How Revisions Are Conducted: Former Fighters in Despair, Examinations Last Five Minutes, Goal to Reduce Disability

War veterans who have been undergoing revision of their veteran rights since 2009 are often subjected to pressure, but from the examination itself, it can be concluded that the only goal is to reduce disability so that the state would have as few obligations as possible, writes the Patria news agency.

Thus, Alen Amin Bašić felt the government's desire on his own skin; he was a 70% disabled person until 2012.

On January 26, 2016, I was at the Institute for Medical Expertise of the FBiH to obtain a new disability decision. Until 2012, I was a war veteran with 70% disability. It concerns two war injuries valued at 50% + 30%, which by law is reduced by 10% (when multiple injuries are involved), resulting in that 70% status. As part of the 2012 revision, I go to the Institute for Medical Expertise and instead of having specialist doctors for those injuries on the commission, I have a male and female doctor who have X-rays and lasers in their eyes, and perhaps are clairvoyant. Although I had all the medical documentation, both from the war and after the war, they ignored the specialists' findings and even eliminated one of the injuries – Bašić recounts.

He adds that at that moment he had no idea what was happening.

- The examination lasts 5 minutes, and the decision will arrive in about 15 days (May 2012). They reduced one injury from 50% to 40%, and the other is completely gone. We have no right to appeal to the first-instance body, and the only option left is a lawsuit to the Supreme Court of the FBiH. Immediately in the same month, benefits are reduced, and we know how slowly our courts work. It is especially slow because there are thousands of injured parties whose only option is a lawsuit to the Supreme Court of the FBiH. I know I am not the only one, so it is somehow a little easier, but one feels miserable, humiliated. I was a member of the Army of the Republic of BiH throughout the entire war, a fighter from the first day, wounded as a reconnaissance-commando in hand-to-hand combat. An M-84 machine gun mowed me down. Every fighter knows what a sower of death is. I think, I am fairly literate, I have a university degree, I will know how to write a lawsuit myself, but what about those who don't know – Bašić adds.

After that, he filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court and after almost 3 years received a ruling in his favor (November 2014).

Bašić: Struggle since 2009

- The 2012 decision is annulled and the procedure is returned to the first-instance body. What were the bureaucrats from the Ministry for Veterans and Disabled Persons of the Defense-Liberation War of the FBiH supposed to do? Calculate the differences and make the payment, and then refer me for a new medical expertise and have specialists perform the examinations, with mandatory imaging. They didn't. I submit a written request to the ministry to act according to the Supreme Court ruling. Nothing. In accordance with the law, I submit to the Supreme Court a request for enforcement of their ruling, as well as a proposal to financially penalize both the ministry and the minister for a serious breach of official duty. In the meantime, in August 2015, I received the first call for an examination at the institute – Bašić recounts.

The two-member commission examined the wounds and documentation and confirms the damage, verbally informing him with a note that he must undergo an EMNG scan and that they will call him later.

- In October of the same year, at the same institute, I undergo the scan, and the specialist doctor determines permanent and severe damage. That means both injuries carry 50% each. I have a third one, but it's irrelevant. According to the decision, my percentage should be returned to 70%. However, on January 26, when some new commission convened (different doctors each time), I was taken aback. They told me they assessed one injury at 40% and the other at 30%, making the disability 50%. At that moment, my wounding, pain, suffering, surgery without anesthesia 11 days after the injury, all the pains I have had for years and which are only greater and more severe, flash through my mind. Naturally, I get up, take my papers, tell them to go to hell, and cause a minor incident. They got off easy considering everything that crossed my mind.

I was particularly annoyed by their giggling and snickering while I waited in the waiting room with a few other war veterans. They mock us. Why wouldn't they? This institute earned millions that it stole from us fighters. It worked according to the instructions of politics and politicians, and the goal was to cut percentages for the disabled. And these doctors, well, this is a bonus to their salary. They stole tens of thousands of marks from us. Ugh. This is a perverse state – Bašić adds.