VA BENEFITS ACTIVITY

VETERANS DEPLOYED TO THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR

Through September 30, 2009

This report summarizes participation in VA benefits programs by veterans identified by

the Department of Defense as having been deployed overseas in support of the Global
War on Terror (GWOT) including Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom
(OIF/OEF). Information is included for the following VA programs: Compensation,
Insurance, Home Loan Guaranty, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment.

This update provides data on VA program participation for 1,946,042 GWOT veterans
separated from military service through June 30, 2009 and those veterans who self-
reported to VA through September 30, 2009.

It is important to understand that because many GWOT veterans had earlier

periods of service, the benefits activity identified in this report could have
occurred either prior to or subsequent to their GWOT deployment (or both).

Chart #1
GWOT Veterans by Branch of Service

Reserve
Branch of Service Guard Active Duty Total
Air Force 98,811 114,561 213,372
Army 340,798 256,823 597,621
Coast Guard 541 2,909 3,450
Marine Corps 38,196 111,160 149,356
Navy 32,458 156,194 188,652
Other 6 68 74
Unknown 2,319 3,370 5,689
Total matched to VA systems 513,129 645,085 1,158,214
Unable to match to VA systems 699 724 1,423
Total 513,828 645,809 1,159,637
Note: Veterans’ branch of service was obtained from VA’s BIRLS system, which stores information
for up to three periods of service. The branch of service associated with the most recent service
date was used for the chart above.

Prepared by: 1
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
 Chart #2
Gender of GWOT Veterans
Reserve
Gender Guard Active Duty Total
Female 55,726 82,464 138,190
Male 453,623 557,353 1,010,976
Unknown 3,780 5,268 9,048
Total matched to VA systems 513,129 645,085 1,158,214
Unable to match to VA systems 699 724 1,423
Total 513,828 645,809 1,159,637

Chart #3
Age of GWOT Veterans
Reserve
Age Group Guard Active Duty Total
Under 20 147 452 599
20 - 29 160,627 335,563 496,190
30 - 39 151,557 161,892 313,449
40 - 49 138,536 117,810 256,346
50 - 59 50,717 24,586 75,303
60 -69 9,993 1,908 11,901
Unknown 1,552 2,874 4,426
Total matched to VA systems 513,129 645,085 1,158,214
Unable to match to VA systems 699 724 1,423
Total 513,828 645,809 1,159,637
Note: Veterans’ ages are calculated in whole years based on the date of birth in the BIRLS system.
Any veteran with a missing or invalid date of birth, or where the calculated age was under 17 years or
over 69 years, was placed in the “Unknown” age group.

Chart #4
Average Age of GWOT Veterans
Reserve
Guard Active Duty
Average Age 36.8 years 32.3 years

Chart #5
Average Length of Service for GWOT Veterans
Reserve
Guard Active Duty
Average Length of Service 3.8 years 8.8 years

Prepared by: 2
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
 Service-Connected Disability Compensation Program

VBA’s computer systems do not contain any data that would allow us to attribute
veterans’ disabilities to a specific period of service or deployment. We are therefore
only able to identify GWOT veterans who filed a disability compensation claim at some
point either prior to or following their GWOT deployment. We are not able to identify
which of these veterans filed a claim for disabilities incurred during their actual overseas
GWOT deployment.

Many veterans file disability compensation claims for more than one condition. The
table below provides information on individual GWOT veterans, not specific claimed
disabilities.

Individuals included in the category “Veterans Awarded Service-Connection” are those

veterans who have at least one condition that meets eligibility requirements for service
connection under VA statutes and regulations. For veterans who filed a claim for more
than one condition, this category contains veterans with a full grant of all conditions as
well as veterans with a combination of disabilities granted and denied.

If none of a GWOT veteran’s claimed conditions meet eligibility requirements under VA

statutes and regulations, these individuals are included in the category “Veterans
Denied Service-Connection.”

