( CNN ) -- Erik Roberts , an Army sergeant who was wounded in Iraq , underwent his 13th surgery recently to save his right leg from amputation . Imagine his shock when he got a bill for $ 3,000 for his treatment . Army Sgt . Erik Roberts was badly wounded in Iraq with two comrades in April 2006 . `` I just thought it was bull -- -- that I 'm getting billed for being wounded in Iraq doing my job . I always put the mission first , and now that I was wounded in Iraq , they 're sending me bills , '' he said . `` I put my life on the line and I was wounded in combat , and I came back and they 're not going to take care of my medical bills ? '' It 's a level of outrage shared by his mother , as well as the doctor who performed the surgery . `` It 's hard to understand why we 're not taking care of guys like Erik whose injuries are clearly related to their service . They deserve the best care of anybody , '' said Dr. William Obremskey , an Air Force veteran and surgeon at Vanderbilt Orthopaedics in Nashville , Tennessee . `` For him to be responsible for $ 3,000 , I think , is a little ridiculous or is uncalled for , particularly in this situation . '' His mother , Robin Roberts , put it more succinctly : `` Why should any soldier pay one penny of a medical bill from injuries that occurred while they were fighting in a war ? That 's what really frustrates me . '' The Department of Veterans Affairs has now decided to pay his bill , but only after prodding from a U.S. senator who got involved after CNN brought it to his attention . Roberts , of Warren , Ohio , is one of more than 31,100 U.S. troops to have been wounded in Iraq . An additional 4,262 have died in the war . Roberts was wounded April 25 , 2006 , when roadside bombs tore through his Humvee in western Baghdad . Heat from the flames ignited the Humvee 's ammunition , which popped off all around . See Roberts describe getting blown up » . Roberts and his buddies , A.J . Jefferson and Luke Murphy , were badly wounded and bleeding on the ground after jumping from the burning vehicle . They were saved by comrades who rushed to help them . `` The truck automatically filled with smoke . There was fire coming from the middle of the truck . And I just feel my whole right side just like kind of explode , '' Roberts said . `` I thought at that moment that my life was over , so I started praying . '' All three soldiers survived the attack , but Murphy lost his leg . Days later , on his 23rd birthday , Roberts returned to the States . He underwent a series of life-saving surgeries , including 12 different ones to repair his fractured right leg . A metal rod was inserted in his upper leg to help the fracture heal . He retired from the Army in October 2007 , because of his war injuries , and enrolled in college last fall at Youngstown State University , majoring in finance and minoring in economics . But in December , he says , a golf ball-sized lump appeared on his wounded leg . He says he went to a Veterans Affairs hospital and was told not to worry about it . A few days later , he says , he went to the emergency room after the lump flared up more . A doctor there , he says , told him that the leg was badly infected and that it might have to be amputated . Desperate for help , his mother contacted the Army surgeon who had saved her son 's life two years earlier . That doctor referred him to Obremskey , the Vanderbilt surgeon . The Robertses say the VA did not approve of them going outside the system . Erik Roberts says he had no choice -- it was have surgery or potentially lose his leg . `` I thought my leg was more important than the usual bureaucratic mess , '' he said . His leg was saved . The $ 3,000 billed to Roberts was n't for the surgery itself . It 's a portion of the bill for six weeks of daily antibiotics to prevent the infection from coming back . His private insurance plan picked up the majority of the $ 90,000 in costs . Roberts has been administering the drugs himself -- up to seven IVs a day , with a nurse coming to his home once a week to check on him . At one point , his mom says , the insurance company suggested the war veteran should be put in a nursing home to receive the round-the-clock antibiotics . `` Now why would you want to put an injured soldier who is 25 years old in a nursing home to get IVs ? '' Robin Roberts said . `` He said , 'Send me home and teach me to do it myself . ' `` Roberts has also paid for his travel expenses from Ohio to Tennessee for treatment . He fears how much of the $ 57,000 surgery bill he will owe and how much he might be billed for his emergency room visit in December . His schooling has been put on hold because of his surgery and lengthy recovery . `` These soldiers and young men and women fight for our country and our freedom , only to come back to have to fight for their health and their life back in the United States , '' Robin Roberts said . Dr. Obremskey said it 's `` frustrating '' to hear about cases like Roberts ' . He says the lesson from Roberts ' story is `` pretty obvious . '' `` If they 're injured in the service to our country , we should continue to take care of them even if they are discharged from active duty because of their injuries . Some mechanism ought to be available for them to obtain whatever care they need , '' Obremskey said . CNN on Wednesday contacted the office of Sen. Sherrod Brown , a Democrat from Roberts ' home state of Ohio who serves on the Senate 's VA committee . Brown 's office had not heard of Roberts ' case , but immediately reached out to the soldier and alerted the VA about his situation . In less than 24 hours , the VA got back to CNN . `` The VA will be paying the bill , '' said VA spokesman Sean Nelson . The VA did not offer an explanation as to how something like this could happen . Brown 's office issued a written statement , applauding the decision . `` Sen. Brown is pleased to hear that Mr. Roberts will not have out-of-pocket costs for a service-connected injury . However , he believes it should not take the intervention of a U.S. senator for our veterans to receive the care they 've been promised . '' Roberts said he appreciates the help . Despite everything he 's experienced , Roberts -- who went into the Army just after high school -- said he would never trade in being a member of the 101st Airborne . `` I will always be proud I served my country , and proud that I was able to wear that flag on my shoulder , '' he said . `` I would defend this country against anyone , and I 'm proud to wear that uniform . '' CNN 's Thom Patterson contributed to this story .
Wounded soldier gets billed $ 3,000 for wounds suffered in Iraq . `` I put my life on the line ... and they 're not going to take care of my medical bills ? '' Army Sgt . Erik Roberts was wounded in April 2006 ; he 's had 13 surgeries on his leg . Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio urged the VA to act ; VA agrees to pay bill .