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Facts and Figures of Post-9/11 Veterans and their Families

Title: Combat to Community: A Guide Needs & Resources for Post-September 11th Veterans and their Families

April 2010

FOREWARD

War causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield. Swords to Plowshares’ mission is to heal the wounds, to

restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and to significantly reduce homelessness and poverty among

veterans.

Over two million service members have deployed to fight the Global War on Terror, many for multiple tours of duty. These

veterans return home not to the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs, but to the communities in

which they live and to the homes of their families. There are unique aspects to these wars which must be addressed in order to

prevent or mitigate the hardships endured by previous generations of war veterans. We know that the cost of war goes well

beyond bullets and boots.

The transition from total immersion in military culture to the civilian world can prove difficult for many veterans. Even the

most successful adjustment from duty overseas to civilian life at home will often present periods of irritability, depression,

isolation and hyper-vigilance which compromise veterans’ abilities to rejoin family, secure and maintain employment and

sustain healthy relationships. Rates of post traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and suicide are unprecedented. Returning

home to a tough economy makes it that much more difficult for new veterans to secure stable housing and employment.

It is the responsibility of the community to recognize the sacrifice these men and women have made on our behalf and to help

those veterans who are in need. The following information is meant to give you a brief snapshot of some of the challenges many

veterans face and to inform readers about services and supports for veterans.

Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case

management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance to more than 1,500 homeless and low-income veterans

annually in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. We promote and protect the rights of veterans through advocacy, public

education, and partnerships with local, state, and national entities.

Michael Blecker

Executive Director

Legal

Permanent Supportive Housing

Employment & Training

Health and Social

Services

Transitional Housing

Iraq Veteran Project

Swords to Plowshares: An Overview of Services

A Timeline of Service1978 Swords to Plowshares is granted recognition by the VA and becomes the first new

group in 32 years certified to represent veterans seeking benefits.

1979 Swords to Plowshares wins one of the first PTSD cases in the country and helps

develop the Agent Orange Self-Help Guide.

1988 Swords to Plowshares’ model transitional housing program opens; relocates to

Treasure Island in 2000.

1990 Swords to Plowshares co-founds the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, a

national network of community-based service providers advocating on behalf of

homeless veterans.

2000 Swords to Plowshares’ Veterans Academy opens, a permanent supportive housing

facility located in the Presidio of San Francisco for 102 formerly homeless veterans.

2005 Swords to Plowshares launches the Iraq Veteran Project, designed specifically to

address the needs of OIF and OEF veterans.

2008 Swords to Plowshares opens the East Bay Employment and Training office in

Oakland, California.

A History of Service: Vets Serving Vets Since 1974

1. The demographics and cultural characteristics of Post-9/11 service members, veterans and their families.

2. The scale and scope of problems this cohort of veterans encounter.

3. Availability and limitations of federal resources for veterans.

“The willingness with which our

young people are likely to serve

in any war, no matter how

justified, shall be directly

proportional to how they perceive

the veterans of earlier wars were

treated and appreciated by their

nation."

- George Washington

Overview of Information Contained Herein

Global War on Terror (GWOT)

• Also known as Overseas Contingency Operations

• Includes both OIF and OEF

Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)

• Specific to the current war in Iraq

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)

• Afghanistan and many other theaters of combat operations

Key Terms & Lingo

7

Veterans: Myths & Stereotypes

What are some stereotypes about the veteran population?

All veterans are in crisis

All veterans can obtain VA services

All veterans have served in combat

All combat veterans have Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

You have to be in combat to “get”

PTSD

National Guard:

A Reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces. The National Guard is a state militia that answers first to the

governor but can be put into federal service by order of the president. When activated by the president for full-time

federal service Guard members are considered to be serving on active duty but are not included in total strength

numbers of the active duty Army/Air Force. If not on active duty status their service obligation is one weekend a

month and two weeks a year and may be called-up for full time service by their governor, such as in the case of

natural disaster relief efforts. However, the state call-up is not considered “active duty” service.

Drilling Reserve:

Part-time military service usually consisting of one weekend a month plus two weeks a year. Includes the Army

Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard

and Air National Guard. When Reserve forces are mobilized for full-time active duty service they serve on active

duty until demobilized, at which point they revert back to drilling reserve status.

Active Duty (AD):

Full-time active service in the U.S. military (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard). This includes

members of the Reserve components serving on active duty but does not necessarily include all National

Guardsmen serving full-time.

