Congress urged to expand benefits for wounded veterans

The leaders of a presidential commission that reported on poor treatment of wounded war veterans recommended Wednesday expanding and streamlining the benefit system for those with potentially life-altering injuries.

Former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., and Donna Shalala, health secretary in the Clinton administration, outlined changes that would require action by Congress. They include payments for wounded troops to help with the transition into civilian life; compensation for loss in earnings their injuries might cause; and coverage that, for the first time, takes into account changes in quality of life.

Shalala said the current system of disability payments is outdated and mired in bureaucratic problems that confuse veterans and fails to compensate for how a combat-related injury will affect their daily lives. The system is overseen by the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department.

"We need to take into account an injury's impact on an individual's total quality of life," Shalala told the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

The proposals were among 34 from the Dole-Shalala commission this year. They would seek to simplify evaluating the injuries of troops wounded in combat-related service and provide a lifetime annuity for those who can no longer serve.

For example, there would be a single medical exam to evaluate injuries; the military and VA now do separate exams.

Wounded service members and their families would receive lifetime health care coverage. Those with post-traumatic stress disorder would be eligible for lifetime treatment. Relatives could take up to 12 months off from their jobs to help with care.

The proposals are similar to legislation that President Bush sent to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Shalala said Bush's recommendations would cost more and add to the commission's proposals.

The commission was one of several panels created following reports of poor conditions for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and deep problems in the disability systems.

Bush said Tuesday his administration has put in place many of the recommendations from the Dole-Shalala commission.

But a Government Accountability Office report released last month suggested not enough has been done so far in several areas. It cited poor communication between the VA and Pentagon on patient records; persistent backlogs on benefit payments to veterans; and staff shortages that mean nearly half of returning veterans lack access to personalized care medical units promoted by the Army.

Terry Scott, chairman of the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, an independent panel appointed by Congress and the president, said any overhaul of the disability evaluation and payment system could take up to five years to complete.

The prospect of a long wait frustrated some senators.

"We don't have any choice, we have to do it and we have to do it quick," said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

The Dole-Shalala commission has not given a cost estimate for the changes in benefits, and Dole said cost was not a factor in the recommendations.

Among the new benefits would be transition payments for service members who leave due to injuries and compensation for changes in quality of life caused by an injury.

"Maybe you won't be able to dance, maybe you won't be able to play the piano. Things you can't do that really affect your quality of life," said Dole, who was seriously injured while serving in Italy during World War II.