Iraq And Afghanistan War Veterans Aren't Using VA Benefits, Study Concludes

Though thousands of injured troops in need of medical care have recently come home, they're not taking advantage of the Department of Veterans Affairs services, a soon-to-be-published study reports.

Since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars began, only 51 percent of eligible veterans have sought care through the VA, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, that will be published in January, found. Researchers say that these servicemen and servicewomen are reluctant to call on the VA for help for a number of reasons. They may be unfamiliar with the system, live far from a center or doubt the quality of care available.

"To reach young veterans, we need to establish partnerships that cut across traditional institutional domains," Rachel Widome wrote in the CDC study.

When Scott Kimball returned from Iraq and was battling PTSD, he couldn’t bear admitting that he had a problem.

“I was scared to go to the VA,” Kimball, secretary for Iraq Veterans Against the War, told the Huffington Post in November. “I didn’t want to be a messed up veteran.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to an increased budget and improved communications to reach more veterans.

Next year's budget will hit $61.85 billion, a 10.6 percent increase from 2010. Of those funds, $6 billion will go to mental health care and $52.5 billion in advance money for the VA medical care program in 2013, according to NBC.

To better engage young veterans, the VA announced Saturday that it has launched individual Facebook pages for each of its 152 medical centers.

Among its many purposes, having a strong social media presence has helped the VA to identify veterans in need. The VA's Crisis Line counselors, for example, have connected with veterans over the last year who expressed suicidal thoughts.

"Veterans of all eras are depending on us to get the right information to the right person at the right time," Brandon Friedman, VA's director of online communications, said in a press release. "With more troops returning home, we also have a responsibility to connect with the thousands of servicemembers who have been -- and will be -- entering our system. They're using social media, so that's where we need to be."

Comments

[no dash american]

09:49 AM on 05/21/2012

There many things needed for our returning vets, they are being targeted by for profit educational institutions for their GI Bill money. There is a real issue trying to readjust to civilian life. The media portrays us as ticking time bombs just waiting to explode, the economy is tough for everyone but veterans unemployment rate is higher than the national average.
Domestic violence and homelessness are reported to be higher in returning veterans. A solution may be a veterans shelter, it could be set up in a semi military setting, vocational training along with job search, interviewing and resume preparation, a cooling off wing for those who instead of having a domestic violence situation, would have a place to "escape" before escalation. I would love to see this provided by private funding and donations, and of course it would have to be approved by the VA since there would need to be counseling provided. Many of the veterans motorcycle clubs and associations claim vets helping vets and they do care for those in their clubs but if they could band together and set up a "campus" call it FOB Recovery or something, but it may be left up to the vets taking up the charge to accomplish this.

[peter rudy]

12:46 AM on 02/25/2012

I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD and Crohn's Disease since 2000. Not surprised they have fully treated my Crohn's Disease. But for my Depression and Anxiety, take a pill everyday, but no proven evidence based therapy. And in regards to my PTSD, they have completely ignored it. I have been to the Seattle VA and American Lake VA, Tacoma Washington. I have never felt comfortable and gave attempted through the "patient advocates" office to finally receive my needs. A total waste of time as well as any complaint to the Hospital Director's office. I get the distinct feeling, Veterans are there for the benefit of employment for VA "workers". As for writing a letter, going into Senator Patty Murray's office at the Federal Building in Seattle. Never has resolved any of mine, valid complaints of not receiving appropriate care. She talks the talk, but doesn't walk the talk in helping Veterans, rhetoric after rhetoric. The Social Work program is a total waste of money. To pay these "workers", 40-50 thousand a year. To hand out pamphlets, etc. and told to call here or there. Very few VA "workers" are on the frontlines actually helping and supporting, Veterans. I have come so close to regretting, serving my country for the disservice I and my fellow Veterans, now receive.

[peter rudy]

09:26 AM on 01/29/2012

I entered the domiciliary program at American Lake VA, Tacoma, WA in May 2000. To get sober after 17 years of alcohol abuse/alcoholism. I felt I got sober and have stayed sober, not from their help, but my own resolve. I was there four months and was in the homeless tract, then there was the PTSD and alcohol/drug abuse tract. What was the purpose of putting us into these categories!? My depression and anxiety was treated only by medication. My PTSD was completely ignored. Interestingly I re-entered the homeless tract again, Oct 2011. It took perseverance to see a psychologist about my depression and anxiety. We were almost ready to start CBT, a type of therapy. Again, my PTSD totally ignored, I guess they didn't read my medical records, where it's stated. Then they want to give you a Incentive Therapy BS job. Take you on outings, morning and afternoon "Inspirational Meetings", just roll call. Random UAs and breathelyzers and if positive, pack your bags and leave. They were not providing the tools for other veterans to stay clean and sober. Certainly not necessary therapy for mental health conditions. They had "groups" lead by trainee-counselors for PTSD, etc. I was lucky, two months I was there. To see my psychologist three times. I specifically asked for EMDR for my PTSD. "You're not in the PTSD tract", so what!? No one was trained in the above proven therapy.And they were not going to pay for therapy!

[alisamw1]

02:47 AM on 01/12/2012

The system is not prepared for all the mentally and physically wounded vets. Go to a VA clinic you will find it's booked everyday (very busy)... Its not that the people don't care when you call for an appointment, its just that 20 other people have just called with the same problem, and no slots to see patients... So that creates a problem if you are over booking a provider they have even less than the 15 minutes they are suppose to spend with each patient in the first place...How effective and how much care can you give someone a patient if you see someone different every 10-15 minutes a day... The VA tries to provide a patient with 20 minutes to a provider which is better than some civilian systems...The Va will need to receive funds to hire staff and build more facilities to care for all the VETS Now... A lot of bonuses are given to providers because they can go to a civilian clinic and make more money. So the government tries to retain the staff by providing them with bonuses that are equivalent to what they would make in the civilian world... It's cheaper to retain the staff they already have with bonuses than recruit and train new people (like most jobs)... I have father and uncles who receive care at the VA system... I hope everything improves, soldiers deserve excellent care...

