Several U.S. service members wounded in a deadly Iranian drone attack in Kuwait are disputing the Army's assessment of their injuries, arguing military officials have downplayed the severity of their wounds.

The dispute follows comments by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said in March that "almost 90%" of the roughly 400 service members wounded in the conflict had sustained minor injuries and returned to duty.

Among those challenging the characterization is Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Bearman, who was wounded March 1 when an Iranian drone slammed into a workstation at Kuwait's Port of Shuaiba.

Medical records reviewed by CBS News showed Bearman suffered extensive shrapnel wounds, a concussion, hearing and vision loss, and lung damage. Nevertheless, the Army classified him as "not seriously injured."

"That assessment is unacceptable," his wife, Amy Bearman, told the outlet.

The strike killed six U.S. soldiers and wounded more than 20 others in what was the deadliest attack on American troops during the conflict.

Amy Bearman said Army officials initially assured her that her husband's injuries were relatively minor.

"They told me that my husband's injuries were classified as NSI, and they described that, or they defined that, as 'not seriously injured,'" she recalled. "He was treated and released back to duty. That was a huge relief. I think maybe that was the first time that I took a breath in 24 hours."

Days later, when she spoke to her husband by phone, she realized the situation was far more serious.

"I could just hear him breathing and then he finally said, 'I'm going to be OK,'" Amy Bearman said. "I waited a few moments and then asked if he returned to duty. It seemed like forever before he answered me, and then he said, 'I can't go back.'"

Another wounded soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Cory Hicks, said Army officials similarly minimized his condition after he suffered severe shrapnel wounds and underwent multiple emergency surgeries.

"They said your husband was injured, he has a minor jaw injury, and he's going to be returned to duty," Hicks said, describing what Army officials told his wife after the attack.

Hicks told CBS he "absolutely" believes military officials attempted to downplay the extent of the casualties.

In a statement to CBS, the Army disputed that claim.

"The care and well-being of our Soldiers is of the highest priority," an Army spokesperson said. "Any assertion that the Army seeks to downplay a soldier's injuries is simply not true."

Army officials said terms such as "not seriously injured" and "combat casualty" are based on specific military definitions and do not necessarily reflect the long-term impact of a soldier's wounds.

Under Army guidelines, troops classified as "seriously injured" or "very seriously injured" are considered at risk of dying within 72 hours.

Responding to an inquiry from Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Maj. Gen. Michael J. Leeney defended the Army's classification of Bearman's injuries while acknowledging that "this technical classification is in no way intended to minimize [Chief Warrant Officer] Bearman's contribution and sacrifice."

Nearly four months after the attack, Hicks remains at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center recovering from what he described as a "pretty severe" traumatic brain injury.

Bearman returned to the United States with shrapnel still embedded in his body and was later assigned to a soldier recovery unit closer to his family.