Retooling DoD and VA Disability Compensation Systems

Abstract

The DoD and VA disability compensation systems fail to adequately compensate veterans' service-connected disabilities. The DoD disability compensation system provides benefits for soldiers prematurely separated due to a service-connected disability, while the VA disability compensation system compensates veterans for the "average impairments of earning capacity" resulting from service-connected disabilities. This paper examines appropriateness of disability compensation provided by DoD and the VA measured against the actual losses of disabled veterans. It overviews the history of disability compensation in the United States, focusing principally on disability compensation as it now exists. It then provides analysis of the actual losses borne by disabled veterans, including loss of military career, diminution in quality of life, loss of earnings capacity, and burden of transition. It provides strategic recommendations for restructuring the two disability compensation systems to work as an integrated whole in which DoD would determine fitness to serve and provide a payment to those found not fit for duty to compensate for loss of military career.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 19, 2009
Accession Number
ADA508246

Entities

People

  • Hal D. Baird

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Brain Injuries
  • Casualties
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health Services
  • Information Systems
  • Law
  • Medical Personnel
  • Mental Disorders
  • Pain
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Quality Of Life
  • Rehabilitation
  • Therapy
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Gulf War Illness and Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Veterans.
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  • Naval Personnel Management