Chart #6
C&P Activity Among GWOT Veterans
(Includes claims filed both prior to and following GWOT deployment)
Reserves Active
Category Total
Guard Duty
Deployed Service members 546,385 1,399,677 1,946,062
Total GWOT Veterans 513,828 645,809 1,159,637
Living GWOT Veterans 510,990 637,529 1,148,519
GWOT In-Service Deaths 922 3,879 4,801
GWOT Post Service Deaths 1,916 4,401 6,317
Total GWOT Veterans with Claims Decisions 117,535 285,913 403,448
Veterans Awarded Service-Connection 107,733 279,335 387,068
Veterans Receiving Compensation 92,539 253,051 345,590
Veterans Denied Service-Connection 9,802 6,578 16,380
Veterans with Pending Claims (as of 09-30-09) 22,972 46,425 69,397
Veterans with Pending Reopened Claims 10,253 20,179 30,432
Pending from First-Time Claimants 12,719 26,246 38,965
Total GWOT Veterans Filing Disability Claims* 130,254 312,159 442,413
* Includes “Total GWOT Veterans with Claims Decisions” and “Pending from First-Time Claimants.”

Prepared by: 3
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
Disabilities are evaluated according to VA regulations, and the extent of the disability is
expressed as a percentage from zero percent to 100 percent disabling, in increments of
10 percent. Veterans with more than one service-connected disability receive a
combined disability rating.

The chart below includes GWOT veterans awarded combined service-connected

disability ratings from zero percent to 100 percent, regardless of whether the veteran
receives monetary compensation.

Chart #7
GWOT Veterans Awarded Service-Connection
(by Combined Degree of Disability)
Combined
Degree Reserves Guard Active Duty Total
0 15,194 26,284 41,478
10 24,868 43,706 68,574
20 14,075 34,056 48,131
30 12,214 36,521 48,735
40 11,149 34,702 45,851
50 6,591 23,244 29,835
60 7,902 28,392 36,294
70 5,563 20,034 25,597
80 4,516 16,248 20,764
90 2,251 8,015 10,266
100 3,410 8,133 11,543
Total 107,733 279,335 387,068
Note:  Previous versions of this chart provided counts based on a veteran’s highest combined
rating. Beginning in July 2008, counts are based on the current combined evaluation. 

Chart #8
Ten Most Frequent Service-Connected Disabilities for GWOT Veterans
(Both Active Duty and Reserve/Guard)
Diagnosti
Diagnosis Description Count
c Code
6260 Tinnitus 129,190
5237 Lumbosacral Or Cervical Strain 88,381
9411 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 67,052
5242 Degenerative Arthritis Of The Spine 60,140
5260 Limitation Of Flexion Of Leg 55,741
6100 Defective Hearing 54,515
5024 Tenosynovitis 51,833
Hypertensive Vascular Disease (Essential Arterial
7101 48,464
Hypertension)
8100 Migraine 47,108
5271 Limited Motion Of The Ankle 46,060

Prepared by: 4
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
Insurance Program Traumatic Injury Benefit

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) is a rider

under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) that provides for payment to any
member of the uniformed services covered by SGLI who sustains a traumatic injury that
results in certain severe losses. Through September 30, 2009, 11,030 active duty
servicemembers and veterans have applied for TSGLI. Of those, GWOT veterans filed
7,713 claims and 4,823 of those received benefits.

Chart #9a
GWOT Veterans Who Applied for TSGLI Benefits
(by Age)
Reserve
Age Group Guard Active Duty Total
Under 20 - 7 7
20 - 29 765 3,193 3,958
30 - 39 819 1,270 2,089
40 - 49 859 388 1,247
50 - 59 316 30 346
60 -69 43 1 44
Unknown - 22 22
Total 2,802 4,911 7,713
Note: The totals above reflect veterans, whose claims have been approved or
denied.

