By Ed Coghlan.

The recruiting slogan is well known: You don’t join the Marines—you become one.

And for chronic pain patient, Robert Rose, you never really stop being one.

The East Tennessee Marine—who believes that the restrictions on opioid prescribing are hurting veterans—has gone on the attack.

He has filed a $350 million lawsuit that names several employees of the Mountain Home Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center and U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN).

Rose said he has chronic pain in his back, spine, and legs as a result of severe injuries while in the service. He said he has been tormented since last November when he was forced off pain medication.

He also believes veteran suicides have continued to mount as did cases of death due to natural causes after pain medications were denied to veterans and even cancer patients across the nation.

If you read the National Pain Report, you know Robert Rose. On the July 4th weekend, he was making news when he challenged Representative Rose to answer questions why veterans were—from Rose’s point of view—being denied care.

Here’s how we reported the story.

During Congressman Roe’s speech, Rose, sitting in his wheelchair, turned his back on the Congressman–who by the way in an Army veteran himself and–importantly–Chairman of the House Committee on Veteran Affairs.

After the speech, Rose said his path to the Congressman was blocked by the VA Police and he wasn’t allowed to speak to him.

Rose told me then he’s lost count of how many times he’s tried to speak with Congressman Roe, believes the VA Police were trying intimidate him and illegally detained him before the meeting.

Now Rose has filed a suit–thus far without the help of an attorney.

Rose has chronic pain in his back, spine, and legs as a result of severe injuries while in the service. He said he has been tormented for the last year since he was forced off pain medication.

Rose said the veterans who are not addicted but have severe pain are being neglected.

Stay Tuned.

Featured image: Robert Rose.

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