Jill Peternel Byrd shares the story of her husband's fight with the VA
By Fred LeFebvre
August 6, 2025
Wes served this country with honor and came home permanently disabled after being blown up in Iraq. He now suffers from Stage 2 lung failure, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), and debilitating nerve damage. But instead of receiving the care he earned, he’s been ignored, denied, and left to fight for his life without support.
The VA refuses to provide or even approve the treatment he needs — ketamine infusions, which his civilian pain specialist prescribed and which are proven to help. Even though the Cleveland VA offers ketamine for pain, they refuse to accept him because he’s an “outside patient.” His VA doctor denied Community Care, falsely claiming the treatment isn’t available at the VA at all.
Listen to the interview below.