Colonel charged with exposing woman to HIV recommended for trial

http://www.armytimes.com/story/mili...-woman-to-hiv-recommended-for-trial/19900165/

The above was posted on Army Times.

I recall reading about this earlier and was under the impression this Colonel was being treated for his medical condition at a military hospital. Here is my question. If a service member had a noncurable communicable disease ( HIV, Hepatitis...) can they still serve?

Members can serve with such types of diseases. There are current active duty members with HIV who contracted after joining the service. They are non-deployable and have other restrictions but are authorized to serve.
 
Do they get a Disability Check when they retire? What percent would that be?
 
Do they get a Disability Check when they retire? What percent would that be?

Most likely they get some disability percentage. How much, don't know, but one could likely search the VA information for that data.



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Do they get a Disability Check when they retire? What percent would that be?

Can be anything from 0% to 100% depending on the symptoms, controllability, and second order effects of the disease.

If there is an active AIDS disease with either regularly occurring infections/diseases or infections/diseases in numerous areas of the body, it is rated 100%. A 100% rating is also given for HIV if there is a secondary disease that is present the majority of the time and causes continual weight loss.

If there is a secondary disease, infection, or neoplasm as a result of AIDS, then the minimum rating is 60%. This rating is also given if there are significant symptoms throughout the body that cannot be controlled, diarrhea, and weight loss.

If the HIV is being treated by “approved” medication (medications that are prescribed for research by a qualified medical institution), but there are still regularly occurring symptoms throughout the body and intermittent diarrhea, then it is rated 30%. This rating is also the minimum rating given if the T4 cell count is less than 200, there is hairy cell leukoplakis, or oral candidiasis.

If the HIV is being treated by “approved” medication, there are at least definite symptoms present, and the T4 cell count is between 200 and 500, then it is rated 10%. If there are clear signs of depression or memory loss that interfere with the ability to work, a rating of 10% may also be given.

If there are no symptoms that affect the ability of the individual to function, then it is rated 0%, even if there is a decreased T4 cell count, disease in the lymph nodes, or diagnosed AIDS.
 
Can be anything from 0% to 100% depending on the symptoms, controllability, and second order effects of the disease.

Wow! Thanks for the info. I never would have thought this..

I just don't see how this makes any sense to charge the American tax payers for the obvious self-delinquent action of getting the disease. This adds to Sleep Apnea, E.D., Heart Attack, Acid Reflux...etc column for the tax payers.
 
It is quite possible to contract HIV or any number of STDs or other infectious diseases while being diligent and conscientious. I have many friends who have requested additional testing for HIV/STDs more frequently than the military protocol (1x/yr) or preventative services that help protect against infection and been denied medical services to help protect them. HIV can also be contracted if in contact with sharps that have been used on an HIV+ person (like medical personnel). Assuming self-delinquency creates powerful stigmas that hurt people who need help for life-threatening conditions.
 
). Assuming self-delinquency creates powerful stigmas that hurt people who need help for life-threatening conditions.

I understand that medical attention is needed.

Should we as tax payers pay a Disability check to those who who were delinquent or would have gotten the disability Sleep Apnea, E.D., Acid Reflux, Heart Attack and others because it in your geno make up.

If this is the case, then every citizen should be allowed to the same benefit.
 
I understand that medical attention is needed.

Should we as tax payers pay a Disability check to those who who were delinquent or would have gotten the disability Sleep Apnea, E.D., Acid Reflux, Heart Attack and others because it in your geno make up.

If this is the case, then every citizen should be allowed to the same benefit.

The "idea" behind VA disability benefits is that military service aggravated an otherwise underlying condition or acquired disease and thus the person earns the disability benefit due to the extra aggravation of military service.

In practice, we know that the VA system prefers to view conditions as aggravated and assign disability more liberally. The alternative is that we tighten disability. The trade-off is that in the looser system, more people that may not need it receive a benefit. In the tighter system, we risk people that genuinely need the disability benefit being denied care. Would we, as a nation and tax payers, rather side with caution and risk some receiving more than they should (and the higher associated cost) or risk some being denied necessary help and falling by the wayside. The goal is to reach perfection - everyone earns what they truly deserve. We are unlikely to reach that perfect point, so which side would we prefer to start on and work towards that ideal? I, for one, prefer a looser system where we risk some getting too much than to let others fall through. (I fully acknowledge that many still fall through the cracks in our VA system, which is tragic)

To your second point, basically all citizens under medicaid/medicare effectively receive this benefit. And if we wanted all citizens to receive benefits for otherwise genetic conditions, we would need to have a unified national health system akin to other industrialized nations.
 
The "idea" behind VA disability benefits is that military service aggravated an otherwise underlying condition or acquired disease and thus the person earns the disability benefit due to the extra aggravation of military service.

In practice, we know that the VA system prefers to view conditions as aggravated and assign disability more liberally. The alternative is that we tighten disability. The trade-off is that in the looser system, more people that may not need it receive a benefit. In the tighter system, we risk people that genuinely need the disability benefit being denied care. Would we, as a nation and tax payers, rather side with caution and risk some receiving more than they should (and the higher associated cost) or risk some being denied necessary help and falling by the wayside. The goal is to reach perfection - everyone earns what they truly deserve. We are unlikely to reach that perfect point, so which side would we prefer to start on and work towards that ideal? I, for one, prefer a looser system where we risk some getting too much than to let others fall through. (I fully acknowledge that many still fall through the cracks in our VA system, which is tragic)

To your second point, basically all citizens under medicaid/medicare effectively receive this benefit. And if we wanted all citizens to receive benefits for otherwise genetic conditions, we would need to have a unified national health system akin to other industrialized nations.

