Possibly Another Angle

[Guest guest]

Good Evening List;

I'd like to run something by you.

I've given some thought to the Military/VA and the disease theory.

Anyone ever thought about this angle?

I'm currently going through a medical board review process. (for medical

discharge from the service) I've just been informed, by the VA, that alcohol

dependence or alcoholism is not ratable for disability compensation. After

hearing this I started thinking that they've got this thing working from two

different angles. On the one hand If you're an alcoholic or alcohol

dependant you've got the disease of alcoholism and this gives them the right

to force you into treatment and AA attendance, however it won't be

considered for the purpose of compensation for service related disability

even though every other disease is ratable.

Why?

Either it is a disease or it isn't a disease. If it is then it should be

rated for compensation. If it isn't a disease ...... Well then that's a

whole different ball game isn't it?

if

AA proclaims alcoholism is a disease. (I'd say a pretty safe bet here)

and

The military and the VA have been actively recruiting for AA by forcing

military members to attend AA Meetings as part of their primary and after

care programs. (a certainty)

Does this not imply, at the very least, tacit agreement with the disease

theory?

My guess is that the military and the VA have adopted this stance as a cost

savings measure. The cost of monetary compensation for all the military

members and veterans with the disease of alcoholism would be astronomical.

My question:

Do you think it may be high enough to get the Military/VA to declare,

emphatically, that Alcoholism is not a disease, if they were challenged on

this policy in court?

What ramifications would this declaration have on the rest of the treatment

community as a whole?

e.g.

Insurance companies refusing to cover the cost of treatment because if the

government doesn't consider this a disease why should we?

Would the disease model go away?

That was the angle, for helping to do away with the disease theory and

forced attendance by military members.

Here's my dilemma.

How in the hell do I get up the courage to fight this one out with the

Military/VA?

Any thoughts?