I will try to answer your question, and I will also provide clarification with respect to our “new” veterans. This will probably be of interest to you.
We have 4,200 veterans who served in Afghanistan. The number of veterans in receipt of a disability award directly connected to their service in Afghanistan—in other words, who were wounded—is 2,200, or one in every two veterans. The number of veterans receiving a disability benefit for psychiatric disorders connected to their service in Afghanistan—particularly for post-traumatic stress syndrome—is 513—in other words, one in eight. The number of veterans who sustain serious injuries in Afghanistan—in other words, with more than 70% injuries—is 200, or one in twenty.
In seeking information as to whether it was better before, if there were more benefits previously, and that sort of thing, the focus must be on rehabilitation and the transition to civilian life. We will not be any further ahead if we give someone money and he stays at home, rather than being able to continue to grow as part of society. That's why two factors are critical. If we were only to pay a lump sum to these individuals—the maximum payment is about $276,000—and then leave them to fend for themselves, we would be making a mistake; but that is not the case. They receive 75% of their salary until they are rehabilitated. If that takes 15 years, they will continue to receive that amount for 15 years. The same applies if it takes five years. That is the goal.