WASHINGTON — Two U.S. senators are calling for an investigation into wait times at Veterans Affairs facilities in Colorado after the suicide of a 26-year-old U.S. Army Ranger who did not receive counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder in time.
The request, by Republican U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, also asks that an internal watchdog at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs examine allegations that VA officials forged documents after the service member’s death and then threatened a whistle-blower who raised these issues with authorities, according to a letter dated Monday.
Without specifically addressing the accusations, the VA released a statement in response that said the agency would work with Congress and investigators “to determine the facts of the situation and take appropriate action should any wrongdoing be uncovered.”
The back-and-forth began when the unnamed whistle-blower contacted Congress this month with concerns about wait lists for patients at VA facilities in Denver, Golden and Colorado Springs. Specifically, the whistle-blower said the situation in Colorado Springs could have contributed to the July 5 death of Rollin Oliver Berry II, an Army Ranger who was awaiting treatment for PTSD.
“This whistle-blower believes the Colorado Springs facility may have falsified documents after the suicide,” Gardner and Johnson wrote in their call for an inquiry by VA Inspector General Michael Missal.
After contacting Congress and the VA inspector general, however, the whistle-blower faced retaliation from the inside, the two senators wrote.
“Disturbingly, on Sept. 13, the whistle-blower received a VA Memorandum, demanding that the whistleblower’s appearance for a ‘Fact-Finding Interview’ about ‘an alleged privacy violation.’ ” they wrote.
If that proves true, they added that Missal should tell them immediately.
“If the VA OIG finds during its inquiry any retaliation due to this whistle-blower’s contact with Congress, we would request that you notify us promptly,” the senators said.
The issue of wait lists has been a sore spot for the VA since 2014 when it was revealed that agency employees in Phoenix — overwhelmed with demand — kept off-the-books records of patients seeking appointments; one potential factor in the deaths of at least 35 veterans awaiting treatment.
The VA in its statement said it is “committed to providing timely access to high quality, recovery-oriented mental health care that anticipates and responds to veterans’ needs and supports their reintegration into their communities.”
Berry died in Fountain, according to the . He had served for six years in the Army, three years with the 25th Infantry and three years with 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
“His determination and dedicated training enabled him to earn the Ranger Tab and the Airborne Tab, as well as many medals and honors,” the obituary read. “Oliver has been described as a defender, defending not only his country, but also the individual soldiers who served beside him.”
