National Veterans Foundation

• There are approximately 26 million veterans in the United States (US Census Data, 2000).
  • The number of veterans, family members, and survivors who are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services exceeds 74 million (USDVA Fact Sheet, July 2007).
    • The VA provides medical care to 5.5 million (7%), and distributes benefits to 3.5 million of these eligible beneficiaries each year (USDVA Fact Sheet, July 2007).
  • In 2005, the USDVA forecasted a $2.6 billion shortfall for meeting the growing healthcare needs of US Veterans. The VA’s patient to doctor ratio has grown from 335 to 1, to 531 to 1, between 2000 and September 2004.
  • In January of 2007 the VA Benefits system’s caseload was 2.7 million, with a backlog of more than 600,000 claims—and growing.  The average processing time for a VA Claim now stands at 177 days (Brian Friel, “Hurry Up and Wait,”  Government Executive, 5/1/07).
  • The Government Accountability Office reports the average wait time for the first VA Primary Care appointment currently stands at 1 year (GAO-03-756T, “Department of Veterans Affairs: Key Management Challenges in Health and Disability Programs” May 8, 2003).
  • More than 638,000 new VA claims are expected over the next 5 years (Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans of America Report, “Veterans Waiting for Care and Benefits,” March 29, 2007.
  • The Backlog of Claims at the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was at 5,800 at the end of the last fiscal year.  This is double the number of two years ago, and could hit 10,000 within the next 5 years (“Veterans' Battle for Benefits Can Take Years,” Lakeland, FL Ledger, August 13, 2006, Cory Weiss).
  • According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics 225,000 Veterans were incarcerated as of 1998.  The Bureau reported that number had fallen to 127,000 by 2004, but added that more than 57% incarcerated veterans were imprisoned for violent offenses, compared to just 47% among civilians.
  • Substance abuse rates are higher among veterans than their non-veterans counterparts.
  • A recent study of inpatients at VA facilities indicates that nearly 85% have annual incomes of less than $15,000.
  • According to a 2007 National Alliance to End Homelessness report 25% of America’s homeless are veterans, nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and more than 300,000 will experience homelessness over the course of a year. 
    • Of all homeless veterans, 76% suffer from drug, alcohol, or mental health problems (National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients, 1999).
    • There are more than 50,000 Homeless Veterans in California (NAEH Study, 2007)
    • There are more than 33,000 Homeless Veterans in the Los Angeles Metro Region on any given night (Weingart Center Study, 2004).
    • The VA has already identified 1500 homeless veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (“AP, Veterans Make up 1 in 4 Homeless,” November 7, 2007).
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder remains an ongoing challenge for veterans of all eras, and their families.  The images from the current war are causing many older veterans (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) to experience recurring PTSD symptoms from their own combat experiences.

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  • The National Center for PTSD estimates that one of every 20 WW II veterans has suffered symptoms such as bad dreams, irritability, and flashbacks.
  • A Korean Researcher has claimed that as many as 30% of US Troops who fought in Korea and are still alive today may have symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Jack Epstein, San Francisco Chronicle, “US Wars and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” 6/22/05).
  • The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Survey (1986-1988) found that more than 30% of Vietnam Veterans (more than 1 million) have suffered from symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Distorder (PTSD).
  • The VA Reports that in 2005, only 215,871 Veterans received disability payments for PTSD.  However statistics suggest that due to the stigmas and barriers associated with getting help, these numbers likely represent only a small fraction of the total number of vets with PTSD.
  • According to a recent study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, veterans are twice as likely as non-veterans to commit suicide (JECH, June 11, 2007).
    • A 2007 CBS Investigation of 2005 deaths in 45 states concluded that 120 veterans commit suicide each week (CBS News, “Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans,” Nov. 13, 2007).

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  • Inflation adjusted spending for VA mental health services declined by 25 percent between 1997-2004, and numerous experts have expressed concern about the system's capabilities to care for the full spectrum of readjustment needs (including mental health) of the newest generation of U.S. veterans.
    • As a result, the VA depends increasingly on non-profit, veteran community organizations to care for the large population of veterans who need treatment.

