CBO: Why VA claims exploded, ways to slow trend

[unhappycamper]

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/08/28/cbo-va-claims-exploded-ways-slow-trend/14766821/

CBO: Why VA claims exploded, ways to slow trend
Tom Philpott
7:28 p.m. CDT August 28, 2014

America’s population of living veterans fell by almost five million, or 17 percent, from 2000 to 2013. So why did the number of veterans drawing disability compensation climb by 55 percent over that period? And why has yearly VA disability payments tripled since 2000 to reach $60 billion in 2014?

The Congressional Budget Office explains why in a new report, and the primary reason is not found among veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. That source of claims is significant but not yet near its peak.

A greater factor has been liberalized laws and policies on “service connected” ailments, particularly decisions to compensate Vietnam War veterans for common medical conditions of aging and lifestyle because of an “association” with possible exposure to herbicides used in that war.

For example, in 2000 only 38,000 veterans from all war eras were receiving disability compensation for diabetes. By last year, 320,000 veterans from the Vietnam War alone drew diabetes-related compensation.

[Grneys69]

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