SAN ANTONIO, Texas — As part of our efforts to provide world class services for readers, Duffel Blog offers expert medical advice from Dr. David Bombay. This eminent physician retired from the Army Medical Corps as a colonel in 1959 and is still as sharp as any sawbones in the Veterans Administration. He may not be competitive in the civilian market but we get him free of charge, much like the military medical system.

I’m a female soldier with four tours in Afghanistan and a Bronze Star for Valor. Now I suffer from PTSD, joint pain, and skin rashes. Army doctors say I’m imagining my symptoms of that they're “female problems.” Could they be right?

Dr. B says: Those quacks are wrong; your issues are legitimate. Your ailments are also in the special category we used to call “problems you shouldn’t even have” because combat is no place for WACs like you! That Bronze Star must be a fluke. You’re supposed to stay in the rear echelons and help out with the Bob Hope USO show. For now, ensure all your docs are men, because they understand women's issues best. Then ask your husband to deal with them man to man and you’ll get some answers.