Vietnam veterans group sues military over PTSD

(WTNH) -- Vietnam Veterans are taking on another fight, they're heading to Federal Court to force the government to do the right thing.

The class action lawsuit comes down to getting a discharge upgrade to get medical benefits they earned while serving.   

They served our country honorably in Vietnam, but soldiers like Conley Monk came home, they say, with their honor stolen.

"I have no medical benefits other than the medical I pay for out of my own pocket," Monk said. "I am on a fixed income. I am disabled."

The marine veteran says the loss of VA benefits is because he did not get an honorable discharge, now linked to his recent diagnosis of Post traumatic stress disorder.

"I've been going through a whole lot for 45 years," Monk said. "I've been trying to work to upgrade my discharge, but they keep denying me."      

There are thousands more like him, which is why the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic is representing the Vietnam Veterans of America and a decorated army veteran in a class action lawsuit.

"It's about the honor of their discharge," said Dana Montalto, Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

"Our class members were discharged under other than honorable conditions for misconduct that doctors have since diagnosed as symptomatic of PTSD," said Ivy Wang, Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

PTSD, a severe anxiety disorder, was not accepted as a medical diagnosis until 1980.

"Soldiers today who think they might have PTSD are given a medical evaluation and if appropriate, a medical discharge," said Wang.

Veterans organizations are stepping up in support.  

"We feel we have a responsibility not only to ourselves, but to our families who are being denied privileges that they should be receiving," said Garry Monk, National Veterans Council for Legal Redress, "as well as future veterans so the situation will not be repeated."