WP: Influx of Wounded Strains VA

[kskiska]

Claims Backlog Besets Returning U.S. Troops

Sunday, October 3, 2004; Page A01

Thousands of U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with physical injuries and mental health problems are encountering a benefits system that is already overburdened, and officials and veterans' groups are concerned that the challenge could grow as the nation remains at war.

The disability benefits and health care systems that provide services for about 5 million American veterans have been overloaded for decades and have a current backlog of more than 300,000 claims. And because they were mobilized to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, nearly 150,000 National Guard and reservist veterans had become eligible for health care and benefits as of Aug. 1. That number is rising.

At the same time, President Bush's budget for 2005 calls for cutting the Department of Veterans Affairs staff that handles benefits claims, and some veterans report long waits for benefits and confusing claims decisions.

"I love the military; that was my life. But I don't believe they're taking care of me now," said Staff Sgt. Gene Westbrook, 35, of Lawton, Okla. Paralyzed in a mortar attack near Baghdad in April, he has received no disability benefits because his paperwork is missing. He is supporting his wife and three children on his regular military pay of $2,800 a month as he awaits a ruling on whether he will receive $6,500 a month from the VA for his disability.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2946-2004Oct2.html

[BlueJazz]

1. Christ...This makes me sick.

We have a Republican Congress and Republican President that has screamed like a pack of Pigs about the supposedly fact that Democrats don't "Support our Troops" and these same Repug Phony Bastards do everything they can to make life for the Veterans a livin' hell.

You know and I know if this was a Democratic congress and Pres. the Media would be covering this story non-stop around the clock...

ARRRGGGGG!!

[despairing optimist]

8. Read the fine print: Support the troops . . .

as long as they're doing what we want them to do. Unleash recruiters that will prey upon the economically marginal and seduce them with misleading statements and sometimes lies; turn troops into cannon fodder while egging them on and not providing them with adequate protection or training; and if they return as damaged goods, express fear that their physical and/or mental infirmities will infect the body politic and thus they will need to be marginalized. Ultimately, society will need to be protected from those who were sent abroad to protect it in the first place.

It makes me sick too, and it's yet another reason never to go to war unless it is absolutely necessary. It happens in every war, "good" or "bad."

[madmax]

2. I'd love to send this to every car owner sporting

a yellow ribbon stating 'Support Our Troops' and tell them to stick the ribbon up their ass and write their Congress critters to support the troops with medical benefits. :mad:

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I thought the yellow ribbons

were for supporting the troops and wanting them to come home while the red white and blue ones were supporting the war.

Am I confused??

[madmax]

7. I don't know if there is a meaning to either one.

Is there a book of rules on this? ;P

[annabanana]

13. even when coupled with a Kerry/Edwards sticker?

It's important that we get the word out that support of Kerry IS NOT AT ODDS WITH SUPPORTING THE TROOPS!


Support the Troops!/ Elect one!

[PDX Bara]

15. Support the Troops! Elect One

Sounds like a great bumper sticker to me.

[Jacobin]

3. "Supporting Our Troops".....The republican way

:puke:

[rfkrocks]

4. Mandatory reading!!!!

The rethugs at their worst ever-SOBs

[luaneryder]

6. Worked for the VA for 10 years

In trying to help a Korean vet with disability application I discovered the paperwork has increased from the six pages I completed for myself in the 80's to over 28 pages. The burden of proof for disability is on the veteran and no one tells them this. All AD personnel MUST, MUST, MUST ensure they make copies of their health records BEFORE they ETS (leave the service). Otherwise, it will be "lost" just like the case above. The bureaucracy makes sure that the application process is as intimidating, tedious and slow as possible. Do not take no for an answer; the slogan when I worked for the VA was, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

[struggle4progress]

9. kick

:kick:

[sr_pacifica]

10. Kerry needs to take on Bush on this issue in the next debate

And show what a hypocrite he is when he says how "hard it is" to send young men and women to war.

[salin]

11. What else, but this tragedy, could be expected when

bushco all but freezes (cuts?) the VA budget while waging a war which undoubtedly would increase VA expenditures/obligations?

[catmandu57]

12. It's one more thing they didn't prepare for

and should've, issues like this makes it very hard to underestand why anyone except the braindead koolaid drinkers would support this misadministration and want to keep them.

[annabanana]

14. How's about you "show some love" HERE Mr Bush?

This puts into the highest relief the contrast between words and deeds of this administration. They are morally bankrupt and operate at the most jaw-dropping height of hypocrisy this country has ever seen.:wow: :wow: