Older vets feel sidelined by Afghanistan-focused VA

Of course it will make a difference, you went to the press with it right before Rememberance day. Good timing

I don't know how much truth there is in this but, within the older Veterans community there is still the impression that DVA denies most claims made by Veterans who served from the middle 50's to the middle 90's. But, no one I know has ever said it's because of the Afghanistan Veterans.

Although, like they say appearances are everything and since there's been so much publicity about DVA screwing over Afghanistan Vets maybe some Vets who didn't win their cases or get what they thought they deserved see this attention as some weird form of favoritism by Veterans Affairs.

There are some glaring differences between Veterans now and Veterans from years past which make a huge difference when DVA reviews a claim. Most Veterans who served in the Gulf War, Balkans and Afghanistan or UN Duty were in a SDA which, given the rules and regulations for claims, makes their cases alot easier for Veterans Affairs to rule on.

Also, documenting injuries has come along way from when I was in. Now medical records are much better kept because people now know the importance of keeping correct medical records for future medical problems.

CF 98's aren't just reams of paper stuck in a supervisors drawer anymore but are actually a requirement for a supervisor to fill out for any subordinate who's injured................ much like they were supposed to be all along.

Things like these go alongway in giving Veterans affairs a better understanding as to the validity of the claimants, which, may give the impression that DVA is expediating some of the newer cases over the older ones.

So while this guys timing stinks you can in some ways understand why he may have formulated the impression about Afghan Vets being favored.