Iraq & Afghanistan War Disabilities Will Rival Vietnam Numbers

New information gathered through the Freedom of Information Act from the Department of Veterans Affairs paints a shocking picture of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: a larger than expected number of returning young men and women face physical and mental combat-related disabilities. This is an issue that will surely affect the individual veterans and their families, as well as the United States as a whole.

While far more soldiers lost their lives in the Vietnam War (58,000) than in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts (6,300 to date), statistics show that more military personnel are returning home from overseas suffering from active duty disabilities.

• 2.2 million military members have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
• 600,000 veterans have applied for veterans’ disability benefits.
• 700,000 veterans have been treated in VA hospitals.
• 46,000 veterans were wounded in action.

Why are there so many more injuries and illnesses associated with these most recent wars? Experts believe that differences in combat situations as well as advances in medicine have made the difference. More veterans are able to recognize signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while at the same time more veterans are coming home with head injuries from IED explosions.

Are you or a loved one seeking veterans’ disability benefits after returning home from Iraq or Afghanistan? Speak with a Texas veterans disability benefits attorney at Morgan & Weisbrod today.

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by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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