Health and Disability

just caught this on KELO TV. Reporter Jon Wilson has a story about a Vietnam veteran who came close to dying on April 20th, 38 years ago. Gene Murphy now calls that day his Come Alive Day. Paralyzed from his injuries, Murphy has been advocating for better health care for veterans ever since that day. He has a few criticisms of the current health care system for veterans.

After serving a tour in Vietnam, Murphy has a new enemy these days…the American Health Care System, especially when it comes to long-term care for disabled American veterans.

Murphy says, “I guess I didn’t think we would have to fight this hard for adequate budgets…especially for health care in the 38 years since I returned.”

From heads of state to politicians, even Presidents both present and former, Murphy has been a strong voice in Washington on behalf of disabled vets and says the toughest fight of all seems to be securing benefits that were promised to them by their government.

Murphy says, “And I’ve heard different administrators say I don’t know if we can afford it right now. And I said wait a minute, you had all kinds of money when we sent these young sons and daughters to wars, so we should have all kinds of money now.”

Amen to that Mr Murphy!

..[A]fter a string of damning reports and stinging congressional hearings, there is a rush to help these wounded warriors. A massive mobilization across the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments – with crucial assistance from veteran advocacy groups and nonprofit organizations – is under way to help veterans transition from combat to civilian life.

The result is a cornucopia of services that remains extraordinarily difficult to navigate, even with perseverance and the help of others who know how to work the system.
..
Better medical technology, improved treatment techniques and beefed-up armament means soldiers survive wounds that would have killed them in past wars. Using a narrow definition, the Defense Department reports that more than 28,000 troops have been wounded in Iraq, while just over 3,100 died from combat wounds.
For good order, the DoD numbers are bullshit. According to a Harvard study (pdf), as of January 2007, 152,669 servicemen had applied for disability benefits - far more than the DoD's 28,000 wounded figure, even if half of the applicants were pure PTSD claims (which they're not: "Some 20% have suffered brain trauma, spinal injuries or amputations; another 20% have suffered other major injuries such as amputations, blindness, partial blindness or deafness, and serious burns.").