Gay veteran sues for “wife’s” benefits

| October 14, 2011

I guess it was inevitable. Old Trooper and jerry920 send us a link to an article about a lesbian veteran who has decided to sue the VA to get VA benefits for her “wife”. I’m not even sure if the veteran can be called a “disabled veteran”, because according to the article, her condition didn’t occur until after she was discharged;

Cardona, who maintained aircraft during her years of service, applied for and began receiving military-connected disability compensation from the VA for carpal tunnel syndrome, which she developed as a result of her duties following her honorable discharge in 2000. The Puerto Rican native is still able to work and subsequently became a correction officer in Connecticut; she currently works at the York Correctional Institution in Niantic.

Of course, she says it’s not about the money;

“We could use the help to pay our mortgage, but this is not only about the money,” Cardona’s statement continued. “President Obama is right that [the Defense of Marriage Act] discriminates against gay and lesbian people. There are many other veterans out there just like me. I am standing up and asking to be treated equally in part to let others know they are not alone.”

Yeh, way to stick up for fellow veterans who are in danger of losing their benefits by nickels and dimes. Let’s just expand the pool of non-veterans to pay out from our shrinking stack of cash. And this wouldn’t open the system up for fraud or abuse at all, would it? All so gay veterans can feel accepted.

Category: Veteran Health Care, Veterans Issues

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CI

People will bitch, moan, complain or sue regardless of legislation passed or not passed. The repeal of DADT has no contribution to the segment of the population that attempts this sort of action on a daily basis.

Her ‘disability’ should in no way lead to VA benefits. That is the part of the story I’m far more concerned about.

Old Trooper

I’m interested in what “benefits” her wife is entitled to from the VA.

2-17AirCav

Time was–and none too long ago–that when one wrote or spoke about a married couple, one could use the pronouns he, his, she, and her without confusion. Similarly, wife and husband were never ambiguous. That’s no longer true. So, let’s watch those pronouns and nouns! It can be awfully tough following this stuff.

1AirCav69

OT…if she’s 100% or 70% w/30% unemployability, her “wife” would be eligable for CHAMPVA health insurance. I can’t imagine 100% for that or the 70/30 due to she’s working. If she’s 30% or more SC she’s eligable for more money a month due to having a “wife”. That is ALL I can think of and would bet she’s filing for the extra a month for being, “married”.

Honor and Courage

TopGoz

See, I told you so.

QMC

“See, I told you so.”

Usually one says that to people who did not see what was obviously coming, which is not the case with the bulk of people who read and comment here.

Old Trooper

Thanks for clearing that up, 1AirCav69.

DixieLandMan

If it’s not about the money, then why sue?

Doc Bailey

gee its not like we didn’t see this coming. I mean really guys at what point did whe honestly expect the “me me me” crowd to stop being selfish?