to Army Secretary, Pete Geren, seeking an independent
investigation into this matter (See - 
http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=291456&&
<http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=291456&&> ). 

The full text of Senator Clinton's letter sent today to Army Secretary
Pete Geren follows:

February 7, 2008

 

The Honorable Pete Geren

Secretary of the Army

Department of the Army

Washington, D.C. 20310

Dear Mr. Secretary:

In my letter to you dated January 29, 2008, I expressed my great concern
regarding recent news reports that the Army was blocking disability
paperwork aid to soldiers at Fort Drum.  In response to my letter, I
received a fact sheet from the Army which stated that there is not an
Army policy barring outside assistance in reviewing and/or assisting
Soldiers in rewriting their narratives, that the Army did not tell the
VA in Buffalo to stop helping Soldiers at Fort Drum or suggest to VA and
VBA staff to stop helping our wounded, ill or injured Soldiers with
their claims.   

            According to a press report this morning, documents have
emerged that make it appear that these representations were inaccurate.
According to this press report, an Army Colonel dispatched from the Army
Surgeon General's office in Washington told the VA to discontinue
counseling soldiers on the appropriateness of Defense Department
ratings.  If these allegations are true they are completely unacceptable
and I reiterate my call that the Army investigate immediately and
respond to these new allegations. 

Our men and women in uniform are not only deserving of proper treatment
and care but effective and proactive handling of their medical records.
We have a duty to get them the treatment they need and deserve.  This
starts with complete and thorough compilation of medical history and
preparation of medical files fostering a seamless transition from one
medical entity to another. If true, the disclosure that the Army is
discouraging information about benefits from being shared with our
wounded warriors is deeply troubling.  

It is critically important that we get to the bottom of these
allegations as soon as possible.  Our men and women in uniform deserve
no less. 

            Thank you once again for your attention to this very
pressing matter.  I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

 

cc:  General George Casey, Army Chief of Staff 

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