Most Common Types of Military Service

Activated Guard and Reserve (AGR):

National Guard and Reserve members who have been moved from their reserve status (mobilized) into active duty,

usually for a set period of time (six months, one year, etc.).

Who is a Veteran?

Who does the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) consider a Veteran?

For VA services, the VA generally requires active military service AND discharge under conditions other than dishonorable.

2However,

most VA benefits require at minimum a General Under Honorable Conditions discharge.

Who is considered a Veteran in California?

Anyone who served in the U.S. military AND was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. However, most state benefits require an Honorable Discharge or release from active service under honorable conditions.

3

Who does Swords to Plowshares consider a Veteran?

Anyone who has ever served in the U.S. military regardless of discharge.

Post-9/11 Military &Veterans: Who are they?

Over two million men and women have

been deployed to the Global War on

Terror.4

810,000 service members have deployed

more than once to OIF/OEF.5

Over one million GWOT veterans are

currently separated from active duty AND

are eligible for VA services.6

46% of eligible OEF/OIF veterans have

obtained VA healthcare.7

One-third of the military self-identifies as a

racial or ethnic minority.8

4.75 million living U.S. veterans of all eras

identify as a racial or ethnic minority.9

Post-9/11 Military &Veterans: National Guard/Reserve

More National Guard members have deployed

to OIF/OEF than Drilling Reservist (332,000

Guardsmen compared to 254,000 Reservists).10

National Guard OIF/OEF veterans tend to be

older, with an average age of 37.11

30% of Reserve and National Guard members

identify themselves as a member of a racial or

ethnic minority.12

The National Guard is being transformed into

an operational force to be frequently deployed;

this represents a shift away from its traditional

role as a force primarily designed for infrequent

federal use against a large nation-state.13

Military &Veterans: Women

Over 235,000 women have served in Operation

Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring

Freedom.14

Women comprise 15% of today’s military.15

Women often have difficulty gaining

recognition for combat service.

The risk of homelessness is two to four times

greater for women veterans than for

nonveterans.16

Approximately one out of every ten homeless

veterans under the age of 45 is a woman.17

32% of the nearly 1.8 million living female

veterans of all eras identify as a racial or ethnic

minority.18

Post-9/11 Military Families

Over half of the military is married and over 40%

of service members have children.19

In 2007, at least 700,000 children had at least one

parent deployed to a combat theater.20

10% of married service members are in dual-military

marriages whereby a Active Duty, Reserve or Guard

member is married to another service member.21

Nearly 50% of all married active duty females are in

dual military marriages.22

16% of women in the Reserves or Guard are single

parents and roughly 12% of female Active Duty

service members are single parents.23

7% of men in the Reserves or Guard and roughly

4% of Active Duty men are single fathers.24

What have veterans experienced while in combat?25

58% Received small arms fire

78% Received incoming artillery, rocket or mortar fire

33% Handled or uncovered human remains

49% Saw dead or seriously injured Americans

72% Knew someone seriously injured or killed

60% Saw dead bodies or human remains

56% Had a member of their unit become a casualty

The Combat Experience

Physical & Emotional Injury: Treatment & Diagnosis

For every service member killed in action there are nine wounded in

action. When including “non-combat” injuries, the ratio of killed to

injured jumps to sixteen to one.26

An estimated 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are currently

suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or major depression.27

When factoring in delayed onset of PTSD the latest research

suggests rates of PTSD as high as 35% (700,000 OIF/OEF

veterans).28

About half (53%) of GWOT veterans who need treatment for major

depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder seek it; of those

reporting a probable Traumatic Brain Injury, 57% had not been

evaluated by a physician for brain injury.29

Slightly more than one-half of veterans who seek treatment for

mental health conditions receive “minimally adequate care.”30

• Minimally adequate care is defined as “(1) taking a prescribed

medication for as long as the doctor wanted and having at

least four visits with a doctor or therapist in the past 12

months or (2) having had at least eight visits with a mental

health professional in the past 12 months, with visits averaging

at least 30 minutes.”31

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression

PTSD is generally defined as an anxiety condition

that can develop after exposure to a traumatic

event or ordeal in which grave physical harm

occurred or was threatened.

Roughly 130,000 OIF/OEF veterans have been

diagnosed with PTSD and approximately 91,000

veterans have been diagnosed with Depressive

Disorders by the VA.32

Veterans with PTSD and/or depression face a

broad range of physical, cognitive, behavioral,

emotional and social challenges.

Repeated deployments increase the likelihood of

developing PTSD.33

Veterans may not know they have PTSD and thus

may not seek proper treatment.

