va benefits activity veterans deployed to the gwot through september 30, 2009

VA BENEFITS ACTIVITY VETERANS DEPLOYED TO THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR

Through September 30, 2009

This report summarizes participation in VA benefits programs by veterans identified by the Department of Defense as having been deployed overseas in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) including Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF). Information is included for the following VA programs: Compensation, Insurance, Home Loan Guaranty, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

This update provides data on VA program participation for 1,946,042 GWOT veterans separated from military service through June 30, 2009 and those veterans who self-reported to VA through September 30, 2009.

It is important to understand that because many GWOT veterans had earlier periods of service, the benefits activity identified in this report could have occurred either prior to or subsequent to their GWOT deployment (or both).

Chart #1GWOT Veterans by Branch of Service

Branch of ServiceReserve

Guard Active Duty TotalAir Force 98,811 114,561 213,372 Army 340,798 256,823 597,621 Coast Guard 541 2,909 3,450 Marine Corps 38,196 111,160 149,356 Navy 32,458 156,194 188,652 Other 6 68 74 Unknown 2,319 3,370 5,689 Total matched to VA systems 513,129 645,085 1,158,214 Unable to match to VA systems 699 724 1,423 Total 513,828 645,809 1,159,637

Note: Veterans’ branch of service was obtained from VA’s BIRLS system, which stores information for up to three periods of service. The branch of service associated with the most recent service date was used for the chart above.

Prepared by:VBA Office of Performance Analysis & IntegrityRevised: Nov 18, 2009

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Chart #2Gender of GWOT Veterans

GenderReserve

Guard Active Duty TotalFemale 55,726 82,464 138,190 Male 453,623 557,353 1,010,976 Unknown 3,780 5,268 9,048 Total matched to VA systems 513,129 645,085 1,158,214 Unable to match to VA systems 699 724 1,423 Total 513,828 645,809 1,159,637

Chart #3Age of GWOT Veterans

Age GroupReserve

Guard Active Duty TotalUnder 20 147 452 599 20 - 29 160,627 335,563 496,190 30 - 39 151,557 161,892 313,449 40 - 49 138,536 117,810 256,346 50 - 59 50,717 24,586 75,303 60 -69 9,993 1,908 11,901 Unknown 1,552 2,874 4,426 Total matched to VA systems 513,129 645,085 1,158,214 Unable to match to VA systems 699 724 1,423 Total 513,828 645,809 1,159,637

Note: Veterans’ ages are calculated in whole years based on the date of birth in the BIRLS system. Any veteran with a missing or invalid date of birth, or where the calculated age was under 17 years or over 69 years, was placed in the “Unknown” age group.

Chart #4Average Age of GWOT Veterans

ReserveGuard Active Duty

Average Age 36.8 years 32.3 years

Chart #5Average Length of Service for GWOT Veterans

ReserveGuard Active Duty

Average Length of Service 3.8 years 8.8 years


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Service-Connected Disability Compensation Program

VBA’s computer systems do not contain any data that would allow us to attribute veterans’ disabilities to a specific period of service or deployment. We are therefore only able to identify GWOT veterans who filed a disability compensation claim at some point either prior to or following their GWOT deployment. We are not able to identify which of these veterans filed a claim for disabilities incurred during their actual overseas GWOT deployment.

Many veterans file disability compensation claims for more than one condition. The table below provides information on individual GWOT veterans, not specific claimed disabilities.

Individuals included in the category “Veterans Awarded Service-Connection” are those veterans who have at least one condition that meets eligibility requirements for service connection under VA statutes and regulations. For veterans who filed a claim for more than one condition, this category contains veterans with a full grant of all conditions as well as veterans with a combination of disabilities granted and denied.

If none of a GWOT veteran’s claimed conditions meet eligibility requirements under VA statutes and regulations, these individuals are included in the category “Veterans Denied Service-Connection.”

Chart #6C&P Activity Among GWOT Veterans

(Includes claims filed both prior to and following GWOT deployment)

CategoryReserves

GuardActive Duty

Total

Deployed Service members 546,385 1,399,677 1,946,062 Total GWOT Veterans 513,828 645,809 1,159,637 Living GWOT Veterans 510,990 637,529 1,148,519 GWOT In-Service Deaths 922 3,879 4,801 GWOT Post Service Deaths 1,916 4,401 6,317 Total GWOT Veterans with Claims Decisions 117,535 285,913 403,448 Veterans Awarded Service-Connection 107,733 279,335 387,068 Veterans Receiving Compensation 92,539 253,051 345,590 Veterans Denied Service-Connection 9,802 6,578 16,380 Veterans with Pending Claims (as of 09-30-09) 22,972 46,425 69,397 Veterans with Pending Reopened Claims 10,253 20,179 30,432 Pending from First-Time Claimants 12,719 26,246 38,965 Total GWOT Veterans Filing Disability Claims* 130,254 312,159 442,413

* Includes “Total GWOT Veterans with Claims Decisions” and “Pending from First-Time Claimants.”


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Disabilities are evaluated according to VA regulations, and the extent of the disability is expressed as a percentage from zero percent to 100 percent disabling, in increments of 10 percent. Veterans with more than one service-connected disability receive a combined disability rating.

