"Separation Because of Personality Disorder" Story aired: Wednesday, April 04, 2007
According to the Defense Department the Army has, in the last six years alone, discharged more than 5,500 soldiers for personality disorders. These soldiers are discharged under "Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-13: "Separation Because of Personality Disorder."
Reporter Joshua Kors says this is a way for the military to cut costs, because the Department of Veteran Affairs doesn't have to provide care or disability pay to soldiers with personality disorders because it's considered a "pre- existing condition."
Kors writes in the current edition of The Nation about one of these vets: Army Specialist Jon Town. Town was injured in Iraq and diagnosed with a "personality disorder." To Town's shock, this meant he was ineligible to receive disability and medical benefits for his war injuries.
