Statistics about the Department of Veterans Affairs
March 11, 2007
The VA is the second only to the Defense department in number of employees and manages the largest medical education and health professions training program in the United States. Civilian Employees 2006VA 235,974Dod 650,401VA Employees 216,119 -- Health Administration12,926 -- Benefits1,508 -- National Cemetery System3,308 -- Veterans Canteen Service (provide merchandise, food and vending services in VA medical centers)442 -- Revolving Supply8,117 -- Other242,420 -- TotalVA Patients Of the 24.3 million veterans currently alive, roughly 11% received disability benefits, which comes to $23.4bAbout 63 million people (20% of the US population) are eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.Rise in Patients 4.1m 20015.3m 2005Backlog of claims 69,000 in 2000.400,000 in 2007Time to process claim 177 daysTime to process appeal 657 daysWounded-to-killed ratio* Global War on Terror (Iraq, Afghanistan and surrounding areas) 16:1Desert Storm/Desert Shield: 1.2Vietnam: 2.6Korea: 2.8World War II: 1.6World War I: 1.8*Note: the VA defines non-mortal wounded as those who are “medically evacuated from theatre”. Budget, 2005 fiscal year $71.2 billion31.5b for health care37.1 for benefits2.6b otherSOURCES: VA, "SOLDIERS RETURNING FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: The Long-term Costs of Providing Veterans Medical Care and Disability Benefits," by Linda Bilmes, Kennedy School of Government Kathleen Hennrikus/Globe Staff
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
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