Why Our Veterans Are Suffering: The Backlog Crisis
Why Our Veterans Are Suffering: The Backlog Crisis
The world is no stranger to war. Human warfare is a common place in history. A call to arms in the United States has produced millions of service men and women across the country. The Global War on Terror has fashioned a generation of disabled veterans suffering from a plethora of invisible wounds: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, Traumatic Brain Injury and etc. These invisible wounds are associated with cognitive, behavioral, and physical effects that may affect one’s ability to function in society. It permeates through the strongest bonds and hinders relationships leaving destruction in its wake. In order to assist veterans and their families a complete reconstruction of the Department of Veterans Affairs is a necessity.
More and more veterans are returning home after repeated tours in war-torn countries expecting to be cared for after sustaining countless service-related injuries. The Government Accountability Office (2012) asserts that with each subsequent tour the risks of returning home with mental and physical ailments are increased (as cited in J. Pryce, C. Pryce, Shakelford, 2012, p. 33). Coupled with maneuvering through the labyrinth of paperwork and the inefficiency of the Department of Veterans Affairs; delay in treatment for returning veterans has become a reality. The Department of Veterans Affairs (2013) revealed:
[T]he average wait time after a veteran files a claim is 273 days. But for veterans filing their first claim, including Iraq and Afghanistan vets, the wait is up to 327 days, nearly two months longer. In big cities such as New York, veterans could wait for almost two years. (as cited in Martinez, 2013, para. 21)
The varying wait times reflects inconsistency of the VA system. It has created a barrier for veterans to seek the proper medical and financial assistance needed. Disabled veterans are in a state of limbo waiting for an outcome
Veterans and their families are in a state of panic. The pentagon (2013) stated “as many as 349 U.S. service members committed suicide…which would be the highest number since the Department of Defense began keeping detailed statistics in 2001.” (as cited in Martinez, 2013, para. 16) The link between the obstacles one has to endure in order to seek help in a timely manner and the increased suicide rates among veterans is suggested. Paul Rieckhoff (2013) a former soldier of Afghanistan, illustrates his frustration with the insurmountable backlog of the VA and the general helplessness it has created among returning veterans:
You summon the courage to overcome the stigma, and you go to your local Department of Veterans Affairs to get some help. You file a claim for disability benefits to get the care and compensation youve earned and the support you need to keep your family afloat financially. Youre hopeful.