An Insult to Service

There is nothing new about this story, and it isn't one that is easy to read. And, for a country that is hooked on novelty, it is even harder to get down, but, on a holiday designed to pay tribute to those who serve this country in times of war, we owe it to those who return from battle to take a hard look at how best we may serve them.

As of this month, according to the Veterans Administration's own Web site, about one-third of the adult homeless population has been in the armed forces. Current population estimates are that, on any given night, as many as 154,000 veterans, of both genders, are homeless, and possibly twice as many experience homelessness during the year.

97% of homeless veterans are male; the vast majority of whom are single. Homeless vets tend to be older, and far more educated than their civilian counterparts. 45% are said to suffer from some form of "mental illness," and more than half are African-American or Hispanic.

Of those veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, as reported by Aaron Glantz more than a year ago, those who return from battle with some kind of physical, or psychological disability, often fall prey to the Department of Veterans Affairs which victimizes them further by delaying their claims often for months, and sometimes for years.

Somewhere around 300,000 returning wounded soldiers have filed for disability benefits, and have waited for as long as two years to find out if they've been approved. Denial of these benefits have led to homelessness.

Those whose claims have been thrown out, and who appeal, often have to wait an average of five years for a response.

In the first half of 2008 alone, more than 1,100 vets died before hearing if their claims were approved. And, since the onset of the Iraq War seven years ago, the number of veterans filing for disability has nearly doubled.

Those who return from war with what the VA simply calls "mental illness," but what we now know to be Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, must first prove that their illness is service-related in order to have their treatment covered by the VA.

Any suggestion that the Office of Veterans Affairs use the IRS as a pardigm for how to handle claims was dismissed as unworkable by VA upper managment.

Then, there are those who don't return at all. The Army's suicide rate has reached record levels in the past year alone. The number of suicides in the military has increased more than 60% since the war in Iraq started, and it now surpasses that of the general population. Many attribute the growing problem to a seven year war with as many as three tours of duty, but in a volunteer army, loss of faith in leadership, or disillusionment with the reasons for combat, as well as the absence of an exit strategy, may also be seen as compelling factors.

But, what of those who survive the battlefield only to die by their own hand? Alarmngly, soldiers, age 20-24, who served during the "war on terror," now have the highest suicide rate of all vets. The suicide rate among Iraq war veterans is egregiously high, and growing. And, importantly, suicide is a reflection of hopelessness, as well as a sense of displacement.

When you consider that suicidal ideation is considered a symptom of PTSD, the Office of Veterans Affairs adds insult to injury by setting up road hazards for those who file PTSD disability claims by making them prove that their mental health issues are directly attributable to their service in uniform. This is an outrage, and it is almost as much of an outrage as it is that any member of our armed forces should be released to face the cold pavement of an inner city street.

It's not enough for the VA to acknowledge the problem of homeless vets by simply regurgitating the statistics. The VA, and the Obama administration, must work to address the underlying displacement, and disenfranchisement, as well as work to undo the angst of returning from a battlefield where one expected to be treated like saviors by people who,can't wait for us to go home.

Expanding benefits under the GI Bill, a measure which was rejected roundly by the Bush administration, would be a good place to start in honoring our returning veterans, but taking the $80 million Defense Secretary Gates was willing to spend on a brand new supermax prison, and using it instead to build low income, federally subsidized, housing for homeless veterans would be a far better way to show what our government thinks of those who have served them honorably. Anything less would be an insult to their service.

 

Follow Jayne Lyn Stahl on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaynelynstahl

Comments

[StephanieF24]

D. VA is actually on the cutting edge of research- for instance the electronic record keeping was started by the VA- which has simplified and reduced costs of the paper files.

VBA and the VHA have major issues- funding is the crux of many. The author is correct- homeless programs, vocational programs, etc would greatly benefit our veterans, and need to be expanded.

iava.org/ - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is an excellent organization that outlines key issues to improve services between the Department of Defense, and the Veteran Administration.

