A measure created to protect troops injured in combat from being unfairly discharged for misconduct was added to the House of Representatives version of the National Defense Authorization Act last week, all but assuring that it will become law.

The amendment by Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado allows service members diagnosed with mental health conditions who have been discharged for misconduct to appeal to a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist or a physician with special mental health training to get an expert opinion on whether they should instead be medically discharged.

Last year, The Gazette reported the number of soldiers discharged for misconduct had risen steadily, and many of the discharged were combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries. Many were stripped of veterans medical benefits as a result of their discharges.

“As a Marine Corps combat veteran I cannot accept the fact that combat veterans have been discharged who were clearly suffering from PTSD and that they were not only denied treatment before being discharged, but because of the type of discharge they received, did not have access to mental health care after they left the military,” said Coffman, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

An identical Senate version of the amendment was introduced in April. Because the amendment is in both versions of the bill, it is almost certain to be in the final bill, Coffman said.

Kris Goldsmith, a veteran discharged from the Army for misconduct who was instrumental in getting the amendment introduced, said he was encouraged.

“It’s a small change. It’s not total reform,” he said. “But it’s a positive change and shows Congress is aware there are problems that need to be fixed.”

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