PTSD and depression are treatable conditions,

especially when recognized early.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by blunt

force injury to the head which disrupts the function

of the brain.

In combat TBI often results from the concussive

force of explosives which causes the brain to slam

against the skull, often the result of an Improvised

Explosive Device (IED).

An estimated 320,000 GWOT veterans may have

experienced a TBI ranging from mild to severe.34

Blasts and explosions have caused most of the more

than 2,700 surviving casualties with moderate to

severe TBI thus far reported.35

Due to a lack of adequate screening many may not

know they have Traumatic Brain Injury.

A veteran may experience PTSD as well as TBI.

Suicide

VA has confirmed 18 suicides per day36

among

the entire veteran population and 1,000 suicide

attempts per month among all veterans seen at

VA medical facilities.37

Women veterans are two to three times more

likely to commit suicide than nonveteran

women.38

The suicide rate among 18 to 29 year old men

who've left the military rose 26% from 2005 to

2007.39

Incarcerated veterans have the highest risk of

suicide, exceeding the risk attributable to either

veteran status or incarceration alone.40

In July 2007 the VA established the Veterans

Suicide Hotline. This hotline currently receives

roughly 10,000 phone calls a month.41

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

10,000

0

61,126 (1.1%) 59,690 (19.9%)

Men Women

Number of Positive MST Screens in VA

(2002-2008)42

Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) refers to

both sexual harassment and sexual assault

that occurs in military settings.

Service members often wait until they are

out of the service to seek treatment for MST.

Since 2002 VA has been screening all

veterans for Military Sexual Trauma.

Of the 5,777,169 veterans screened for

MST between 2002 and 2008, 61,126

(1.1%) male veterans screened positive

for MST and 59,690 (19.9%) female

veterans screened positive for MST.43

60% of women with Military Sexual

Trauma also suffered from Post Traumatic

Stress Disorder.44

Housing Instability & Homelessness

In general the term “homeless” includes an individual

who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime

residence and an individual whose primary nighttime

residence is a shelter designed to provide

temporary living accommodations.45

By 2009, 3,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have

sought assistance from VA homeless services. 1,200 of

these veterans sought these services in 2008 alone.46

The VA estimates that on any given night in 2008

approximately 131,000 veterans were homeless.47

An estimated twice as many (262,000) experience

homelessness at some point during the course of a year.

In 2008 the VA reported a 24% increase in the number

of homeless veterans with families.48

Not all homeless veterans use VA services and thus the

real number of homeless veterans may be significantly

higher.

Financial Instability & Unemployment

Why do veterans have a difficult time finding work?

Veterans regularly express difficulty transferring their

military skills to the civilian workforce.

Guard and Reserve troops often find their jobs no

longer exist, or their employers have folded, down-sized,

merged or relocated.

A 2008 study for the VA found that 18% of veterans

recently separated from service are unemployed, and of

those employed, 25% earn less than $21,840 a year.49

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2009

young male veterans aged 18-24 had an unemployment

rate of 21.6%.50

One in four military households have sought loans from

predatory lenders that can carry interest rates of 400%

or higher.51 Fortunately, recent legislation has capped

new loan interest rates to service members at 36%.52

Veterans Affairs: Overview of the Veterans System of Care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits

Administration

Veterans Health

Administration

National Cemetery

Administration

Accessing VA Healthcare

The following information presents the general rules

applicable to veterans seeking VA benefits; there are

often several exceptions to each of these rules.

Veterans must first enroll in VA Healthcare.

Generally, veterans must have:

An Honorable Discharge (includes “General

Under Honorable Conditions” discharges);

Served 24 continuous months on active duty;

Demonstrate financial need; and/or

A service-connected disability. 53

OIF/OEF veterans are eligible for five years of free

healthcare and may be eligible for 180 days of dental

care after separation.54

Because VA healthcare is rationed an enrolled

veteran is assigned to one of eight “priority groups.”

“Service-connected” veterans, those with a disability

which VA has determined was incurred or aggravated

during service, are given the highest priority.

U.S. Military Discharges

“Character of Service”

Honorable

General Under

Honorable Conditions

Other thanHonorable

“OTH”

Bad Conduct “BCD”

Dishonorable “DD”

VA Benefits: Eligibility Requirements, Restrictions, & Caveats

Honorable General

UHC

OTH56

BCD DD

VA Medical & Dental TBD TBD NE

Hospitalization &

Domiciliary Care

TBD TBD NE

G.I. Bill NE NE NE NE

Home Loans TBD TBD NE

Disability Compensation

& Pension

TBD TBD NE

Eligibility for Benefits Based on Discharge55

= Eligible TBD = To Be Determined NE = Not Eligible

VA Benefits: How can veterans with “Other than Honorable” discharges access benefits?