Chart #9b
GWOT Veterans Who Received TSGLI Benefits
(by Age)
Reserve
Age Group Guard Active Duty Total
Under 20 - 5 5
20 – 29 511 2,356 2,867
30 - 39 430 859 1,289
40 - 49 304 224 528
50 - 59 101 7 108
60 -69 5 - 5
Unknown - 21 21
Total 1,351 3,472 4,823

Prepared by: 5
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
 Chart #10a
GWOT Veterans Who Applied for TSGLI Benefits
(by Gender)
Reserve
Gender Guard Active Duty Total
Female 145 148 293
Male 2,653 4,737 7,390
Unknown 4 26 30
Total 2,802 4,911 7,713
Note: The totals above reflect veterans, whose claims have been approved or
denied.

Chart #10b
GWOT Veterans Who Received TSGLI Benefits
(by Gender)
Reserve
Gender Guard Active Duty Total
Female 51 84 135
Male 1,299 3,365 4,664
Unknown 1 23 24
Total 1,351 3,472 4,823

Prepared by: 6
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
Home Loan Guaranty Program

VA’s home loan guaranty program has been helping veterans purchase homes for more
than 60 years. VA guaranteed home loans are made by banks and mortgage
companies to veterans, servicemembers and eligible reservists.  With VA backing a
portion of the loan, veterans can receive a competitive interest rate without a
downpayment, making it easier to buy a home. 

This benefit can be used more than once if needed to 1) refinance an existing VA
guaranteed loan at a lower interest rate or 2) to purchase a home that will again be
used as the person's primary residence (eligible to do this normally after paying off any
previous loans.)

Chart #11
Home Loan Guaranty Program Participation by GWOT Veterans
Reserve
Guard Active Duty Total
GWOT Veterans with VA
Loans 141,338 176,715 318,053
Total Loans Made to GWOT
Veterans 221,153 276,406 497,559
Dollar Amount of All
Loans to GWOT Veterans $28.2b $39.7b $67.9b

Prepared by: 7
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
Education Programs

The chart below reflects participation by GWOT veterans in VA education benefit

programs since September 11, 2001. Participants may have been entitled to more than
one benefit. For example, a reservist may have received Chapter 1606 benefits until he
or she became eligible to receive Chapter 1607 benefits. This participant would be
reported in both columns in the chart below.

Chart #12
Education Program Participation Among GWOT Veterans
Since September 11, 2001
Type of Training  Chapter 30 Chapter 1606 Chapter 1607 Total
Graduate 14,970 7,801 6,733 29,504
Under Graduate 107,087 91,298 36,579 234,964
Junior College 102,963 58,177 20,121 181,261
Non-college Degree 28,564 8,875 4,798 42,237
Total 253,584 166,151 68,231 487,966
Note: This data is based on DMDC separations thru May 31, 2009, compared to VA records as of Aug
07, 2009.

Montgomery GI Bill Active-Duty (Chapter 30) provides up to 36 months of education

benefits for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job
training, and correspondence courses. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years
following release from active duty.

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) provides up to 36 months of

education benefits to members of the reserve elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and members of the Army National Guard, and the Air
National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight
training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Benefits
generally end the day a member separates from the Selected Reserve or National
Guard. For those who are activated, eligibility is extended beyond separation for a
period of time equal to time served on active duty plus four months.

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607) provides

educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to
active duty in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or
Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least
90 days after September 11, 2001, eligible for education benefits or eligible for
increased benefits.

Prepared by: 8
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program - Chapter 31

Chart #13
VR&E Activity Among GWOT Veterans
(Includes participation either prior to and following GWOT deployment)
Reserve Active
Current Case Status Guard Duty Total
Applicant 680 1,897 2,577
Employment Services 397 1,189 1,586
Evaluation and Planning 1,486 3,966 5,452
Extended Evaluation 285 654 939
Independent Living 97 129 226
Interrupted 661 1,912 2,573
Rehabilitation to Employability 4,011 14,690 18,701
Unknown 78 19 97
Current Participants 7,695 24,456 32,151
Rehabilitated 1,519 3,276 4,795
Discontinued 543 1,006 1,549
Total VR&E Participants 9,757 28,738 38,495

