Why is the VETERANS ADMINISTRATION so under funded?

Question

With so many MARINES and SOLDIERS coming home ,needing medical help,how can we do this to them?With so many of them being released from the various military hospitals way too soon,how can congress not approve the needed funds?

Philip L-Get your head out of the sand-Read "TIME" "NEWSWEEK" "USNEWS".It's happening every day.

Answer 1

That's the reality of being a war veteran. When you come home the politicians will arrange a warm welcome for you, praise you for your heroism, then pin some medals on you (if you deserved one) right in front of television cameras. When everything is all over, they will tell you to go away and disappear from their sights. Then you continue living your life again, minus your limbs and other body parts, or even your sanity. Then you will exist in obscurity and nobody cares about you anymore, as you are of no use for the military now. For the meantime, some new fresh recruits will be trained then shipped for combat. The whole cycle then repeats again and again.

Answer 2

Va funding has been increased.

Since 2001, VA funding has increased from 47 billion dollars to 80.6 billion dollars, that's a 71% increase in the last 6 years.

The problem was, VA funding hardly increased at all during the 90's, just 10 billion over 8 years of the Clinton administration.

According to the VA, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans make up 2% of the VA case load right now.

So this isn't a new problem, with 98% of the veterans using VA services not being Iraq or Afghanistan Veterans.

Thats why Veterans have service organizations like VFW,amvets,DAV lobbying for VA funding increases.

Other things have been done lately to help Disabled Combat Veterans.

CRSC combat related special compensation was finaly passed in 2002.
Allowing for the first time, disabled combat veterans to receive BOTH, their disability payments and their military retirement pay, before you had to waive your retirement pay to receive VA disability pay.

All I can say, is volunteer to help your local VFW or DAV.

E-mail your congressmen to increase VA funding.

Answer 3

It's not that it is underfunded, it is totally overwhelmed. They have to process all the regular military folks getting out with regular non-war related, but service related issues plus all the men and woman coming home from the gulf. All the money in the world won't be able to catch up to this demand for years to come. The money is being spent to build new VA facilities, but the delay versus the need will always have a huge gap. Yes it sucks to be a veteran in need or a regular veteran just trying to get the basic services after serving our time. Private ventures like the Intrepid project in San Antonio, TX are one of the solutions to help ease the burden.

Answer 4

They were underfunded long before this administration took over. Dems see now see the affects of this and use it as a tool against the current administration (part of their hatred), the current administration cuts some of the funds to because of the wasteful spending. It's like you have $100 budgeted but really only need $60 so you cut the $40 and the wacky-libs jump on the bandwagon,why are cutting the Va Benefits, whine whine bash bash! IF you really wan't state of the art care for them, cut the the $480 Billion a year we spend in Foreign Aide!

Answer 5

It is NOT under funded. It is Democrat propaganda aka "lies."
Name a veteran from Iraq that has been turned away because the VA had no money to treat them?

Answer 6

We should take some of the Iraq War funds to fund the VA.

Answer 7

Because the government does not care about already "used" soldiers. And the average American does not realize what soldiers have gone through to keep them safe.

Answer 8

Because the republic party cut the funding to fund the war profiteering.

Answer 9

For the same reason that soldiers, firemen, and policemen are underpaid. Politicians buy votes with praise for their bravery and promises of no new taxes.