• A determination made by the VA to grant baseline eligibility for benefits to a veteran with a discharge that is “Other than Honorable.”

• It does not change the type of discharge.

Character of Service

Determination

• A formal procedure before a military board that can change the reason for discharge, character of service or other aspects of military records.

• This is outside the VA system and not part of this presentation.

Discharge Upgrade

Key Terms & Lingo

Service Connected Disability Compensation (SCDC or Comp)

• Monthly payment for disability that was incurred or aggravated during military service or meets requirements for presumptive disability, or VA medical treatment negligence.

• Payment is calculated from 0 – 100%.

• Percentage is the “disability rating.”

• SCDC is a tax-free benefit and is not reduced by other income.

Key Terms & Lingo

Non-Service Connected Pension (NSCP, Pen, or Pension)

• Monthly payments to impoverished veterans who are permanently and totally disabled by conditions not related to service.

• Payment is offset by most other income.

• Requires active military service of at least 90 days, at least one day of which was served during “wartime.”

57

Key Terms & Lingo

Willful Misconduct

• A disability that can include: drug or alcohol addiction, venereal disease and self-inflicted injuries.

• Is not eligible for disability payments.58

• Does not bar eligibility for VA healthcare for veterans who otherwise qualify.

8 VA Priority Groups59

Priority 1 Veterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 50% or more disabling.

Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions.

Priority 2 Veterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 30% or 40% disabling. Note: Veterans

with a disability rating of at least 30% are eligible for additional allowances for dependents.

Priority 3 Veterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 10% or 20% disabling.

Former Prisoners of War (POWs) or Purple Heart Recipients.

Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of

duty.

Individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation.

Priority 4 Veterans receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits.

Veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.

Priority 5 Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable service-connected veterans rated 0%

disabled by VA with annual income and/or net worth below the VA national income

threshold and geographically-adjusted income threshold for their resident location.

Veterans receiving VA pension benefits.

Veterans eligible for Medicaid programs.

Priority 6 World War I veterans.

Compensable 0% service-connected veterans.

Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupations

of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Project 112/SHAD participants.

Most OIF/OEF veterans up to five years after discharge.

Priority 7 Veterans with gross household income below the geographically-adjusted income threshold

(GMT) for their resident location and who agree to pay copays.

Priority 8 & Sub Priority 8 GroupsNew Regulation:

Relaxing the

income

restrictions on

Priority 8

Veterans

In January 2003 the VA stopped enrolling “higher income” new Priority Group 8 veterans whose

income exceeded VA income thresholds (the 2003 National Means Test maximum income was

$24,644 for a single veteran with no dependents). As of June 15, 2009 veterans with household

income above the VA national threshold or the GMT income threshold for their resident location

by 10% or less, who agree to pay copays, are eligible for enrollment in Priority Group 8.

Priority 8 Veterans with gross household income above the VA national income threshold and the

geographically-adjusted income threshold for their resident location and who agrees to pay copays.

Sub-priority A Noncompensable 0% service-connected and enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have

remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this subpriority due to changed eligibility status.

Sub-priority B Noncompensable 0% service-connected and enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income

exceeds the current VA National Income Thresholds or VA National Geographic Income

Thresholds by 10% or less.

Sub-priority C Nonservice-connected and enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since

that date and/or placed in this subpriority due to changed eligibility status.

Sub-priority D Nonservice-connected and enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income exceeds the current

VA National Income Thresholds or VA National Geographic Income Thresholds by 10% or less.

Sub-priority E Noncompensable 0% service-connected and have not met the criteria above.

Sub-priority G Nonservice-connected and have not met the criteria above.

Note: Veterans in priority groups 8E and 8G are NOT currently eligible to enroll in VA healthcare.

Veterans Benefits Administration: The Backlog of VA Disability Claims

The backlog of disability claims is now approaching

one million.60

The average wait time is over five months (161 days) for

an initial decision.61

442,413 GWOT veterans have filed disability claims.62

As of September 30, 2009, of the nearly130,000

veterans diagnosed with PTSD by VA only 51%

have been granted service-connected disability for

PTSD.63

Time frame for a final claim decision, when including

appeals, can exceed ten years.

National Guard and Reservists are half as likely to file

a disability claim than active duty veterans and are

twice as likely to have their claim denied.64

Applying for VA disability & compensation can prove

so difficult that many veterans simply abandon their

disability claims.

Discrepancies Between Disability Claims by National Guard/Reserve and Active Duty65

Documenting a VA Claim

What documentation is required for a

successful disability compensation claim?

Current diagnosis by a qualified professional.

Proof of onset during military service.

Typically done by using service medical records, however

often is the case that the condition or incident causing the

condition was never entered into the service members record

and so other evidence must then be developed.

Nexus evidence – opinion by a licensed professional linking the

condition to military service.

Presumption – exception to requirement of proof of onset; the

condition is presumed by law or regulation to be service-connected.

For example: chronic lymphocytic leukemia, respiratory

cancers, and Hodgkin's disease are some of the many

conditions presumed to be caused by Agent Orange use

during the Vietnam War. Veterans need not prove the

condition was caused by military service but must prove they

served on the ground in Vietnam.

Evidence of severity of disability – used to establish the disability

percentage rating of 0 to 100% in increments of 10%.

Start: Filing a Claim

(Veteran)

Development Letter

(VA)

Submit Documents/

Evidence

(Veteran)

Compensation & Pension

Examination(VA)

END? Rating Decision

(VA)

Notice of Disagreement

(Veteran)

VA Benefits Claims Process (A Simplified Version)

VA Benefits Claims Process: The Appeals Process ( Very Simplified)

VA Form 9*usually including

new evidence(Veteran)

Supplemental Statement of

the Case

Option A: Decision

Review Officer

Rating Assigned

Notice of Disagreement

(Veteran)

Option B: “Traditional”

Appeals

Rating Assigned

Statement of Case

Claim Denied

Rating Assigned

Appeal to Higher

Decision making Body

VA Claims Decision-Making Bodies

U.S. Supreme Court

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Board of Veterans Appeals

VA Adjudicator

Federal

VA System

Legislation We Support – Be Sure to Contact Your Elected Representatives

H.R. 403 and S.1160 Homes for Heroes Act of 2009

Would establish a supportive housing program for very low-income veterans, with housing assistance financed by the Department

of Housing and Urban Development and supportive services financed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

H.R. 147 and S. 1366

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Treasury the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund and to allow individual

taxpayers to designate on their tax returns $3.00 of income taxes ($6.00 in the case of joint returns) to be paid over to the Fund to

provide assistance to homeless veterans.

H. R. 1171 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

Reauthorizes the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) for fiscal years 2010 through 2014. The bill was amended to

authorize an additional $10 million to provide dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with

children. Grants would be made available to provide job training, counseling, placement services, and child care services to

expedite the reintegration of veterans into the labor force.

H.R. 295 More Training for Veterans Act of 2009

Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations of $20 million for each fiscal year for veterans'

workforce investment programs.

S. 1547 Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009

The act would provide $50 million annually to help low-income veterans remain in their housing and help homeless veterans

obtain housing. Also calls for an annual increase of 10,000 HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers until 2013.

S. 1237 Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2009

Would expand the Grant and Per Diem program for homeless veterans with special needs by including male homeless veterans

with minor dependents as a new category. Would also create a program to provide employment assistance to women veterans and

women veterans with dependent children.

1. Department of Defense. “DoD Definition of Combat Operations for Title 10

Service Members.” September 30, 2008.

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/CombatOperations/Co

mbatOperations.pdf. Note: only GWOT land areas of combat operations are

highlighted; refer to the document for sea and airspace areas of combat

operations.

2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Federal Benefits for Veterans Dependents &

Survivors. 2010 ed. Washington, DC: 2010.

3. California Government Code, Sec. 18540.4. Also see California Military and

Veterans Code, Sec. 980-980.5 for limitations of benefits due to discharge

status.

4. Department of Defense. “Legal Residence/ Home Address for Service

Members Ever Deployed : As of January 31, 2010.” Defense Manpower

Data Center, Contingency Tracking System Deployment File. March 1,

2010. Obtained by Veterans for Common Sense using the Freedom of

Information Act.

5. Department of Defense. “Deployment File for OEF & OIF (as of December

31, 2009).” Defense Manpower Data Center, Contingency Tracking System

Deployment File. Obtained by Veterans for Common Sense using the

Freedom of Information Act.

6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.

“Analysis of VA Health Care Utilization among Operation Enduring

Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Veterans.” Office of

Public Health and Environmental Hazards. Washington, DC: February

2010. Obtained by Veterans for Common Sense using the Freedom of

Information Act.