Chart #13a
VR&E Status By Disability Rating Among Service-Connected GWOT Veterans
(Includes participation either prior to and/or following GWOT deployment)
Case Status 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Totals
Applicant 114 166 256 356 394 264 354 256 221 100 96 2,577
Employment
Services 4 32 141 220 238 192 245 191 181 76 66 1,586
Evaluation and
Planning 173 151 378 688 763 595 805 665 553 316 365 5,452

Extended Evaluation 14 20 33 71 93 84 133 113 123 77 178 939

Independent Living - 1 - 1 4 6 12 28 48 31 95 226
Interrupted 17 57 151 272 360 265 361 320 340 197 233 2,573
Rehabilitation to
Employability 52 351 1,340 2,340 2,825 2,235 3,052 2,357 2,058 1,073 1,018 18,701
Unknown 31 28 6 9 2 4 5 2 4 1 5 97
Current Participants 405 806 2,305 3,957 4,679 3,645 4,967 3,932 3,528 1,871 2,056 32,151
Rehabilitated 17 139 583 680 730 509 644 532 423 270 268 4,795
Discontinued 7 50 213 210 228 166 190 145 161 79 100 1,549
Total VR&E
Participants 429 995 3,101 4,847 5,637 4,320 5,801 4,609 4,112 2,220 2,424 38,495

Prepared by: 9
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
 Chart #13b
VR&E Activity Among Service-Connected GWOT Veterans
(Enrolled in Chapter 31)
Combined VR&E % eligible who
Degree Total Participants enrolled in VR&E
0% 41,478 429 1.0%
10% 68,574 995 1.5%
20% 48,131 3,101 6.4%
30% 48,735 4,847 9.9%
40% 45,851 5,637 12.3%
50% 29,835 4,320 14.5%
60% 36,294 5,801 16.0%
70% 25,597 4,609 18.0%
80% 20,764 4,112 19.8%
90% 10,266 2,220 21.6%
100% 11,543 2,424 21.0%
Total 387,068 38,495 9.9%
Note: Veterans rated 0% are not typically eligible but may receive services if they are enrolled at
10% or higher and rating is subsequently reduced.

Applicant: A veteran’s case is assigned to applicant status when the VA receives an

application (VAF-1900) for services under Chapter 31.

Employment Services: Services to assist in obtaining and/or maintaining suitable

employment.
Evaluation and Planning: Determination of feasibility of a vocational goal and/or
evaluation the veteran’s ability to function independently within the veteran’s family and
community.
Extended Evaluation: Determine the current feasibility of the veteran with a serious
employment handicap to achieve a vocational goal.
Rehabilitation to Employability: Services and training necessary for entry into
employment in an identified suitable occupational objective.
Independent Living Program: Services that are needed to enable a veteran to achieve
maximum independence in daily living, including home accommodations, counseling, and
educational services, as determined necessary.
Rehabilitated: The goals of a rehabilitation/employment/independent living program have
been substantially achieved.

Interrupted: Temporary suspension of the program warranted due to a veteran’s

individual circumstances.
Discontinued: All services and benefits are terminated.
Serious Employment Handicap: A significant impairment of a veteran’s ability to
prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment, as determined by a VA counselor.

Prepared by: 10
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009
Sources

DoD:
 Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) East, cumulative count of service
members deployed to OIF/OEF, from September 11, 2001 through
June 30, 2009.
 DMDC West, extract of OIF/OEF service members discharged to civilian status
from September 11, 2001 through June 30, 2009.

VBA:
 Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS), as of
September 30, 2009.
 Compensation and Pension Master Record (CPMR), active records (“A” type) as
of September 30, 2009.
 CPMR, terminated records (“E” type) as of September 30, 2009.
 Corporate records as of September 30, 2009.
 Pending Issue File (PIF), as of the close of business on September 30, 2009
 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service Chapter 31 file, as of
September 30, 2009.
 Loan Guaranty data, as of September 30, 2009.
 TSGLI file, as of September 30, 2009.
 Education Service data, as of August 07, 2009.

Questions

Questions may be referred to Jim Clayton in the Office of Performance Analysis and
Integrity at (202) 461-9048.

Prepared by: 11
VBA Office of Performance Analysis & Integrity
Revised: Nov 18, 2009