Wounded soldiers involved in physical therapy awaited a visit from President Bush in November at the Center for the Intrepid at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Pool of disabled veterans grows By Jennifer C. Kerr
Associated Press / May 12, 2008
WASHINGTON - Increasing numbers of US troops have left the military with damaged bodies and minds, an ever-larger pool of disabled veterans that will cost the nation billions for decades to come - even as the total population of America's veterans shrinks.
Despite the decline in veterans - as soldiers from World War II and Korea die - the government expects to be spending $59 billion a year to compensate injured warriors in 25 years, up from today's $29 billion, according to internal documents obtained by the Associated Press. And the Veterans Affairs Department concedes that the bill could be much higher.
Veterans now have worse wounds and more disabilities. In addition, more veterans are aware of the benefits and are quicker to file for them.
Another reason for the higher costs is advanced medical care. Troops come home with severe injuries that might have killed them in earlier wars.
Time is also a factor when it comes to disability compensation costs. Payments tend to go up as veterans age, and an increasing number of soldiers from the Vietnam War will be getting bigger payments as they age and are less able to work around their disabilities.
Rest of article at:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/05/12/pool_of_disabled_veterans_grows/