Pentagon leaders acknowledged last week that it is time to revamp the DOD and VA disability rating evaluation systems. The news came as hearings continued on the treatment of wounded veterans following Washington Post articles detailing deplorable conditions and bureaucratic tangles at a Walter Reed outpatient facility. David S.C. Chu told House Armed Services Committee members that each of the military services has its own system. He called it “complex” and “frustrating” from an individual’s viewpoint. William Winkenwerder, who has announced his departure as the Pentagon’s top health official, said the system “must not be adversarial.”
Upon assuming his new post, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Wolfe prioritized high standards while pledging to ensure Airmen, of all specialties, get the equipment they need to project U.S. airpower.
