Nearly 1/2 Of Veterans Filed For Disability

Government statistics revealed that nearly half of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have filed for disability. Forty-five percent of the 1.6 million vets from these wars are seeking compensation for service-related injuries. That's more than the double the disability claims from the Gulf War. In addition, these vets reported an average of eight to nine ailments, compared to fewer than four for Vietnam veterans. That makes post-9/11 vets the most medically and mentally troubled generation of veterans in the nation's history. Government officials told the Associated Press that several factors were driving the claims, like more troops surviving wounds, multiple tours of duty and greater awareness of problems like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Disability payments range from $127 to nearly $3,000 a month, depending on the level of disability.