PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Aggarwal, Neil Krishan
TI  - Psychiatric Disorders, Military Misconduct, and Discharge Status for U.S. Veterans
AID  - 10.29158/JAAPL.210048-21
DP  - 2022 Jan 10
TA  - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
PG  - JAAPL.210048-21
4099  - http://jaapl.org/content/early/2022/01/10/JAAPL.210048-21.short
4100  - http://jaapl.org/content/early/2022/01/10/JAAPL.210048-21.full
AB  - For three years, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has issued rulings in Manker v. Spencer and Kennedy v. Esper to certify veterans as a legal class to sue the United States Navy and Army, respectively. Each dispute centers on whether the military denied discharge upgrades to personnel who developed mental health disorders during their service. This article analyzes the facts, reasoning, and dispositions of each case, which address medicolegal standards for evaluating the relationships among psychiatric disorders, alleged misconduct during military service, and military discharge status. Implications for psychiatrists are considered in the military and civilian health sectors.