Readers of Tom Philpott’s Military Update column sound off.
 
Pay of Younger Disabled Veterans Should be Raised

I'm a 20-year-old wounded veteran from the Iraq war. The Marine Corps rated me initially as 70-percent disabled. The VA is working on getting my disability rating increased. They realize I won't have enough to live on even somewhat comfortably with the $712 a month slap-in-the-face I'm getting now.

I agree that something has to be done with disability compensation and quickly. There are guys out there worse off than I am and they are getting paid crap for compensation too.

It’s an outrage and the American public needs to hear more about it!

SHAWN SEELEY
Corporal, USMC-Ret.
Via e-mail

I must say this article [on the CNA study on disability compensation levels for the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission] caught my eye right away, being a disabled Air Force veteran with 100 percent disability payment for IU [individual unemployability].

I was disabled at age 29. I am now 40 and have struggled to make ends meet for me and my daughter who will be starting college in two years. Living on $28,000 a year is no easy feat in this day and age. I'm still living in the same zip code as when I became disabled. I refused to uproot my child from her lifestyle and friends.

It is important that we take care of our veterans returning home. These men and women put their lives on the line at a very young age, to protect and defend us without question. It is the least our government can do to take care of them properly when the outcome is disability.

BRENDA SINE
Scottsdale, Ariz.

As a county veterans’ service officer, I serve young and older veterans daily. Most of them are drawing more in VA compensation than I draw in my Navy retirement. I have no problem with that.

The problem I have is with think-tank analysts who feel they can put a price tag on a disability and its affect on an individual’s gainful employment for years to come. They lose sight of the mental anguish and depression the individual lives with, all a disability received in direct support of the freedoms this country worships.

Consider the case of a World War II veteran who fires 185,000 rounds of howitzer ammo across the European theatre, applies for hearing loss benefits shortly after the war, is denied benefits all the way through appeals courts, reopens his claim only to be denied again on numerous occasions through the years for not having new material evidence, for the claim not being not well grounded, etc.

The year 2002 arrives. Our office reopens the claim with new medical evidence and documentation to support the dangers of 185 decibels of impulse noise from howitzers. The gentleman is awarded 60 percent for hearing loss. The medical evidence always had been before the VA Regional Office. So the continual reluctance to award the veteran is not his fault.

I also don't see the Department of Veterans Affairs tracking down veterans who have lived their lives with symptoms of their disabilities only to find out they should have filed a claim years ago.

We do our best with outreach locally, but we don't come close to reaching all veterans even in a smaller county. So if a veteran elects to wait until near retirement or retired to file for disability compensation, and even to get higher payments for individual unemployability, then God Bless them! How much have they saved the taxpayers all these years?

In proposing changes, the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission should not lose sight of the purpose of service-connected compensation and should hold our disability system to the VA motto: "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan."

ED BALL
Veterans Service Office
Sidney, Ohio

The VA lost my paperwork when I move to my home of record in 1990. That meant I had to restart the [disability rating process] process all over again. Then they lost my dependant information. I finally got that somewhat straightened out.

I was rated at 40 percent at first, then went for a re-rate to get my 50 percent rating. It should be higher yet. I lost a leg from the knee down and suffered a fractured hip. These will never get better. With age they get worse.

The VA wants me to return whenever I have any major problems to raise my rating instead of rating me at a higher percentage from the start.

I also found out the civilian community does not want to deal with disabled veterans at all. The job that I was able to keep cut my pay to $10,000 the first year from the $26,000 that I made while on active duty in 1989-90. This is no way of life.

If the new disabled veterans can get more I am behind them 100 percent. They deserve more by my book.

SCOTT C VANBUSKIRK, SR.
USN-Retired
Via e-mail

No matter what our disabled veterans' are paid, it's too little!

Maybe former members of Congress now receiving a nice little wage for their service to country, and current lawmakers too, should take a pay cut and donate that money to our disabled veterans.

PATRICIA A. HODKINSON

U.S. Marine Corps
Via e-mail

I am shocked and disappointed by the unfair, unethical and incredibly disrespectful disparity in dollars provided to disabled veterans. Even more offensive is that some commissioners expressed satisfaction that “average” VA compensation was adequate.

While I understand the ship is incapable of changing course overnight, I do not accept commissioners being satisfied that on average disability compensation is adequate. Here's a thought for these commissioner to noodle on: Let’s align your pay with generally adequate compensation and then have you lose control of a couple motor functions. Then figure out how to provide for your family. What's that? You need financial support?

Sorry, your compensation has been determined to be generally adequate.

Do your job and fix this.

S. COLEMAN
Via e-mail

Please keep spreading the word about our great vets and how they are being treated! 

J. FELE
New Jersey

Letters may be edited for clarity or length.  Write to Military Forum, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA  20120-1111, send e-mail to militaryforum@aol.com or visit www.militaryupdate.com

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