Homeless veteran claims VA denied him benefits

ATLANTA — A disabled Marine Veteran who has been living in his car for several years, says the Veterans Administration has only paid a small portion of the disability benefits to which he is entitled.
 
"I should be getting $6,700 per month for my wife and two kids. I'm only given $1,500," said veteran Terry Gooden.
 
Gooden told Channel 2's Tom Regan that he can't afford a place to live after paying for one of his daughter's college education and child support for another.
 
Gooden says his battle with the VA goes back to 1978. While in bayonet training, he said a staff sergeant went berserk and attacked him.
 
"I was called up to do a demonstration, so he broke my jaw, and busted my ear drum with a pulig stick. I was told that he had mistaken me for a Vietnamese," said Gooden.
 
Gooden says despite his life-changing injuries, the VA has only paid a small portion of the disabilities to which he is entitled, including PTSD.
 
In 2011, a veteran's appeals court ruled in his favor, mandating that he be paid in full for benefits he had not received since the 1970s. He says the mandate was never carried out. His wife says it's discouraging.
 
"I don't know why they can't go according to the mandated court order and pay it," said Tanya Gooden.
 
Gooden also says over a hundred thousand dollars in government funds transferred into this bank account was subsequently withdrawn by the VA. He believes someone stole the funds.
             
"When I call them, they just call me crazy. This idiot calling again," said Gooden.
 
An Atlanta Veterans Administration spokesperson told Channel 2 Action News that there was no evidence money was stolen from Gooden's account.
 
"It was confirmed all VA benefit payments intended for the veteran were in fact deposited via electronic funds transfer into the appropriate bank account. The assertions have been reviewed and the allegations were not substantiated," the VA said in a statement.
 
Gooden disagrees.
 
"They are cutting corners and doing everything they can to hurt veterans," Gooden said.
 
The Atlanta Veterans Administration declined an on camera interview and referred further questions to the Veterans Administration Inspector General's Office.
 
Channel 2 Action News submitted an open records request on the investigation of Gooden's disability complaint. The office has not released the findings of its investigation.

Those who would like to help Terry Gooden can reach him at P.O. Box 555, Union City, Ga. 30291.

WSBTV