Interesting! The service aggravated an STD or E.D., Heart Attack, Acid Reflux, Sleep Apnea -I haven't had one person in the 33+yrs tell me how it was service related(don't know anyone with HIV). Not that in some cases it doesn't happen but it appears that most are abusing the system and it should be stopped.

I don't believe that this is the correct attitude one should take and I hope that I'm not alone here. Your approach of loose and tighter system doesn't make sense for me. There should be a cause and effect system- this happened to me and this is the effect because I was doing my duty. Not, I got HIV from having sex so now cover me or I have sleep apnea so does a very large portion of the adult world-how? why? or I eat too much and I have Acid Reflux -who doesn't- how? and the same question goes on and on for most examples.

What type of monetary range does Medicare give HIV citizens?

How much does medicare give to those with sleep apnea, acid reflux, heart attacks, e.d. The citizens need these checks..


I might want to look into getting something for my Acid Reflux.
 
The citizens need these checks..

As soon as they decide to become one of the 0.5% of Americans who serve they can see about getting one.

[Source for 0.5%: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/o...itary-drifting-apart.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 ]

To take some of the medical conditions specified above:
E.D.- can be related to hypertension, military service can certainly exacerbate that.

Heart Attack: there are certain medical conditions which predispose people to "heart attacks" as a broad term. Let's take Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy as one (e.g. Hank Gathers). Won't always be caught on a pre-enlistment physical.

Acid Reflux: certain severe types of reflux can cause esophageal cancers. Potentially laying in a more upright position when sleeping may help....I haven't seen too many ships with angled berths. Not all acid reflux is caused by what one eats.

Sleep Apnea: there are skinny people with OSA....but right now, today, I feel this is likely the most abused diagnosis for attempted disability ratings.

There are a multitude of problems that on the surface may not seem to be caused or exacerbated by military service; however, when dealing with such large institutions it would be near impossible to carve out and defend each little niche of 'it applies here, but doesn't there.' The litigation would likely cost more than the disability payments (okay, that might be hyperbole, but it would be high)
 
Most Vietnam and other long-held POWs returned home with a running start on ischemic heart disease and other health conditions arising from poor nutrition and physical torture.

I had several HIV-positive sailors work for me over the years, on shore duty close to major military medical facilities. Their condition is close-hold, and several got the disease unwittingly from spouses who stepped outside the marriage during deployments. As long as they remained symptomatic, they could continue to serve. Since they weren't deplorable, their careers usuall couldn't progress past a certain point.


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Most Vietnam and other long-held POWs returned home with a running start on ischemic heart disease and other health conditions arising from poor nutrition and physical torture.



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Goodness gracious these guys are what the disability is all about. They should get everything we can give them.

This is a perfect example of a cause and effect in the line of duty.

I see that we may run out of money for people like this that need the assistance.
 
As soon as they decide to become one of the 0.5% of Americans who serve they can see about getting one.

[Source for 0.5%: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/o...itary-drifting-apart.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 ]

To take some of the medical conditions specified above:
E.D.- can be related to hypertension, military service can certainly exacerbate that.

Heart Attack: there are certain medical conditions which predispose people to "heart attacks" as a broad term. Let's take Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy as one (e.g. Hank Gathers). Won't always be caught on a pre-enlistment physical.

Acid Reflux: certain severe types of reflux can cause esophageal cancers. Potentially laying in a more upright position when sleeping may help....I haven't seen too many ships with angled berths. Not all acid reflux is caused by what one eats.

Sleep Apnea: there are skinny people with OSA....but right now, today, I feel this is likely the most abused diagnosis for attempted disability ratings.

There are a multitude of problems that on the surface may not seem to be caused or exacerbated by military service; however, when dealing with such large institutions it would be near impossible to carve out and defend each little niche of 'it applies here, but doesn't there.' The litigation would likely cost more than the disability payments (okay, that might be hyperbole, but it would be high)

It appears that these same things happen in the regular civilian population.

E.D. hypertension -everyone is on crazy pills nowadays-people with no jobs divorce rate- stress-ers "life". I know one guy laughing about his e.d. getting a check and all the pills he needs-

Heart Attack-- one guy i know son had a heart attack at 31; he had one at 65 -runs in the family- heredity; another guy 40 had 2 heart attacks smoked only drank mountain dew(cases on the job) drank plenty of alcohol on off hrs and still does

Acid reflux who doesn't have that- use of PPI's is off the charts like stress; Barretts- Ablation techniques are available with 98% success.

Sleep Apnea-- joke and the 5 guys i know will tell you that

This stuff is just as prevalent in the civilian world. Someone getting hurt in the line of duty is not as prevelant in the civilian world.

The whole disability spectrum has gotten wayyy off base for what it was intended for.

This is a broken system with dishonorable(no morality) people taking advantage and being encouraged by Physicians to submit such claims(I've watched the intensity of the problem grow like an entitlement in the past 10-15 yrs). I am friends with many of the people abusing the system and they tell their successors how to play the game.

When it goes broke, the poor people who need it will be screwed. The leaders in these positions should make changes to system to protect our troops.
 
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... and being encouraged by Physicians to submit such claims.

Although I don't doubt there are a handful who do this I personally have never heard or seen this. In fact it is usually the physician who tells them they are FOS.

The encouragement to file every and anything is given at TAPS class and by lore passed down from their own peers and people before them. Direct example is the number of people who at their separation physical told me they had sleep apnea (hence my quote from above). When I eventually inquired I was told they were told in TAPS to claim OSA no matter what. The number who suddenly didn't have any symptoms when I told them their seperation from service would be held up, possibly for a few months, for the appropriate testing was not inconsequential.

I think the system works in most cases. There are a few areas on both sides (too loose and too tight) but it works okay. Could it be improved, sure.

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