7. Ibid.

8. Department of Defense. Demographics 2008: Profile of the Military Community.

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Military Community and

Family Policy). Washington, DC.

http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-

Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/Reports/2008%2

0Demographics.pdf.

9. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “VetPop 2007, Table 4L: Veterans by

State, Race/Ethnicity, Age Group, Gender, 2000-2036.” Office of the

Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, Office of Policy (008A2).

Washington, DC: January 2008. http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/docs/4l.xls.

Sources & Notes10. Department of Defense. “Legal Residence/ Home Address for Service

Members Ever Deployed : As of January 31, 2010.” Defense Manpower

Data Center, Contingency Tracking System Deployment File. March 1,

2010. Obtained by Veterans for Common Sense using the Freedom of

Information Act.

11. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration . “VA

Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror,

Through September 30, 2009.” VBA Office of Performance Analysis &

Integrity. Washington, DC: November 18, 2009. Obtained by Veterans for

Common Sense using the Freedom of Information Act.

12. Department of Defense. Demographics 2008: Profile of the Military Community.

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Military Community and

Family Policy). Washington, DC.

http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-

Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/Reports/2008%

20Demographics.pdf.

13. Commission on the National Guard and Reserves. Transforming the National

Guard and Reserves into a 21st-Century Operational Force: Final Report to

Congress and the Secretary of Defense. Washington, DC: January 31, 2008.

http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/CNGR_final-report.pdf.

14. Department of Defense. “Ever Deployed Personnel by Service and Gender:

As of December 21, 2009.” Defense Manpower Data Center, Contingency

Tracking System Deployment File. January 25, 2010. Obtained by

Veterans for Common Sense using the Freedom of Information Act.

15. Department of Defense. Demographics 2008: Profile of the Military Community.

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Military Community and

Family Policy). Washington, DC.

http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-

Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/Reports/2008%

20Demographics.pdf.

16. Gamache, Gail, Robert Rosenheck, and Richard Tessler. “Overrepresentation

of Women Veteran Among Homeless Women.” American Journal of Public

Health 93, no. 7 (July 2003): 1132-1136.

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/93/7/1132.

17. Eckholm, Erik. “For Veterans, a Weekend Pass From Homelessness.” New

York Times, July 25, 2009.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/us/26homeless.html.

Sources & Notes (Cont.)18. Department of Veterans Affairs. “VetPop 2007, Table 4L: Veterans by State,

Race/Ethnicity, Age Group, Gender, 2000-2036.” Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Policy and Planning, Office of Policy (008A2). Washington,

DC: January 2008. http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/docs/4l.xls.

19. Department of Defense. Demographics 2008: Profile of the Military Community.

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Military Community and

Family Policy). Washington, DC.

http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-

Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/Reports/2008%

20Demographics.pdf.

20. American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Military

Deployment Services for Youth, Families and Service Members. The

Psychological Needs of U.S. Military Service Members and Their Families: A

Preliminary Report. American Psychological Association, February 2007.

http://www.apa.org/releases/MilitaryDeploymentTaskForceReport.pdf.

21. Department of Defense. Demographics 2008: Profile of the Military Community.

Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Military Community and

Family Policy). Washington, DC.

http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-

Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/Reports/2008%

20Demographics.pdf.

22. Ibid.

23. Ibid.

24. Ibid.

25. Office of the Surgeon Multi-National Force-Iraq, Office of the Command

Surgeon, and Office of the Surgeon General United States Army Medical

Command. Mental Health Advisory Team (MHAT) V Operation Iraqi Freedom

06-08: Iraq; Operation Enduring Freedom 8: Afghanistan. February 14, 2008.

http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/reports/mhat/mhat_v/MHAT_V_

OIFandOEF-Redacted.pdf.

26. Department of Defense, Statistical Information Analysis Division. “Global

War on Terrorism - Operation Iraqi Freedom By Casualty Category Within

Service: March 19, 2003 Through March 6, 2010” and “Global War on

Terrorism - Operation Enduring Freedom By Casualty Category Within

Service: October 7, 2001 Through March 6, 2010.” Military Casualty

Information.

http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/castop.htm.

27. Tanielian, Terri, Lisa H. Jaycox, Terry L. Schell, et al. Invisible Wounds:

Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive

Injuries. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2008.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG720.1.pdf.

28. Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. “Iraq

Troops' PTSD Rate As High As 35 Percent, Analysis Finds.” ScienceDaily,

September 15, 2009.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914151629.htm.