[StephanieF24]

A. The Veteran Benefit Administration and the Veteran's hospitals are two separate, and complicated entities. You DO NOT NEED to successfully file for disability benefits or even file a claim in order to get help at a VA. No matter the era of service, veterans do not have to wait for their claims to go through to get mental or physical help. If you are copay exempt- meaning you fall below a certain income bracket- you get free healthcare. If you are above, you pay a copay. Comp and Penn is for a monthly income- that is it. ALL Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are ENTITLED to FREE health care through the VA for five years post discharge.

B. OIF/OEF veterans: To get these services, you go to the OIF/OEF clinic at the hospital and they will rush all services to the best of their ability. You can find patient advocates that specifically help OIF/OEF service members on the whole claims process. All veterans can find recieve help on their claims through Vet Centers, VFWs, and other service organizations that are able to help.

C. You will have to recount your experiences pre, during and post military service during intake. However ALL veterans can get mental health treatment for PTSD no matter the cause. they just won't get financially compensated for it if it is not war related.

[mzrecycle]

Sad to say the history of the U.S. treatment of veterans has not changed for over 100 years! But in this time, it's unacceptable. We KNOW that repeated tours of duty subject soldiers to levels of stress that result in PTSD. We KNOW that repeated exposure to IED explosions can result in brain trauma, even when a single incident is not sufficient to cause concussion.
Whatever it takes to provide service for these soldiers needs to be provided. I'm old enough to know Vietnam War veterans whose lives have spiraled down, taking multiple wives and children with them. The "savings" that the V.A. accomplishes by delaying and denying services to vets just means that the society as a whole PAYS, and pays dearly.
There is a drug that can be given to persons who've experienced a huge trauma. It doesn't erase the memory, it just disconnects the overwhelming, debilitating repeated reaction to the trauma. How come this is not being used with soldiers?

[Jonahson]

It may cause drug dependeny and side effect. I do not know the type of drug you are descibing but alcohol give the same result that is why many veterans turn to drinks.

[klbrz]

I've seen that there have been experiments on trauma victims who take what I think is some kind of blood pressure med and then recount their story while on it and it helps them be calm and not anxious or fearful of the event. For some reason it sounds like it might re-route the emotional path for the future so that even when not on the drug, the memory of the event is still there, but the PTSD symptoms are gone. As far as I know, this is all very experimental, and we won't see it for awhile, if ever. Too bad.

[StephanieF24]

There is no miracle drug/ cure for PTSD... as far as I know. individuals react differently to different medications. Work work for some, will exacerbate symptoms in others. Often a combination of psychopharm methods and psychotherapy is the most effective for severe PTSD.

Best practices for psychotherapy include cognitive processing therapy (a form of CBT), prolonged exposure, and EMDR. Meditation, guided imagery, yoga, exercise, are incredibly helpful (healthy body= healthy mind).

The poster below is probably thinking of prozosin, which is a blood pressure med and is used to reduce nightmares. I havent seen it used during psychotherapy. This IS being used with soldiers/veterans.

[klbrz]

I'm not sure what the drug was, but the story I saw was about experimenting with severely traumatized rape victims who took the drug and then recounted the event while on it (as opposed, I think, to taking it for nightmares, etc). Then and thereafter, they still had the memory but the ptsd was gone or greatly reduced and they were able to sleep at night and function more fully in life, without, it seems, continuing on the drug.

[pokemon]

All I gotta say is it sucks.

[jeanneyogini]

Thank you for bringing out the necessity for taking care of our veterans who have endured so much for our country. Clearly there is a need for an effective program to overcome the tremendous impact of stress and trauma so our soldiers can integrate back into society. I have worked with veterans who take course to stress management through meditation. They respond well to a technique of deep meditation that dissolves stress at its core in the physiology. When a person suffering from trauma has an effortless technique for transcending, or going beyond the subconscious, and experiencing bliss, the backlog of negative impressions stored deep in the mind and body is dissolved. Without drugs, with out rehashing or reliving traumatic episodes, fear, chaos and stress can be released. Check out what doctors have to say about the benefits of meditation for anxiety and depression at http://doctorsontm.org/
www.invinciblemilitary.org

[yorkriver1]

What an excellent way to help our troops. They could come out better than they went in, with a way to carry on in these difficult times in a more serene state of mind. If they are only given SSRI drugs, as stories have reported, beginning while in combat, they may languish for years. Or in a darker story line, it is reported that studies show SSRI's can activate those with suicidal thoughts to act on them. Not so effective in preventing suicide. For some, they also create agitation; not a good thing for a battle stressed trained shooter.

