Injured and Ignored: Why Legal Action Is the Last Resort for Too Many Service Members

In theory, those who serve in the military should be guaranteed fair treatment — especially when they’re injured in the line of duty. But for countless service members, the unfortunate truth is that justice doesn’t come freely. It must be fought for. And all too often, that fight ends up in the legal system.

Whether it’s a combat injury, a training accident, or a medical condition that developed during service, injured troops expect to be taken care of — not quietly discharged, denied benefits, or left behind. When military policy fails to protect these individuals, the courts become the last line of defense.

The Legal Maze Veterans Face

For a service member unjustly discharged or denied disability benefits, there are only a few options:

• File a VA Claim: Veterans must often navigate a complex bureaucratic process to apply for service-connected compensation. Claims are frequently denied or under-rated, forcing appeals that can take years.

• Appeal Discharges: Challenging a discharge through a Discharge Review Board or the Board for Correction of Military Records can be daunting. It requires legal arguments, documentation, and often legal counsel to succeed.

• Assert Civil Rights: When injuries or conditions are met with administrative separation rather than reassignment or accommodation, there may be grounds for claims of discrimination — particularly if the service member was denied due process or a reasonable chance to heal.

Why This Shouldn’t Be the Norm

No veteran should have to go to court just to receive what they’ve already earned. But current military policy allows for the administrative discharge of injured service members — even when they could be reassigned or accommodated. This creates a gap between the military’s treatment of disability and what civilian laws, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), would require.

The #ReasonableRanks campaign aims to close this gap. It advocates for clear reassignment options and due process for non-deployable service members, especially those hurt in training or pre-deployment environments. By building policies that prioritize healing and retention where appropriate, we can reduce the need for litigation altogether.

The Call for Reform

Using the legal system should be a last resort — not a standard operating procedure. But without meaningful change, more veterans will be forced into legal battles just to get basic care and recognition.

It’s time we change that. It’s time we acknowledge that protecting our troops doesn’t stop at the battlefield. It continues when they come home — injured, but still willing to serve. And if our policies don’t reflect that, then it’s not just a moral failure. It’s a legal one too.

Learn more about how we can reform these policies and restore dignity to those who’ve given their all at www.ReasonableRanks.org.