A price of war that we must pay

Gazette Editorial Board

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For years, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has struggled to handle a growing number of disability claims from veterans. Last year, for example, there were 230,000 new claims from Vietnam veterans and their survivors because of a revised definition of conditions related to Agent Orange exposure.

But the backlog of undecided cases - now 560,000 more than 125 days old - is soaring mainly because many of America's newest veterans are returning from warfronts and filing for disability benefits at a historic rate. And worse, there's not nearly enough money set aside by the federal government to pay for all the legitimate disabilities and health care needs.

This is a cost of war that too often is overlooked in Congress when funding for military operations is on the front burner. And the expense continues long beyond the end of an overseas conflict.

An Associated Press investigation found that 45 percent of the 1.6 million veterans from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are seeking compensation for injuries they believe are service-related. That's more than twice the rate of those filing claims after the Gulf War of the early 1990s. What's more, the number of ailments claimed is averaging 8 to 9 per person. Veterans of Vietnam, the Korean War and World War II receive assistance averaging 2 to 4 disability issues.

Government officials say the surge is well beyond their expectations. Why? Are there more veterans looking for help they don't really need?

While some fraud is inevitable, we doubt it involves very many of these veterans. Instead, there are several other factors cited by VA and military officials that are the main contributors:

l More of the wounded - 95 percent - from these wars are surviving because of better body armor and battlefield care. Which also means that more young men and women are returning home without an arm or leg or worse.

l More outreach and advocacy has raised awareness about problems from concussions and Post-traumatic stress disorder. Women are 12 percent of those seeking help through the VA, and some are claiming PTSD from military sexual trauma, a relatively new factor in disability cases.

l A weaker job market the past several years has made it more difficult for veterans with disabilities to find work, and they turn to disability pay.

All told, the estimated cost of taking care of the new veterans' claims is estimated at up to $900 billion. The challenge is huge. More money for the VA is only part of the problem; for example, the screening process still needs major improvement.

But clearly, this country has a moral obligation to take care of our veterans. Figuring out how should be a top priority for Congress, the VA and our military.

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