Injured Ex-Soldiers Often Unfairly Denied Benefits, AG Finds [Canada]

Audit finds poor support, lengthy waits and confusing paperwork for medically-release vets

The Harper government's oft-repeated slogan of supporting the troops took several hits in the latest auditor general's report, which found injured ex-soldiers don't always get their entitled services and benefits. Michael Ferguson looked at how National Defence and Veterans Affairs handled the transition to civilian life for more than 8,000 members released on medical grounds between 2006 and 2011.

The report found both departments were incoherent when communicating services, standards and expectations to the injured, and as a result many current military members and veterans did not get the expected care — or had to wait for it. Roughly 25 per cent of medically released soldiers did not have either case management services or plans offered to them by the military...