An Army veteran who served in Iraq is suing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, alleging his claims for veteran benefits have been intentionally delayed.
Rodney J. Glover, of New Orleans filed a lawsuit May 18 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, against the Veterans Affairs office in New Orleans, director Mark Bologna, and staff doctor, Dr. Oreilly, alleging they violated his civil rights.
According to the complaint, the defendants are guilty of slander and libel for misrepresenting Glover's military service and medical evaluations. The lawsuit states Glover was deployed multiple times and received an “other than honorable” discharge for his service in Iraq from 2010-2012, but the remainder of his service was honorable, entitling him to VA benefits. The “other than honorable” discharge was a result of PTSD Glover suffered following service in Iraq, according to the lawsuit.
But a VA claim Glover submitted in February 2012 has been intentionally delayed for three years, the lawsuit alleges, in what Glover calls retaliation for his complaint about Oreilly's inappropriate dress and lack of professionalism.
In addition, the lawsuit alleges, Glover has suffered extensive mental anguish from Bologna’s numerous requests to recount his deployment to Iraq, in which several friends and his commander were killed. Bologna also allegedly denied all of Glover’s Freedom of Information Act requests regarding his claim.
Glover seeks $200,000 in damages and is representing himself in the lawsuit.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-01673-MVL-KWR.