Veterans for Common Sense
Post Office Box 15514
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 491-6953
www.VeteransForCommonSense.org
VA Fact Sheet:
Impact of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Department of Defense Deployments, as of Oct. 31, 2007:
Cumulative U.S. service members deployed: 1,641,894
Still remaining in the military: 854,698 (52%)
Veterans eligible for VA healthcare and benefits: 787,196 (48%)
Veterans Health Administration (VHA), as of Dec. 21, 2007:
Patients treated: 263,909 (34% of veterans)
Diagnosed with a mental health condition: 100,580 (38% of patients)
Diagnosed with PTSD 56, 246 (21% of patients)
Counseled at Vet Centers : 242,000 (31% of veterans)
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), as of Nov. 14, 2007:
Filed a disability claim: 245,034 (31% of veterans)
Still waiting for an answer: 38,693 (16% of claims files)
Approved for a PTSD claim: 34,138 (65% of VHA patients)
Average wait time for BVA to process a claim: More than 6 months
Comparison of Active Duty with National Guard and Reserve:
Veterans who served on Active Duty: 384,107 (49%)
Veterans activated from Guard/Reserve: 403,089 (51%)
Active Duty veterans with claims filed: 157,785 (41%)
Guard/Reserve veterans with claims filed: 87,213 (22%)
Active Duty veterans with claims rejected by VBA: 7,493 (5%)
Guard/Reserve veterans with claims rejected by VBA: 10,110 (14%)
40 Year Estimate of War Costs by Harvard University, Jan. 2007:
New veteran patients: 700,000
New veteran claims: 700,000
Financial cost to U.S. taxpayers: $350 billion to $700 billion
Veterans for Common Sense
Post Office Box 15514
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 491-6953
www.VeteransForCommonSense.org
DoD Fact Sheet: Casualties From Iraq and Afghanistan
Wars
DoD Reports 72, 043 Battlefield Casualties Among 1.6 Million Deployed since 2001
| Casualty Category | Afghanistan War (OEF) | Iraq War (OIF) | Total of Both Wars |
| Dates | Oct. 7, 2001 - Jan. 5, 2008 | Mar. 23, 2003 - Jan. 5, 2008 | Through Jan. 5, 2008 |
| Total Deaths | 471 | 3,901 | 4,372 |
| Total Wounded, Injured, and Ill | 8,264 | 59,407 | 67,671 |
| Total War Casualties | 8,735 | 63,308 | 72,043 |
| Deployment to War Zones | Dates | Service Members |
| Cumulative Number Deployed | Sep. 2001 - Oct. 31, 2007 | 1,641,894 |
| Deployed Twice or More | Sep. 2001 - Oct. 31, 2007 | 564,769 |
Source: Department of Defense
Afghanistan War (OEF):
http://siadapp.dmds.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/WOTSUM.pdf
Iraq War (OIF):
http://siadappdmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/OIF-Total.pdf
Veterans for Common Sense is a non-partisan organization providing information and advocacy on policies related to national security, civil liberties, veterans' healthcare and veterans' disability benefits. VCS is registered with the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and donations are tax deductible.