[southernfried29]

10:14 PM on 01/11/2012

Something needs to be done about VA employees receiving bonuses. That is completely wrong on so many levels, not to mention the fact that it is hard earned taxpayer money. That money is there to provide for our veterans...

[cbs4]

10:40 PM on 12/29/2011

I have personally found the VA system of heathcare almost impossible to navigate! My son-in-law is a veteran from the Iraq war - two tours. My daughter and he tried to get help, but couldn't get in the door of the system - kept getting shunted from pillar to post and no one would help him. Finally, I spent a whole day on the phone (I am an RN and persistent). I kept telling my (his) story over and over to various ones I was shunted to until I actually got someone who cared - took 3 hours on the phone to finally be transferred to him. He gave me his phone number, his name, and secheduled an appointment for my SIL the next workday (Monday). I went with my SIL and daughter and finally he was "admitted" to the VA system. It took 4 years for this to finally happen and then only because I insisted that he had earned every single benefit he qualified for. My daughter and he had given up on the system because it is so difficult to navigate and they never reached anyone who cared enough to help them. THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE! One phone call is ALL it should EVER take any of our veterans to get the help they need.

[shopome]

11:55 AM on 12/29/2011

Health care in fort worth, tx is absolutely horrable. Dentists in the Dallas / Fort Worth area do not take veteran refurrals. Two to three months waiting time for an appointment then seen as nothing all they do is send you for x-rays and never get any results also lab work. In emergancy room I spent six hours and finally just went home suffering and in extrem pain from gout. Now I don't bother to go to the emergency room since, I go to a private facility and pay out of pocket and I am a 100% service connected disabled veteran. I still don't get pain medication for my arthritis. You want good VA service go to New Mexico. Employees ther don't sit shooting the bull on the phone with friends laughing and having a good time then turn to you as if you are bothering them. They are there because of us veterans and tend to forget. Apparently no one has reported them and it is so much more from one race but I am not going to go there at all as I am not pregudice and they do have responsabilities to their families. Someone please look into this.

[Artos]

06:23 PM on 12/28/2011

I'm almost 60 now and I went to Nam when I was barely 18. I didn't avail myself of the VAs services until just about seven years ago. Sometimes it just takes time. My dad was a Vietnam vet too and died from prostate cancer and mild Parkinsons. He could have qualified for VA compensation, but he never sought it out. He died about three years ago at 77 years of age. This is how it goes.

[Joshua Blickhahn]

06:21 PM on 12/28/2011

When I first got off of active duty, it took me a year to get a job that almost paid the bills and had benefits. I used those benefits to avoid the impossible wait times and seemingly unreal stipulations to get care, let alone compensation. Only now that I have been laid off three times in the last three years am I considering actually using the VA for help, and it will likely take sedation and chains to get me to go. Bankers hours (or less) and apathy from the 'almost doctors' that gave me my initial reviews are big factors in why I don't want to use the VA. I used part of my GI Bill for OJT with one of my former employers, and am about to lose funding two years into a four year degree (which is taking five) because Congress and the VA decided to interpret the New GI Bill as limited instead of its intended purpose of securing a degree. I am grateful it has gotten me this far, but I have more responsibilities than a traditional student, and there is very little in the way of jobs with understanding a part time schedule. Time and determination will tell if I can succeed, and if I do, will my family still be there with me? (I was the only soldier in my squad to come home to a wife, but how much more can she take?)

[T Pol]

11:35 PM on 12/28/2011

Joshua, man, if I could crawl through cyberspace and give you a hug, I would in a heartbeat. Thank you for your service. It boils my blood to read that a veteran has to go through all this b.s. A couple of suggestions, if it's okay. If you are getting a runaround from your VA, contact your local state delegate or senator or you district congressman or woman, or federal senator and tell them your story. While no guarantee that you might not have stinker politicians, I have been pleasantly surprised that elected reps will intervene on people's behalf when the situation is an individual one.

Second, talk to your wife. Don't assume she can't take much more. Too many times, each spouse out of love for the other says, "I'll be the strong one here," and tries to carry the load for both. You and she will be able to bear more and bear up better if you do it together.

Get anything and everything you can out of the VA. You earned it! Then if you still need other resources, you won't have tapped them dry.

My thoughts will be with you and your wife. Hang in there. And thank you again, so much, for serving your country, that is, us!

[ttsgw]

12:06 PM on 12/28/2011

The money spent on vets are not even peanuts compared with the amount of tax payers money used to increase the wealth of the executives and owners of the US military industry. Shame!

[fabuloush2s]

10:45 AM on 12/28/2011

If less than expected veterans aren't seeking VA benefits for mental and physical care, then there is a need to worry about percentages in this report. Going back to the Vietnam era the percentages of those who sort and was denied care was astonishing. And as we learned their struggles and stories, millions were left to fare on their own. Reasons for the results of lack of direction, information and support from public is even more astonishing but it happened and now it looks like a replica of what the outcome then is now. Organizations, church ministries, community and congressional representatives have a responsibility to reach out and assist Veterans in there areas. We can and should do more to guide these troops to the proper area for their concerns in medical help. It may seem difficult, and I know through experiences, it is the most unpopular position of a veteran, but with support and knowledge, understanding... it is the only way of survival.