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  • According to an Army Post-Deployment Reassessment Study completed in July of 2005, alcohol misuse among soldiers rose from 13% among soldiers to 21% one year after returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.  The same study saw soldiers with anger and aggression issues increase from 11% to 22% after deployment, and those planning to divorce their spouse rose from 9% to 15% after combat deployment.
  • In November of 2005, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that for the first three quarters of 2005, nearly 15 percent of veterans aged 20-24 were jobless -- three times the national average.
  • According to the Pentagon, as of August 2005, more than 141,000 Guardsman and Reservists have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.   Currently, these forces make up more than 35% of all U.S. forces in Iraq—the largest deployment of citizen soldiers since WWII.

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  • Preliminary research by the DOD and USDVA’s Brain Injury center shows that about 10% of all troops in Iraq, and up to 20% of front line infantry troops, suffer concussions during combat tours due to the use of IEDs and other explosives. Many experience headaches, disturbed sleep, memory loss and behavior issues after coming home—a condition known as TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) which is often confused with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  The Military has reported 1200 such injuries in the current war as of March 2006.
  • The Miles Foundation has reported that calls to their Domestic Violence Hotline for Military Spouses has increased from 50 to 500 per month since the start of the Iraq War.
  • In May of 2007, the American Journal of Epidemiology reported that incidents of child abuse involving military families either leaving or just returning from deployment had risen 30% since 2001.
  • According to U.S. Army data, the number of active-duty soldiers getting divorced has been rising sharply with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. The trend is severest among officers. Last year, 3,325 Army officers' marriages ended in divorce -- up 78% from 2003, the year of the Iraq invasion, and more than 3 1/2 times the number in 2000, before the Afghan operation. For enlisted personnel, the 7,152 divorces last year were 28% more than in 2003 and up 53% from 2000 (USA Today, June 8, 2005).

• An estimated 697,000 veterans served in the Gulf War I (Desert Shield and Desert Storm).
  • 292 U.S. Servicemen and Women were killed in battle/non battle related action during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
  • Raw data from the VA suggests that more than 11,000 Gulf War Veterans have now died from various ailments and injuries.  Over 256,000 have filed claims of service-related ailments, ranging from dizzy spells, chronic fatigue, and memory lapses, to cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other degenerative illnesses.   (”First Gulf War Still Claims Lives,” Seattle Post Intelligencer, Mike Barber, 1/16/06).
  • For over a decade, many of their claims were met with the same confusion and resistance encountered by those who first filed claims for the mysterious symptoms associated with Agent Orange exposure.

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  • Many sources estimate that between 75,000 and 110,000 have committed suicide since the war’s end.
  • According to the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Survey (1986-1988), almost half of all male Vietnam Veterans suffering from PTSD had been arrested at least once, 34.2% more than once, and 11.5% had been convicted of a felony.
  • Agent Orange exposure still haunts the lives of thousands of these veterans, their children, and their grandchildren.
  • Of all Homeless Veterans, 47% are Vietnam veterans (NSHAPC, 1999).

• According to the military, most who suffer from combat related emotional and psychological problems do not seek help:  Experts believe this is due to the “adapt and overcome” culture of the military, or a resistance to seeking help from government providers out of a fear of being stigmatized and losing career advancement opportunities.  Unfortunately, the long-term impact of untreated PTSD and other emotional scars means far more disastrous consequences for both the veteran and their family.  Coupled with robust outreach that shows those in need that (1) its ok to seek help, and (2) fellow veterans who can really listen and understand are just a toll-free phone call away, the NVF Lifeline is the best possible response.
• There is an awareness, understanding, and support services gap for the friends and families who witness the behavioral changes and warning signs of veterans who are struggling with personal trauma or other readjustment issues each day.  Many are unaware of how they can be appropriately supportive, what the warning signs mean, or where they can go for help.  Without proper understanding, their efforts to be supportive can often have the unintended effect of further isolating and aggravating a veteran who needs help.  The NVF Lifeline provides an outlet through which concerned family members can take immediate action.
• Those who do seek help struggle to find it:  Within a combat military unit, difficult experiences are shared and soldiers can provide a unique level of support to one another.  Without this support unit, navigating the bureaucracy of government, automated messages, or the confusing myriad of available service providers can create an added point of stress and frustration.  So while there are many programs designed to help Veterans, there are virtually no dispatch services to directly connect them with the live, confidential support, information and services they need.  Additionally, resources designed to serve family members, as well as the veteran (since both go through homecoming together) are very difficult to find.   Far too many give up before locating assistance, and wind up even more disconnected from the civilian world.

·         The NVF’s National Crisis Management, Information, and Referral Lifeline has fielded more than 275,000 calls to date.  It is a proven solution that is needed now more than ever before.