The army's criteria for meeting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is outrageously difficult to prove. Therefore, deserving veterans, such as my husband, are denied their needed care. Shame on us for allowing technicalities to get in the way of serving our wounded veterans. Just because you cannot see they claim it does not exist, but it does. My name is Caryn Kinney and I live with it every day. This disorder has consumed my husband's body, mind and soul. I am extremely disheartened by the lack of vision we have as a country toward mental disability. I will continue to speak out against the injustices that our veterans face after voluntarily serving their country. I am Glenn's voice and if need be I will scream until someone listens.

The soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq will be, at the very least, as disheartened as I, to realize that the country they so bravely volunteered to defend, will, in fact, take their claims of PTSD and dismiss them because they do not meet the VA criteria. I feel very sorry for these brave and courageous soldiers. Also horrified that our country is letting my husband's tortured mind from his proud military service be overlooked.

The bureaucracy known as the Veterans Benefits and Service Division is wrongfully denying my husband's claim. Sadly, this will cause us to lose our home due to their policies that are outrageous and outdated. I am sure we are not alone in this. I call on all veterans who are being or have been overlooked by the bureaucrats that run this division of the VA, to come together. Let us unite and fight these injustices being committed against our heroes.

We are at a critical time in our country's future. We as a nation are the first to rush in and aid other countries in need of assistance. I have always believed that we fight "the good fight" and I still do, but I also believed that we took care of our veterans, no matter what their problem(s) were or are. What a shock to realize that mentally disabled veterans' claims are subjected to different and more stringent procedures than those veterans claiming a physical disability. This is a complete and utter dishonor to their proud service to protect our beliefs in democracy and freedom.

The human brain was not created to witness the horrors of battle and atrocities of conflicts and not be affected. We must insist and demand equal rights for mentally disabled veterans. We owe it to all these heroes to not only heal their bodies, but their minds and souls as well.

My husband, Glenn Howard Kinney, volunteered to serve his country. He is an honorably discharged and decorated veteran. He deserves his country's help in his time of need. He felt the need to serve his country and do his part for this great nation of ours and all she does for not only her own people but the world over. With courage and strength he did just that. I beg of you to hear his call for help and to honor his service. He is my husband, the love of my life and my hero.

Caryn Kinney