Note: a PTSD rate of 35 percent applied to a OIF/OEF deployment

population of 2,000,000 creates an estimate of up to 700,000 lifetime PTSD

cases.

29. Tanielian, Terri, Lisa H. Jaycox, Terry L. Schell, et al. Invisible Wounds:

Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive

Injuries. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2008.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG720.1.pdf

30. Ibid.

31. Ibid.

32. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.

“Analysis of VA Health Care Utilization among Operation Enduring

Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Veterans.” Office of

Public Health and Environmental Hazards. Washington, DC: February

2010. Obtained by Veterans for Common Sense using the Freedom of

Information Act. Note: this PTSD data does not include information on

PTSD from VA’s Vet Centers or data from veterans not enrolled for VHA

health care. Also, it does not include veterans who did not receive a

diagnosis of PTSD but had a diagnosis of adjustment reaction. Veterans

may have more than one mental disorder diagnosis and each diagnosis is

counted separately.

33. Office of the Surgeon Multi-National Force-Iraq, Office of the Command

Surgeon and Office of the Surgeon General United States Army Medical

Command. Mental Health Advisory Team (MHAT) V Operation Iraqi Freedom

06-08: Iraq; Operation Enduring Freedom 8: Afghanistan. February 14, 2008.

http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/reports/mhat/mhat_v/MHAT_V_

OIFandOEF-Redacted.pdf.

Sources & Notes (Cont.)34. Tanielian, Terri, Lisa H. Jaycox, Terry L. Schell, et al. Invisible Wounds:

Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive

Injuries. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2008.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG720.1.pdf.

35. Nina A. Sayer, David X. Cifu, Shane McNamee, Christine E. Chiros, Barbara

J. Sigford, Steve Scott, and Henry L. Lew. “Rehabilitation Needs of

Combat-Injured Service Members Admitted to the VA Polytrauma

Rehabilitation Centers: The Role of PM&R in the Care of Wounded

Warriors.” PM&R 1, no. 1 (2009): 23-28.

http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1934-

1482/PIIS1934148208000166.pdf.

36. Katz, Ira R. Email to Kussman, Michael J. 15 Dec. 2007.

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/VA_email_121507.pdf.

37. Katz, Ira R. Email to Chasen, Ev. 13 Feb. 2008.

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/VA_email_021308.pdf.

38. Cassels, Caroline. “APA 2009: Young Women Veterans at High Risk for

Suicide.” Medscape Medical News, May 27, 2009.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703424.

39. CBS/AP. “Suicide Rate of Young Veterans Soars.” CBS News. January 11,

2010.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/11/national/main6083072.sh

tml

40. Wortzel, Hal S., Ingrid A. Binswanger, C. Alan Anderson and Lawrence E.

Adler. “Suicide Among Incarcerated Veterans.” The Journal of the American

Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 37, no. 1 (March 2009): 82-92.

http://www.jaapl.org/cgi/reprint/37/1/82.

41. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Email to Veterans for Common Sense.

25 March 2010.

42. Zeiss, Antonette. “Veterans Health Administration Care for Mental Health

Problems Related to Military Sexual Trauma.” PowerPoint presentation to

the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services open

meeting, Alexandria, VA, Aug 11-15, 2008.

http://www.dtic.mil/dtfsams/docs/10-08docs/Day3_9am-

10am_Zeiss.pdf.

43. Williamson, Randall B. VA Health Care: Preliminary Findings on VA’s Provision

of Health Care Services to Women Veterans (GAO-09-899T). United States

Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC: July 16, 2009.

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09899t.pdf.

44. Deborah Yaeger, Naomi Himmelfarb, Alison Cammack and Jim Mintz.

“DSM-IV Diagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women Veterans

With and Without Military Sexual Trauma.” Journal of General Internal

Medicine 21, no. 3 (March 2006): S65-69.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/031451136128x382/.

45. General definition of homeless individual. Title 42 U.S. Code, Sec. 11302

(2008).

46. George Basher, Chair. 2009 Annual Report of the Advisory Committee on Homeless

Veterans. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Advisory Committee on

Homeless Veterans. Washington, DC: 2009.

http://www1.va.gov/advisory/docs/ReportHomeless2009.pdf.

47. John H. Kuhn and John Nakashima. Community Homeless Assessment, Local

Education and Networking Group (CHALENG) for Veterans, The Fifteenth

Annual Progress Report on Public Law 105-114, Services for Homeless Veterans

Assessment and Coordination. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,

Washington, DC: March 11, 2009.

http://www1.va.gov/homeless/docs/CHALENG_15th_Annual_CHALE

NG_Report_FY2008.pdf.

