While there are a number of disability qualifications that apply to veterans of the conflicts in the Middle East, there is no dedicated fund that provides VA benefits for Iraq war veterans. More combat veterans than ever have been applying for disability benefits in the decade since the U.S. began its involvement in Iraq—and unfortunately, many are denied benefits simply because the system has because of errors made in deciding their claims..
To make matters worse, many veterans who served in the Middle East are suffering from a number of serious conditions, including:
- Combat wounds. While veterans are more likely to survive the physical wounds they received in battle than in previous years, nearly a third of all veterans who return home have been injured, requiring specialized, ongoing medical care.
- Mental health problems. There is a significantly higher rate of mental health problems in returning U.S. troops than in non-military workers. Recent estimates indicate that over 225,000 men and women who served in Iraq or Afghanistan returned with PTSD, while over 8,000 veterans committed suicide in 2010 alone.
- Unemployment. Veterans suffer a higher unemployment rate than the general population—due to a combination of factors. Many who suffer from illnesses and injuries simply cannot work, some cannot find work that they are qualified to do, and still more succumb to debilitating drug and alcohol addictions.
How Can I Get the Help I Need?
While there may not be a separate fund for men and women who served in Iraq, veterans can still get the help they need from the Veterans Adminstration and in some cases, they can get benefits from more than one program. To find out what benefits you may be entitled to because of your service, email us today at [email protected] or fill out the quick contact form on this page..
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