Government Tells Woman She's Dead

Twenty-two-year-old Lisa Kohlhagen of Colbert, Ga. in Madison County went through Army basic training but was discharged after a knee injury.

She said when her disability checks stopped coming, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs told her it was because she was dead.

“It was a complete shock. I started crying. I was really upset,” said Kohlhagen.

Kohlhagen’s knee isn’t what it used to be. After a bad fall towards the end of basic training three years ago, she was discharged due to a stress fracture of her right knee.

“I can’t stand for long periods, I can’t bend down, I can’t jump. I can’t do any exercise that involves my legs,” Kohlhagen said.

The V.A. approved her for 10 percent disability, but two months ago, her $115 monthly checks stopped coming. She called the Army for an explanation.

“And I called them because it wasn’t there and they said, ‘You’re dead,’ and I said, ‘No, I’m not dead.’ And they kept trying to tell me I was dead but I’m not,” said Kohlhagen.

Kohlhagen said it only took a couple of days for the V.A. to realize she was, in fact, alive. That was a couple months ago. Her checks still aren’t coming. It’s $115 a month she said she really needs.

“Every time I call, (they say,) ‘Two weeks, two weeks, two weeks,’ and then about three weeks ago they told me six months and I just can’t wait that long,” said Kohlhagen. “They should not only send my check but send me my back pay so I can catch up on my bills.”

Channel 2 called the Department of Veterans Affairs about the mix-up and the hold up with Kohlhagen’s checks but, so far, have not gotten a response.