Veterans for Common Sense releases our newest “VA Fact Sheet” showing that VA hospitals and patients treated nearly 350,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran patients, including nearly 150,000 diagnosed with mental health conditions.
VA Fact Sheet: Impact of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Veteran Patients from Two Wars Nears 350,000
Chart #1, Department of Defense Deployments to War Zones
Deployed to War ZoneNumber In MilitaryPercent in MilitaryVeterans Now Eligible for VAPercent Veterans1,717,925849,20849{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d}868,71751{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d}
Chart #2, Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
CategoryNumber of VeteransPercentVeteran Patients347,75040{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of VeteransMental Health Patients147,74442{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of PatientsPTSD Patients75,85022{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of PatientsVet Center Patients302,50387{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of Patients
Chart #3, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
CategoryNumber of VeteransPercentDisability Claims Filed287,79032{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of VeteransClaims Pending41,49214{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of Claims FiledApproved PTSD Claim37,46049{cd9ac3671b356cd86fdb96f1eda7eb3bb1367f54cff58cc36abbd73c33c82e1d} of PTSD Patients
Sources: Department of Veterans Affairs, “Analysis of VA Health Care Utilization Among US Global War on Terrorism Veterans,” Aug. 18, 2008; “VA Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror, Apr. 16, 2008; “Readjustment Counseling Service, Global War on Terror Veterans Served Each FY,” Aug. 22, 2008; and Department of Defense, “Contingency Tracking System,” through Mar. 31, 2008.
