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In Tomball, Texas, a disabled veteran, who was scammed, assaulted, and was on the brink of losing his VA accommodation, received some extraordinary news last Friday.
Since March, the tumultuous journey of Roma “Joe” Whitten, a disabled veteran who fell victim to a scam that cost him thousands of dollars, has been under the media spotlight. Whitten recounts that the people he sought to aid were the ones who deceived him.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Whitten’s plight wasn’t limited to financial fraud. The three individuals who moved into his Tomball residence were apprehended for not only conning him but also vandalizing his home, physically assaulting him, and robbing him.
After this traumatic experience, Whitten was relocated to VA housing. However, his peace was short-lived when his caretaker discovered that he didn’t meet the prerequisites for that level of care and risked losing the housing.
However, fortune took a turn for Whitten when the VA announced they had uncovered a file error from 1993. They awarded Whitten $44,000 and increased his disability rating to 70% – the crucial rating he needed to secure his VA housing.
Whitten’s caretaker, Patty Hallas, expressed her joy, saying, “What a happy ending, it would not have happened without your news coverage.”
The relief came after a non-profit, “Combined Arms,” intervened upon watching Whitten’s story on KHOU 11 News and advocated for his cause.
“I am elated, he is getting what veterans like him deserve to get, us taking care of them, that’s what they are supposed to have,” Hallas commented. “They gave up their lives and their health for us so that we can be free and with the 4th of July coming up, it’s going to be amazing.”
It was Hallas who first publicized Whitten’s predicament after she noticed her long-time customer from her car repair shop needed help. She then notified the police and Adult Protective Services.
The VA announced that they are assessing Whitten’s case for potential additional benefits. As a result of the PACT Act signed by President Biden last year, he may be eligible for further compensation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs released the following statement to KHOU 11 News Friday night: “After reviewing Mr. Whitten’s compensation and pension file, we discovered an error was made many years ago. We sincerely regret this mistake and offer our deepest apologies to Mr. Whitten and his family. We have notified Mr. Whitten of his updated VA rating and substantial back pay, to include possible additional VA benefits. We will look further into this incident and take steps to ensure that it does not occur again.”
Source: KHOU-11
