UNTOLD FACTS OF CASUALTIES FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS

The Department of Veterans Affairs in conjunction with the Pentagon has released startling statistics regarding casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The full report can be read here:

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/files/VFCS/VCS_VA_Fact_Sheet_01-17-2008.pdf

There have been 263,909 veterans treated and of those treated 100,580 patients (or 38% of patients) have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. 52,375 patients were diagnosed with PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Equally disturbing is the fact that 245,034 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (34% of veterans) have filed a disability claim. 38,693 of those veterans filing a claim with the VBA (Veterans Benefit Association) are still waiting for an answer.

And here is a statistic bound to blow the mind of any caring American. The average wait time for the VBA to process a claim is MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.