Veterans’ new enemy

Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

A story of despair that stands out as the nation’s economy worsens involves the veteran who returns from war and endures even more grinding hardship.

It is a story being experienced across the country by young veterans whose service in Iraq or Afghanistan doesn’t count for much in the dwindling job market.

“You fill out a job application and you can’t write ‘long-range reconnaissance and sniper skills,’ ” an Army veteran of the Iraq war who was wounded in the back by shrapnel told The New York Times.

This particular veteran spent a year delivering pizza in the neighborhoods of his Florida hometown while searching for work that would support his family. He had to wait 18 months for his disability claim to be processed. By the time he landed a job as a construction supervisor, his bills totaled $60,000.

All in all, he was fortunate.

Many veterans can’t find sustainable work and sink into despair or even depression. Wounded veterans have it the worst. They must wait at least six months for their disability claims to be processed by the Veterans Affairs Department, more than enough time for them to develop anxieties.

But to many veterans, a six-month wait would be heaven. Two veterans groups sued Veterans Affairs this month, charging that thousands of veterans are having to wait up to four years for their claims to be processed.

Interminable waits by disabled veterans have been well documented in recent years, but Veterans Affairs has not yet been able to appreciably speed the claims process.

Although Congress has made progress in helping veterans, such as prohibiting their homes from being foreclosed on for nine months after their return to civilian life, much more needs to be done.

A retired Marine general told the Times “there have to be incentives for employers” to hire veterans. He makes a good point. Too many employers still do not understand that most issues confronting veterans, including physical and mental injuries, are manageable.

And certainly, the years-long tolerance of veterans suffering morale-killing financial hardship while waiting — and waiting — for their disability claims to be processed should come to a quick end.