[Artemis34]

Good post.

If you know a returning veteran or service member that is struggling, encourage them to get help. Ask them to do it for their loved ones if not for themselves.

Help them pay cash for the treatment. Waiting for the VA may take too long and active duty will want no record of their treatment.

There is hope for PTSD. Several people here mentioned they have been able to recover. Meditation and conventional therapy are recommended by Jonahson. You may want to try other non-drug therapies like EMDR:

http://www.emdr.com/

EMDR helps you change perspective on the trauma, changing it from it happened to me to it happened. It is like the trauma is a piece of sand in a psychic wound preventing it from closing and healing. EMDR can remove that piece of sand.

[hemnebob]

good advice.
my child was in iraq and let me tell you, you are flagged as a whiner
if you ask for any help while you are in the military...i mean look at that
guy who shot soldiers trying to get help and from what i read they were
returning this soldier back to his post when he went beserk and killed
his own BECAUSE they wouldn't or couldn't help him.

i honor the soldiers but warn them to rethink signing up or enlisting to save us all
when the government doesn't give a crap about them!

*i actually have two in the military, one in the navy and one in the airforce.

[jake106]

I have to say, I disagree with your assessment of the problem, at least talking about the military not caring.

I've been over there twice and I've been in the Marine Corps for 17 years, and I've never seen anyone flagged as a "whiner" if they ask for help. The failure isn't at the lower levels of leadership, at least not the majority of the time. We care about our junior Marines...we are hurting just as much as they are. The failure is happening somewhere higher, and it isn't the "Bush administration", because things have been this way for a long, long time. It was the same in the Clinton admin at the very least, and most likely was like that before Clinton took office. This is Congress, this is the American people, this is short-sightedness, and it is an insult to all the veterans, regardless of their branch of service.

[StephanieF24]

True about active duty- check out the Vet Centers. These provide FREE services to active duty/ vets/ and others. They are not under JACO standards and operate separately from the VA. The military is UNABLE to get record of treatment at the Vet Centers.

for OIF/OEF vets, do try to go to the VA- healthcare is free, mental healthcare is free for five years. You will most likely be seen through the OIF/OEF clinics, which receives preferential treatment for services. There are waits- but initial appointments are mandated within two weeks of first contact.

[Jonahson]

The psychological problems of war veterans is not new and it was very prominent during the Vietnam War. I suggest using Vissapana Meditation together with normal conventional treatment to deal with PSD problem. Using drugs will only postpone the problem and cause drug dependency.

[itolduso]

I hope that everyone writes their representatives in Congress, and puts pressure on the V.A., but please don't stop there, & don't wait to give to your local homeless providers & day resource centers- they are on the front lines of this issue, and struggle daily to provide the basics. Canned food, clean blue jeans, socks & t-shirts, bug spray, sun block- these are needed desperately. Small things that can mean so much to someone living on the edge.

[Weirdwriter]

Good point.

The homeless shelters and soup kitchens are often all that's left for help and relief.

[Weirdwriter]

I would've expected Sen. McCain to be raisin' a ruckus and leading a bipartisan effort to remedy this disgraceful situation.

Or is he just being ignored these days?

[ydrittmann]

McCain voted against expanding benefits.

[GiannaX]

McCain ALWAYS votes against the Vets.

[Shzron1946]

Aren't these people examined to determine their fitness for duty before they are able to enlist?
How, then, can the military claim that their mental illness is not service-related? If they were fit for duty b, thefore serving, then ogic tells us that the mental illness must be service-related. If their fitness for duty was unknown, they should not be serving.