48. John H. Kuhn and John Nakashima. Community Homeless Assessment, Local

Education and Networking Group (CHALENG) for Veterans, The Fifteenth

Annual Progress Report on Public Law 105-114, Services for Homeless Veterans

Assessment and Coordination. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,

Washington, DC: March 11, 2009.

http://www1.va.gov/homeless/docs/CHALENG_15th_Annual_CHALE

NG_Report_FY2008.pdf.

49. Abt Associates Inc. (Prepared for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

Employment Histories Report Final Compilation Report. Bethesda, MD: March

28, 2008.

http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/docs/Employment_History_080324.pdf.

50. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment

Situation of Veterans – 2009.” Washington DC: March 12, 2010.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/vet.pdf.

Sources & Notes (Cont.)51. Henriques, Diana B. “Lenders at the Gate: Debtors in the Barracks.” New

York Times, December 7, 2004.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D06EFDB1531F934A3

5751C1A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permali

nk.

52. Terms of consumer credit extended to members and dependents: limitations.

Title 10 U.S. Code, Sec. 987 (2008).

53. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Federal Benefits for Veterans Dependents &

Survivors. 2010 ed. Washington, DC: 2010.

54. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Combat Veteran Eligibility” Fact Sheet

16-4. June 2009.

http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/CombatVet/Combat

Vet.pdf.

55. Barton F. Stichman and Ronald B. Abrams. Veterans Benefits Manual. 2008 ed.

Charlottesville, VA: Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., 2008.

56. U.S. Department of Veterans. “Other Than Honorable Discharges: Impact on

Eligibility for VA Health Care Benefits.” Fact Sheet 16-8. March 2010.

http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/OtherThanHonorable

/OtherThanHonorable.pdf. Note: administrative “Other than Honorable”

discharges, and punitive “Bad Conduct” discharges issued by special

courts-martial, may or may not be disqualifying for purposes of general VA

benefit eligibility or VA health benefits eligibility specifically.

57. Periods of war. Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations Pt. 3.2 (2008). Note: the

“Persian Gulf War” era began August 2, 1990 and currently does not have

an official end date. The end date will be prescribed by Presidential

proclamation or law.

58. The military makes “line of duty determinations” regarding whether the

injury was a result of willful misconduct or incurred in the line of

duty. Such determinations are only binding on VA when the

determinations are favorable to the veteran. Moreover, it is always

advisable for any veteran, regardless of discharge, terms of discharge or

terms of injury, to seek the assistance of a trained legal advocate when

filing a claim with VA.

59. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Enrollment Priority Groups.” Fact

Sheet 164-2. January 2010.

http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/EPG/EnrollmentPri

orityGroups.pdf.

60. Veterans Benefits Administration (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

“Monday Morning Workload Report, As of: August 22, 2009.”

Washington, DC.: Office of Performance & Integrity.

http://www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/mmwr/2009/082409.xls. Note:

Number derived by adding “Total C&P Work Items Pending” (749,834)

and “VACOLS Appeals” (198,777).

61. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Management. FY 2009

Performance and Accountability Report. Washington DC: 2009.

http://www.va.gov/budget/report/2008/2008FullWeb.pdf.

62. Veterans Benefits Administration (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). “VA

Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror,

Through May 31, 2009.” VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity.

Washington, DC: July 21, 2009. Obtained by Veterans for Common Sense

using the Freedom of Information Act.

63. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration . “VA

Benefits Activity: Veterans Deployed to the Global War on Terror,

Through September 30, 2009.” VBA Office of Performance Analysis &

Integrity. Washington, DC: November 18, 2009. Obtained by Veterans for

Common Sense using the Freedom of Information Act. And U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.

“Analysis of VA Health Care Utilization among Operation Enduring

Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Veterans.” Office of

Public Health and Environmental Hazards. Washington, DC: February

2010. Obtained by Veterans for Common Sense using the Freedom of

Information Act.

64. Maize, Rick. “Data: Reservist VA claims more often denied.” Military Times,

December 24, 2009.

http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_reservesva_1001

08/.

65. Ibid.

Veterans for Common Sense

The California Endowment

The Iraq and Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund

The Zellerbach Family Fund

Pictures Courtesy of the Department of Defense

Special Thanks To:

Contact Us:

Swords to Plowshares, Iraq Veteran Project

1060 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

Amy N. Fairweather, J.D.

Director of Policy

415-252-4787 Ext. 356

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Legal Director

415-252-4788 Ext. 313