Study: Army May Be Limiting Disability Pay

Official Calls Rating System Inconsistent

POSTED: 1:50 pm EDT April 12, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The way the government rates service members' disabilities is inconsistent, and the Army might be shortchanging injured soldiers, the chairman of a special commission said Thursday.

Testifying before a Senate panel, retired Lt. Gen. James Terry Scott, chairman of the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, detailed problems in the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs ratings systems.

Critics contend the ratings are easily manipulated to limit disability payments and create undue confusion in a claims system already strained to the limit.

"It is apparent that service members are not well-served," Scott said at an unusual joint hearing of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees called to examine gaps in the system.

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