Not all who have served are "veterans" in the eyes of the Department of Veterans Affairs. If the veteran has less than a General discharge, the VA creates obstacles to getting health care, benefits, homeless resources and other services. Most of these veterans are simply turned away. Congress never meant for eligibility to be so exclusive, it intended that only veterans who served dishonorably be denied access. The VA's own discretionary policies unnecessarily deny hundreds of thousands veterans benefits, who are often those most in need of the VA's support. These former service members are more likely to have mental health disabilities and twice as likely to commit suicide. They are more likely to be homeless and to be involved with the criminal justice system.
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Published by
- Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School
- Swords to Plowshares
- National Veterans Legal Services Program
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- Copyright 2016 by Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. All rights reserved.