The chart below includes GWOT veterans awarded combined service-connected disability ratings from zero percent to 100 percent, regardless of whether the veteran receives monetary compensation.

Chart #7GWOT Veterans Awarded Service-Connection

(by Combined Degree of Disability)Combined

Degree Reserves Guard Active Duty Total0 15,194 26,284 41,478

10 24,868 43,706 68,574 20 14,075 34,056 48,131 30 12,214 36,521 48,735 40 11,149 34,702 45,851 50 6,591 23,244 29,835 60 7,902 28,392 36,294 70 5,563 20,034 25,597 80 4,516 16,248 20,764 90 2,251 8,015 10,266

100 3,410 8,133 11,543 Total 107,733 279,335 387,068

Note: Previous versions of this chart provided counts based on a veteran’s highest combined rating. Beginning in July 2008, counts are based on the current combined evaluation.

Chart #8Ten Most Frequent Service-Connected Disabilities for GWOT Veterans

(Both Active Duty and Reserve/Guard)Diagnostic Code

Diagnosis Description Count

6260 Tinnitus 129,190 5237 Lumbosacral Or Cervical Strain 88,381 9411 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 67,052 5242 Degenerative Arthritis Of The Spine 60,140 5260 Limitation Of Flexion Of Leg 55,741 6100 Defective Hearing 54,515 5024 Tenosynovitis 51,833

7101Hypertensive Vascular Disease (Essential Arterial Hypertension)

48,464

8100 Migraine 47,108 5271 Limited Motion Of The Ankle 46,060


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Insurance Program Traumatic Injury Benefit

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) is a rider under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) that provides for payment to any member of the uniformed services covered by SGLI who sustains a traumatic injury that results in certain severe losses. Through September 30, 2009, 11,030 active duty servicemembers and veterans have applied for TSGLI. Of those, GWOT veterans filed 7,713 claims and 4,823 of those received benefits.

Chart #9aGWOT Veterans Who Applied for TSGLI Benefits

(by Age)

Age GroupReserve

Guard Active Duty TotalUnder 20 - 7 7 20 - 29 765 3,193 3,958 30 - 39 819 1,270 2,089 40 - 49 859 388 1,247 50 - 59 316 30 346 60 -69 43 1 44 Unknown - 22 22 Total 2,802 4,911 7,713

Note: The totals above reflect veterans, whose claims have been approved or denied.

Chart #9bGWOT Veterans Who Received TSGLI Benefits

(by Age)

Age GroupReserve

Guard Active Duty TotalUnder 20 - 5 5 20 – 29 511 2,356 2,867 30 - 39 430 859 1,289 40 - 49 304 224 528 50 - 59 101 7 108 60 -69 5 - 5 Unknown - 21 21 Total 1,351 3,472 4,823


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Chart #10aGWOT Veterans Who Applied for TSGLI Benefits

(by Gender)

GenderReserve

Guard Active Duty TotalFemale 145 148 293 Male 2,653 4,737 7,390 Unknown 4 26 30 Total 2,802 4,911 7,713

Note: The totals above reflect veterans, whose claims have been approved or denied.

Chart #10bGWOT Veterans Who Received TSGLI Benefits

(by Gender)

GenderReserve

Guard Active Duty TotalFemale 51 84 135 Male 1,299 3,365 4,664 Unknown 1 23 24 Total 1,351 3,472 4,823


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Home Loan Guaranty Program

VA’s home loan guaranty program has been helping veterans purchase homes for more than 60 years. VA guaranteed home loans are made by banks and mortgage companies to veterans, servicemembers and eligible reservists. With VA backing a portion of the loan, veterans can receive a competitive interest rate without a downpayment, making it easier to buy a home.

This benefit can be used more than once if needed to 1) refinance an existing VA guaranteed loan at a lower interest rate or 2) to purchase a home that will again be used as the person's primary residence (eligible to do this normally after paying off any previous loans.)

Chart #11Home Loan Guaranty Program Participation by GWOT Veterans

ReserveGuard Active Duty Total

GWOT Veterans with VA Loans 141,338 176,715 318,053 Total Loans Made to GWOT Veterans 221,153 276,406 497,559 Dollar Amount of All Loans to GWOT Veterans $28.2b $39.7b $67.9b


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Education Programs

The chart below reflects participation by GWOT veterans in VA education benefit programs since September 11, 2001. Participants may have been entitled to more than one benefit. For example, a reservist may have received Chapter 1606 benefits until he or she became eligible to receive Chapter 1607 benefits. This participant would be reported in both columns in the chart below.

Chart #12Education Program Participation Among GWOT Veterans

Since September 11, 2001Type of Training Chapter 30 Chapter 1606 Chapter 1607 Total

Graduate 14,970 7,801 6,733 29,504Under Graduate 107,087 91,298 36,579 234,964Junior College 102,963 58,177 20,121 181,261Non-college Degree 28,564 8,875 4,798 42,237Total 253,584 166,151 68,231 487,966

Note: This data is based on DMDC separations thru May 31, 2009, compared to VA records as of Aug 07, 2009.

