Download PDF of this full issue: v7n2.pdf (8 MB)

Cincinnati Vet Fights On: No Disability Cuts

By VVAW

In the February-March issue of The Veteran, there was an article about Jerry Bolin, a disabled vet and member of the Cincinnati Chapter of VVAW who was suddenly informed by the VA that his disability had been cut from 100% to 70%. With the help of the VVAW chapter, Jerry fought back against the ruling; the treat of a demonstration at the time of his "re-evaluation" hearing was enough for the VA to reinstate the 100% rating.

But the VA did not just cave in, though their concession was a real victory for Jerry and for vets. Instead, the VA presented Jerry with the choice of going to jail, leaving his wife and kids (so they could survive on welfare payments), or committing himself to the VA psychiatric ward because, "under this financial strain, you are a threat to society." Of course, there was no mention of who caused this "strain" in the first place--the VA and they system which will throw away any vet it can.

According to regulations, Jerry should have spent 21 days in the VA psych ward while he was being "evaluated." Because of the stir caused by his case and the agitation going on around it, he was out in 11 days with the VA telling him that he had been there "long enough."

The struggle, however, was not over. Jerry received a letter from the VA telling him that his 100% "award" was only temporary until he had been through another hearing. And when the hearing came up, VVAW members were there, wearing T-shirts saying "End VA Red Tape," "No Disability Cuts," and "Give Jerry His 100%." VVAW members leafleted all through the outpatient clinic of the hospital, agitation around the case. At the time this paper is being printed, the results of the "re-evaluation hearing" are not in, but it is clear that the struggle against VA attempts to slash disability payments and to save a few dollars for their rich bosses is not over.