[jmpurser]

Yes, and sort of. We let our recruiting standards slip during the Bush years because even with a miserable economy we couldn't get enough troops to beat two backwater third world countries. And "fitness for duty" is a lose term when you're talking about combat. Yes, physically fit. But what affect does blowing up women and children and living in fear of suicide bombers have on even a "healthy" mind?

[Artemis34]

Look, they are just calling PTSD and traumatic brain injuries "pre-existing conditions" because they are under financial pressure to reject the claims because the there is not enough funding to "support the troops."

It is a travesty.

Further, returning service members have seen more combat than many of their predecessors. Multiple combat tours, longer combat tours, living in terror, it can break your mind. But there is no recognition of this because "support the troops" is just a right-wing sound bite.

[AngieMom57]

"Aren't THESE PEOPLE examined..."

Yep, these fine folks are just like you and me, only better because they put themselves in harms way so that we can sit at our computers while they return home to be mostly shunned.

Again, I'm in a RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7yAO-QCSWA

[GiannaX]

Sharon1946,

That was an ignorant and insulting remark. Why don't you do your homework before making a clueless comment like that?
I know this subject up close and personal. You opining on a sensitve issue like this is uncalled for, especially on Memorial Day. Just leave it ALONE!

[Weirdwriter]

Easy duz it.

The point was, the military claims a lot of these folks had preexisting mental conditions so it ain't the fault of the service and thus they're off the hook for helping 'em out.

But it's the military that determined fitness for duty at the get-go-- including psychological fitness.

That's trying to have it both ways.

[klbrz]

You are absolutely right. And although the VA is (slowly) heading in the right direction, it seems to me that the only thing that gets anything done (for better or worse) in this country is for someone to figure out how to make money at it. There aren't enough vets taking meds for big pharm to care. The therapy providers aren't organized enough to do anything. So Congress continues to reward the Pentagon side of war, but not the VA side.

[jmpurser]

The VA is a big part of the problem but so is Congress. All the Congress Critters SAY they want to support the troops and want to make the system better BUT they never get the job done. They're either lying or uselessly incompetent.

[TexasDem0]

If you look at the actual Congressional voting records, you will see that with rare exceptions the Republicans vote as a block. You will also see that with the exception of the most recent G.I. Bill package, which the public was watching very closely, they always vote for the benefit of military contractors and against benefits for military personnel and veterans.

Ironically, many veterans don't follow the news and are mislead in to believing that war mongering, chickenhawk Republicans support the military.

The Bush administration hired Henry Kissinger for military advice. This is what he said about the military.

“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger
From the book, “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW's in Vietnam”

[freeenterprisechic]

With advancements in medical care, many wounded vets who wouldn't have made in previous wars, now come back alive. However, just because they are alive does not mean they are whole in mind or body. One agency is working with Veterans to repair parks and preserves with the idea that renewing the environment might renew their mind and soul. Veterans have sacrificed so much, they deserve better from us as a nation. Cheryl Mikela

[OtayPanky]

Thank you.

[epiphany1234]

This country will waste trillions on pointless conflicts and military installations and escapades abroad.....but whine and moan about spending a dime on the brave people who sacrifice their lives and wellbeing on the frontlines. Just another example of American hypocricy.

[jmpurser]

By cheating the vets America succeeds in never really facing the true cost of our wars.

[hughmass]

As a Vietnam Veteran who struggled with suicidality for years, and gave up on the VA ever giving help for that as a service related condition, I thank you.
Imagine putting a rifle to your head and tugging at the trigger, or spending a week in San Francisco trying to jump off that beautiful bridge, and then going to the VA only to be told that your problems don't fit the causality criteria, and being committed to a State Mental hospital instead. Happened to me, and thousands of other Vietnam Veterans. Lived for years on the street and homeless. But most of the homeless aren't veterans, don't forget their plight.
Hugh Massengill