Andrea Gomes

Abstract

“No matter how the business of war is adorned by parades, uniforms, and literary glorification of the warrior’s courage, and however it is burdened by administration and logistics, the soldier’s real work is in killing. The soldier’s privilege to kill is unlike anything most other individuals have ever experienced, and the soldier who kills is permanently changed, fixed to the death he has made.” From its first remnants in Ancient Greece, through the initial wave of “shell shocked” American soldiers in World War I, and into its present-day status amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has continued to evolve in both its treatments and the societal stigma attached to it. This comment traces the development of PTSD within the context of our nation’s health care treatment and coverage for veterans battling the disorder. It documents recent federal legislation which, combined with the ongoing efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), should allow for significant improvements in the treatment and coverage of veterans with PTSD. However, despite the government’s apparent acknowledgment of the importance of addressing PTSD, many veterans remain without adequate coverage for their mental health care. With troops still returning home from Afghanistan and others just beginning to experience the first signs of PTSD, the Department of Veterans Affairs must strive for even greater health care coverage for its veterans.

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