Montgomery GI Bill Active-Duty (Chapter 30) provides up to 36 months of education benefits for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the reserve elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and members of the Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Benefits generally end the day a member separates from the Selected Reserve or National Guard. For those who are activated, eligibility is extended beyond separation for a period of time equal to time served on active duty plus four months.

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607) provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.


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Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program - Chapter 31

Chart #13VR&E Activity Among GWOT Veterans

(Includes participation either prior to and following GWOT deployment)

Current Case StatusReserveGuard

Active Duty Total

Applicant 680 1,897 2,577 Employment Services 397 1,189 1,586 Evaluation and Planning 1,486 3,966 5,452 Extended Evaluation 285 654 939 Independent Living 97 129 226 Interrupted 661 1,912 2,573 Rehabilitation to Employability 4,011 14,690 18,701 Unknown 78 19 97 Current Participants 7,695 24,456 32,151 Rehabilitated 1,519 3,276 4,795 Discontinued 543 1,006 1,549 Total VR&E Participants 9,757 28,738 38,495

Chart #13aVR&E Status By Disability Rating Among Service-Connected GWOT Veterans

(Includes participation either prior to and/or following GWOT deployment)Case Status 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% TotalsApplicant 114 166 256 356 394 264 354 256 221 100 96 2,577

Employment Services 4 32 141 220 238 192 245 191 181 76 66 1,586

Evaluation and Planning 173 151 378 688 763 595 805 665 553 316 365 5,452

Extended Evaluation 14 20 33 71 93 84 133 113 123 77 178 939

Independent Living - 1 - 1 4 6 12 28 48 31 95 226 Interrupted 17 57 151 272 360 265 361 320 340 197 233 2,573 Rehabilitation to Employability 52 351 1,340 2,340 2,825 2,235 3,052 2,357 2,058 1,073 1,018 18,701 Unknown 31 28 6 9 2 4 5 2 4 1 5 97

Current Participants 405 806 2,305 3,957 4,679 3,645 4,967 3,932 3,528 1,871 2,056 32,151Rehabilitated 17 139 583 680 730 509 644 532 423 270 268 4,795 Discontinued 7 50 213 210 228 166 190 145 161 79 100 1,549

Total VR&E Participants 429 995 3,101 4,847 5,637 4,320 5,801 4,609 4,112 2,220 2,424 38,495


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Chart #13bVR&E Activity Among Service-Connected GWOT Veterans

(Enrolled in Chapter 31)Combined

Degree TotalVR&E

Participants% eligible who

enrolled in VR&E0% 41,478 429 1.0%

10% 68,574 995 1.5%20% 48,131 3,101 6.4%30% 48,735 4,847 9.9%40% 45,851 5,637 12.3%50% 29,835 4,320 14.5%60% 36,294 5,801 16.0%70% 25,597 4,609 18.0%80% 20,764 4,112 19.8%90% 10,266 2,220 21.6%

100% 11,543 2,424 21.0%Total 387,068 38,495 9.9%

Note: Veterans rated 0% are not typically eligible but may receive services if they are enrolled at 10% or higher and rating is subsequently reduced.

Applicant: A veteran’s case is assigned to applicant status when the VA receives an application (VAF-1900) for services under Chapter 31.

Employment Services: Services to assist in obtaining and/or maintaining suitable employment.

Evaluation and Planning: Determination of feasibility of a vocational goal and/or evaluation the veteran’s ability to function independently within the veteran’s family and community.

Extended Evaluation: Determine the current feasibility of the veteran with a serious employment handicap to achieve a vocational goal.

Rehabilitation to Employability: Services and training necessary for entry into employment in an identified suitable occupational objective.

Independent Living Program: Services that are needed to enable a veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living, including home accommodations, counseling, and educational services, as determined necessary.

Rehabilitated: The goals of a rehabilitation/employment/independent living program have been substantially achieved.

Interrupted: Temporary suspension of the program warranted due to a veteran’s individual circumstances.

Discontinued: All services and benefits are terminated.

Serious Employment Handicap: A significant impairment of a veteran’s ability to prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment, as determined by a VA counselor.


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Sources

DoD: Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) East, cumulative count of service

members deployed to OIF/OEF, from September 11, 2001 through June 30, 2009.

DMDC West, extract of OIF/OEF service members discharged to civilian status from September 11, 2001 through June 30, 2009.

VBA: Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS), as of

September 30, 2009. Compensation and Pension Master Record (CPMR), active records (“A” type) as

of September 30, 2009. CPMR, terminated records (“E” type) as of September 30, 2009. Corporate records as of September 30, 2009. Pending Issue File (PIF), as of the close of business on September 30, 2009 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service Chapter 31 file, as of

September 30, 2009. Loan Guaranty data, as of September 30, 2009. TSGLI file, as of September 30, 2009. Education Service data, as of August 07, 2009.

Questions

Questions may be referred to Jim Clayton in the Office of Performance Analysis and Integrity at (202) 461-9048.


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va benefits activity veterans deployed to the gwot through september 30, 2009

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