Is The Economist Right? Do Veterans Get Too Much Disability?
The hot-button issue of the week.
Veterans all over social media have been hurling feces everywhere over this article.
The pushback goes one of two ways (as seemingly everything does these days):
“How dare you sit in your ivory tower and say veterans get too much! Veterans served their country and deserve everything they get, and they should get more!”
OR
“There are a whole bunch of leeches out there that are taking advantage of the system!
Both involve someone waving their fist and shouting from behind a computer screen, are a little right, and a little wrong.
The VA Disability Process is Absurd
I still remember the moment I opened my VA letter and saw my disability rating.
It was WAAAAY higher than expected. It honestly felt insane and my first reaction was that something was clearly wrong.
I am not that jacked up from the army.
So let’s first call attention to a glaring problem:
No one knows how the hell the VA comes up with your number.
They run some diagnostics on you and from there I think the best we can figure it out is that data from a handful of short doctor visits enters into some system at the VA.
From there I assume that this guy takes over:
Sitting in a deep recess inside some fluorescent-lit office that has not seen daylight in years, he whispers to his Ouija board, references some arcane insurance table from the 1950s, and shits out a VA rating.
And Voila! Now someone is a disabled veteran.
The Glaring Inconsistencies
Everyone one of us knows two kinds of veterans:
The Leech
Be real. You know them.
That dude from your platoon who figured out the system, shirked out of a deployment, and now has a 75% rating for his hang nail.
Let’s say it. They exist.
The reality of any type of bureaucracy is that some people will learn to navigate it and exploit the holes.
Here is the thing about a bureaucratic system:
A bureaucracy is like peanut butter.
You can spread it over the bread, but you aren’t going to fill every hole and you cannot get it totally even (I’ve tried). It’s just meant to get as much peanut butter on as much bread as possible.
So people will figure out how to be the hole in the bread and get extra peanut butter.
The Neglected
I also know people that seemingly should have a high rating, but don’t.
The guy who got hit by an IED who only has 10%.
The dude who clearly has a TBI but got 15%
The NCO with 8 deployments who got…nothing? Really? Nothing?!
Yeah, these also happen.
To be fair, maybe they just never filed a claim. Maybe they really didn’t have any problems.
But it does not feel like that peanut butter got spread evenly.
What Do We Do?
I have a strong opinion:
Do not get mad at veterans. Get mad at the VA.
Ok, that is probably an opinion everyone here can get behind, so not that hot of a take.
(Want a hot take? Ask me about my thoughts on sushi.)
Here is why I say this:
I would rather focus on helping those who need the support than those who take advantage of it.
The Stigma Problem
I have spoken with veterans who don’t want to file a claim.
Here are the top reasons:
“If I get money from the VA, I’m taking it from someone who deserves it more.”
“I did not deploy or did not see combat and don’t deserve a rating.”
“I think getting banged up and having physical/mental problems is just the cost of doing business in the military and shouldn’t be paid for it. It was the sacrifice I made.”
The reality is that there is a stigma attached to VA ratings. People feel like this when they say they have a rating:
Let me be very clear:
The stigma is a problem.
I’m very sure more people are deserving of a rating that don’t have it than those who are truly exploiting the system.
Let me address each of these points:
“If I get money from the VA, I’m taking it from someone who deserves it more.”
My take: Not true. This isn’t a zero-sum game and there is not a finite allocation. It’s called the government, they just print more money.
Ok, yeah, that’s a problem.
But not for this conversation.
“I did not deploy or did not see combat and don’t deserve a rating.”
My take: Serving in the military bangs you up, even if you didn’t get shot or blown up.
We wear heavy equipment, bounce around in tiny spaces, get exposed to LOTS of loud noises, and live in squalor at times.
My first MRE was the veggie omelet. That has to count for something. Sever emotional trauma at the least.
But seriously, serving in the military is no cakewalk. You likely have some bumps and bruises (external and internal) and you should have that recorded after you leave the military.
“I think getting banged up and having physical/mental problems is just the cost of doing business in the military and shouldn’t be paid for it. It was the sacrifice I made.”
My take: That’s great if it only affects you. But you have a family. And they will have to take care of you. If you have issues from serving, you should be able to receive care from the VA for it and not feel bad.
Why The Stigma Is Bad
First, let’s talk about shame.
Shame is a soul-sucking emotion that slowly chips away at your well-being.
It’s corrosive. (Kind of like that gut worm I got from the veggie omelet)
I don’t want people to feel shame for getting help if they need it.
Full stop.
I have friends who have legit problems from the army and feel bad that they have a rating.
I have friends who did not file for a claim because they were not wounded in combat. They are afraid of the shame. This includes a buddy with 6 tours in 6 years (4 of which were with Ranger Regiment) who didn’t file because he was never wounded. He is now in physical pain and doesn’t have the time to file a claim. He would live with shame, but don’t we think he should not?
As mentioned, I carry my issues with my own rating. It feels a bit icky to me. It also feels like the VA is kind just paying me off, and I know other veterans feel the same.
These stories do not need to happen.
So we don’t need the stigma.
Where Do We Go?
Be intellectually honest.
Do people take advantage of the system? Yes.
Are there people who did not file a claim when they should have or someone who did who is not getting enough? Yes.
Take care of yourself and your family
Go file a claim.
Why? Because if you got banged up you deserve help from the VA for it.
And you owe that to your family.
Reserve judgment.
You don’t know someone’s full medical history, so don’t assume you know everything going on with them.
Here is my take:
Don’t blame each other.
Blame the monkey.
P.S. Like this article? Share it with one friend who is a veteran. If you really like it, share it with two friends. If you want to give me a great Christmas gift that aligns your cosmic karma with the universe that will benefit you in the afterlife, share it on social media.