Through September 2011, about 740,000 veterans from overseas contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan had been treated by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). That number is slightly more than half of all recent veterans eligible for care by VHA.

VHA spent about $2 billion in fiscal year 2010 to provide medical care to all recent combat veterans.

One in Four Recent Combat Veterans Treated at VHA from 2004 to 2009 Had a Diagnosis of PTSD; 7 Percent Had a Diagnosis of TBI

Using data for recent veterans treated by VHA from 2004 to 2009, CBO found that:

• 21 percent were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but not traumatic brain injury (TBI),
• 2 percent were diagnosed with TBI but not PTSD,
• An additional 5 percent had both PTSD and TBI, and
• The remaining 72 percent had neither diagnosis.

Treating Recent Combat Veterans Diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or Both Was Much More Expensive Than Treating Other Recent Veterans

Read all:    http://www.cbo.gov/publication/42969

Another hidden cost of war — the tragic plight of infants in Fallujah.

Read:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/13/falluja-cancer-children-birth-defects

The US taxpayer reimburses private insurance companies to provide medical coverage to  contractors serving in a war zone (because it is deemed too risky for a private company to voluntarily provide such coverage).  Despite this,  Congress is investigating allegations that insurance giant AIG, which was supposed to offer medical coverage to the US contractors working for KBR, failed to provide this coverage.  This finding was reported in the Three Trillion Dollar War.  Read more:

http://www.propublica.org/feature/comments/aig-faces-hearing-on-denial-of-medical-claims-by-contractors-injured-608

The Ministry of Health in Iraq has confirmed 327 new cases of cholera since August 20th, 2008. The outbreak has reached nine provinces, including Baghdad, Basra, Karbala, Najaf, Diyala, Anbar, Babil, Diwaniya and Maysan. Dozens of new suspected cases are being investigated throughout the country.

The latest information from Veterans for Common Sense shows a continued increase in the number of veterans who are seeking medical care from VA hospitals and clinics, and another steep increase in the number of returning troops who are diagnosed with mental health conditions.

The latest numbers show tha4 347,750 (40% of all patients) have been treated at VA medical facilities.

147,744 have been treated for mental health problems, of whom about half have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  For complete records, see:

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