Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) spearheaded a recent letter to Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll urging for the reevaluation of regulations for awarding the Purple Heart, as many veterans and deceased servicemembers qualify but have not been given the honor.
Purple Hearts are one of the oldest military decorations in the United States. They are awarded to those killed or wounded in combat by enemy forces, in terror attacks, or by friendly fire. Additionally, living recipients must prove they have received treatment; however, this fails to account for situations where a medical officer may not have been present to provide treatment at the time of the injury.
As a result, many veterans and deceased service members who qualify for the Purple Heart are denied the award under current regulations.
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"We have met with those whose vehicles were struck by IEDs or exposed to concussive blasts, resulting in diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI), and despite following the proper channels, their applications for a Purple Heart have been denied due to a lack of contemporaneous documentation, often through no fault of their own," Rep. Ciscomani described in his letter.
Additionally, he pointed out that "in some cases, service members are unaware that they need referrals for TBI treatment documented in their health records, creating significant barriers when applying for a Purple Heart."
"The nature of blast injuries means that symptoms do not always manifest immediately, making it even more difficult to obtain proper documentation at the time of the incident. Yet, these injuries have long-term consequences, affecting not only the individual's health but also their ability to access care and benefits after service," Rep. Ciscomani continued.
Moreover, the Arizona Congressman noted that referrals to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) or from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) do not count toward consideration of Purple Heart status.
"While we recognize the difficulty in establishing clear guidelines for every combat scenario, greater flexibility is urgently needed," Ciscomani concluded.
