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Sobering look at true cost of war

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    Report: Nearly half of all Iraq, Afghanistan veterans seek disability for injuries

  • Duration 4:27
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On this Memorial Day a sobering look at the true cost of war and the told taken on some of our nation's newest veterans.

Now filing claims for disability benefits at historic race here the fact.

More claim to being -- by those who served in the reserves and the National Guard women.

Are also serving at a higher rate and men and women alike are suffering injuries from -- attack.

Now improved emergency care the battlefield pushing the survival rate to more than -- 5%.

And the increase in claims creating a huge backlog at the veterans administration and widespread frustration.

You've moved -- around in circles and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Doctor -- -- money is a Fox News medical eighteen where he joins us here.

Thanks for being with a 45%.

-- other vets are seeking in Iraq and Afghanistan are seeking compensation that's up 21% -- Well Greg where I think what we see over here is really we're seeing a totally different type of war.

We see as you mentioned nothing to 5% of the soldiers actually survive.

A lot of this has to do with the technology that we have we have the body farmers.

We have a better battlefield care so -- the soldiers can save them as a result of this is good news they survive.

But -- we have to deal would have to care you have the rehab you have -- 90% of them are getting orthopedic surgeries now we -- all -- these robotic arms and legs and we have to invest so that causes these huge on the other hand.

Maybe economy has something to do would this also.

When they called back to real life they have no jobs.

So a lot of these claims that you look at as opposed to the gulf war now we have eleven to fourteen ailments in every Clinton.

They are injured -- have no job so this is a serious problem that we have to deal.

Well and a lot of these veterans coming back here for the most recent were suffering PT -- dean post traumatic stress disorder and in fact here's one -- -- take what's.

Before -- used to getting hit every little thing.

Ice -- in the hospital -- and you would just turn on the -- so it's I would just go offline.

We have a problem with the mental health statement in this country.

We don't talk about it we don't look at it the same way we look at visible wounds it's not something that we're all aware.

That's true we'll all look over 400000.

Of them are being diagnosed with -- here ST.

I personally have -- this disease and symptoms many times in the past it is real.

-- my concern is that these guys they go straight from battlefield -- they come straight to the airport see their families and they -- -- there and that's one of the reasons why.

The rate of suicide it's hard -- have like -- the -- not mirrors and and Fatah factions from there it is from the battlefield so we need to deal with this and you know.

How's that make -- -- spoke person for the VA said we're prepared.

We're going to give them whatever they deserve but obviously as a result of the sheer volume as a result of the fact that the computerized.

Systems are not up to date.

And how does it new mandates say that they have to go after the oldest -- -- They're going to have a really tough time catching though -- all these numbers of claims that are coming in you and their computer systems are a bit outdated and and a absolutely right so.

Now again there is that over 500000.

Claims that they have to catch up with -- you know this is a day that we need to really.

Celebrated victory at what they have done for the country.

And the kind of is doable and it soldiers of the.

Some of it things that you pointed out to -- 177000.

Have a hearing lost three -- 50000.

I got Tenet tonight it's this what does that that's basically bringing me here that's as a result of all the bombs and -- -- -- 200 need face transplant 156 or blind quarter thousand being treated if you notice any problems so that's this is.

In these individual numbers it's incredible and it kind of physical therapy -- -- rehab that they have to go through but look at that 90%.

Orthopedic surgeries and also we never use two years ago to have this kind of face transplants -- medicine is improved.

We're giving them these robotic limbs that are unbelievable and of course it's going to improve their quality of life that costs money.

And now we've got to make sure that they get what they have done for this country and what they -- congress needs to make sure that there's enough money.

I've applied for all of these parole after we need absolute system for these guys to make sure that they come back to real life in -- good conditions while they deserve bare minimum that.

Absolutely doctor -- some money thank you could --

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