The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) refused to discuss onetime patient Eddie Ray Routh, who was convicted Tuesday of murder for the shooting death of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. But the agency did state that the PSTD Routh claimed to have is usually not dangerous.
Routh’s mother testified in court that her son was a multiple-time patient at the Dallas VA Medical Center, which released him shortly before the murders, and that she begged the VA to keep him longer. Routh said that he had post-traumatic stress disorder, but he never saw military combat.
“We are limited on what we can say about Eddie Ray Routh,” VA spokeswoman Penny Kerby told The Daily Caller before sending TheDC a statement from the VA’s North Texas Healthcare System.
“We are truly saddened by the loss of Veteran Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield. Due to Privacy and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws and the on-going trial, we are not able to provide you with patient health information regarding Eddie Ray Routh,” the statement read in part.
“Although Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be associated with increased risk of aggression, research shows individuals with PTSD are not dangerous,” VA stated. “Most of the behaviors are mild and likely result from feelings of irritability and anger that are experienced by some individuals with PTSD. The majority of Veterans and non-Veterans with PTSD do not engage in violence.”