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War, Its Aftermath, and U.S. Health Policy: Toward a Comprehensive Health Program for America's Military Personnel, Veterans, and Their Families

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Extract

Extensive media coverage of the nation’s response to its obligation to furnish health care for service members wounded in current overseas conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan has elevated public consciousness of the importance of the U.S. military and veteran’s health care systems to a level not seen since the end of the Vietnam War. The number of casualties of U.S. military engagements has varied in each specific conflict and is a direct result of both the type of battle and the military’s ability to handle battlefield injuries (see Table 1).

Type
Symposium
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2008

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The DES pilot commenced November 26, 2007 and continues for one year. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Policy and Procedural Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM) for the Disability Evaluation System (DES) Pilot Program, November 21, 2007. While the VA will assess initial disability ratings during the DES Pilot Program, Military Department Secretaries will retain their authority on dispositions relating to fitness, line of duty determinations, noncompliance and existing prior-to-service findings.Google Scholar
Statement for the Record by the Hon. Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Hon. Gordon Mansfield, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Before the Senate Committee on Armed Services, February 13, 2008.Google Scholar
The disability rating awarded by the DVA Rating Board, specifically for the military unfitting medical condition(s), will serve as the basis for determining a DES Pilot participant's final disposition (separation with disability severance pay or disability retirement). The DVA Rating Board's combined disability award, for all medical conditions rated, shall be the basis for determining disability compensation payments and benefits administered by the DVA.Google Scholar
See supra note 98.Google Scholar
The Veterans Disability Benefits Commission believes that differences in the number of conditions rated between the VA and DoD accounts for the largest portion of the difference in the overall ratings by the DoD and VA. See Committee on Medical Evaluation, supra note 11.Google Scholar