Brannan’s combat experience forever altered his
personality and his life. Although he initially reentered
civilian life, he soon began to manifest signs
of serious mental illness. His condition worsened
from an initial diagnosis by the VA of PTSD and
partial disability rating in 1984, to a diagnosis and
rating of 100% disability as a result of service-5
connected PTSD in 1991, retroactive to 1990.1
He
also was diagnosed by his VA psychiatrist as
suffering from Bipolar Disorder in 1994. RX128 at
900, 910; RX129 at 1253.
VA doctors documented Brannan’s deteriorating
condition, his increased withdrawal from society, his
inexplicable behavior and “bizarre” speech, and his
“continued and chronic depression.” RX128 at 930,
1159; RX129 at 1373. In early 1989, his VA
psychiatrist noted that Brannan was “preoccupied
with total aspects of the Vietnam conflict, in which
he served as a point observer, to the point of giving
up employment, perhaps a marital relationship, and
limiting his contacts with society as a whole except
for Vietnam veterans.” RX128 at 922. Brannan was
then hospitalized for several weeks for treatment
“centered on psychotherapy dealing with PTSD
issues” and “mood disturbance.” Id. at 927; RX129 at
1344. The staff found Brannan to be depressed and
chronically suicidal. RX128 at 1164.
1 Under VA guidelines, a declaration of 100% disability from
PTSD requires “[t]otal occupation and social impairment, due to
such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or
communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly
inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or
others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living
(including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene);
disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close
relatives, own occupation, or own name.” 38 C.F.R. § 4.130.
According to the VA, when Brannan was first deemed 100%
disabled, only 6% of veterans receiving compensation for any
disability were rated as 100% disabled. RX155 at 9160. 6
Brannan’s VA psychiatrist concluded th
So, yeah, the guy was definately sick, maybe he doesn’t deserve the death penalty, he’s 66, let him die in prison.
And I’ve known a few guys who have given me advice on how easy it is to demonstrate your PTSD and get disability. Anyway, hopefully he’ll be out of our misery by midnight.