Injured Army Veteran Fights For Benefits

An injured army veteran is now battling the Veterans Administration.

For 17 years, Gary Connellis was a police officer in New York. He joined the Army when he was in his mid-30s, married and with a young daughter.

Connellis was injured in the line of duty. He told KMBC's Micheal Mahoney that he thought he'd be taken care of.

"I don't know who to turn to, what else to do," Connellis said.

Mahoney reported that the issue is over how badly Connellis was injured. Early Army reports describe it as chronic pain, especially in his lower back.

Other outside doctors report it as a herniated disc.

"The records are all there. This is problem within the system. A major problem," Connellis said.

A General Accountability Office report stated the Defense Department military evaluation process "often generates long delays in disability evaluations and creates confusion."

Connellis left the Army with a 30 percent disability rating, an honorable medical discharge and a severance.

But he discovered that each month, the Army takes some of that severance back. In his case, $115 was taken back, which is more than one-fourth of his disability pay.

"It's more like loan. The severance is given when we're leaving. I have to pay it back," Connellis said.

As a police officer, Connellis said he developed a habit of keeping notes. He also kept notes of his account of his experience with the Veterans Administration. One note reads, "I am in pain. The system sucks."

The most recent problem is that the VA says Connellis spent too much on summer school college supplies, which is part of his vocational rehabilitation. Connellis said he might get kicked out of the program.

"With that I don't get paid, so I can't provide for my family," Connellis said.

As Connellis and his family struggle month to month, he awaits a final ruling on his service connected claims.

The GAO said there are "longstanding challenges for the VA in reducing the backlog of claims."

"And I would do this again. I would serve my country again. But there is no reason why the military and VA can't stand up and take of us veterans," Connellis said.

Connellis did get some good news this week. On Tuesday he got the OK to buy his summer school books, which was two weeks after the sign-up deadline.

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