By James Smith 

The Selma Times-Journal 

 

We tend to think of war being over when the enemy unconditionally surrenders, a truce or cessation of hostilities is signed or whatever other form of disengagement may take place. However, it is not over for a lot of the men and women who were in the thick of things experiencing the horrors, brutalities and atrocities of lethal combat. It may never truly be over for some of them. If asked, when were you there? You might get a response like, just last night or several times a day I find myself there. For some, it is not as simple as switching a light bulb on or off.

The same holds true for whatever they may have encountered as far as wounds or exposure to noxious agents.

The degree of damage or overall effect on health caused by exposure may not fully manifest itself until years later.

I have always supported the policy of providing the needed care and support for our wounded warriors and those whose health was impacted in the line of duty serving our country.

The disability payments for the maimed and those suffering debilitating illnesses are becoming quite expensive, excessive and burdensome.

As we continue the war on terrorism and muddle through how to deal with the self-proclaimed Islamic state, the cost of previous wars continue to escalate.

According to a recent Congressional Budget Office report, there has been an increase of disability compensation of 55 percent just since the year 2000 all while the overall veterans population was decreasing by 17 percent.

Payments for disability reached $60 billion in year 2014. At first glance, you would surmise it is the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns causing the up tick. Not so claims the report. While those wars are significant, they have yet to reach their peak.

The report suggests the reason can best be explained by changes in requirements for qualifying for disability. For instance, diabetes compensation in the year 2000 was being paid to 38,000 veterans from all the wars. In the year 2013, there were 320,000 veterans receiving compensation for diabetes related illnesses from the Vietnam War alone.

A large increase came about after 2010 when the Department of Veterans Affairs began accepting ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and certain types of Leukemia as presumably caused by exposure to Agent Orange.

Quite clearly the report inferred that more and more veterans were claiming disability even after being out of service for 25 or more years. In 2012, the CBO determined that roughly 43 percent of veterans receiving first time disability compensation were 55 or older. The implication being lifestyle choices and occupation could very well be the dominant factors.

I think you get the picture. The report is much too long to fully cover here. However, the report also offered ways of slowing down the numbers, which will surely be met with stiff opposition from veterans and veteran organizations. As Ronald Reagan once said, “the closest thing to immortality is a government program.”

My take on the situation is simple. On the one hand, veterans are being denied treatment or placed on waiting list for long periods of time at VA clinics across the country, while on the disability compensation side it’s being reported that the requirements for compensation are too liberal.

It’s clear to me a complete absence of leadership from top to bottom and an absence of oversight within the VA, congress and the president.

The VA is not unlike most all government programs run by bureaucrats, wasteful, inefficient and poorly managed. Why would anyone think for one instance Obamacare would be any different?

The bottom line is wars have intended and unintended consequences. They should be avoided, if at all possible, and never expose young men and women to the death, mayhem and destruction unless there’s a strategy to win quickly and decisively.