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Injured Veterans Sue US

Class action suit targets VA for 'shameful failures' in treatment

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2007 4:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – Two veterans groups representing troops who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan are suing the US government for "shameful failures" in medical treatment, Reuters reports. The Department of Veterans Affairs is swamped with a backlog of 600,000 health claims and is "abandoning" soldiers returning home, the class-action suit contends.

Veterans have died waiting for medical care, and combat soldiers suffering from  post-traumatic stress disorder—many of them after serving multiple tours—are not getting treatment, according to the suit, which represents some 12,000 veterans. "Unless systemic and drastic measures are instituted immediately, the costs to these veterans will be incalculable," the suit states.

Army Secretary Pete Geren talks to soldiers in the warrior transition unit at Irwin Army Community Hospital Friday, July 20, 2007, at Fort Riley, Kan. The visit was Geren's first tour of an Army installation since his confirmation July 13. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Army Secretary Pete Geren talks to soldiers in the warrior transition unit at Irwin Army Community Hospital Friday, July 20, 2007, at Fort Riley, Kan. The visit was Geren's first tour of an Army installation...   (Associated Press)
Veteran Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson, holds up a 60 gigabyte portable hard drive as he demonstrates how easy data can be stored, while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington in this June 8, 2006 file photo. Frustrated by delays in health care, a coalition of injured Iraq war veterans is...
Veteran Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson, holds up a 60 gigabyte portable hard drive as he demonstrates how easy data can be stored, while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington in this June 8, 2006...   (Associated Press)
Joshua Pitcher works with occupational therapist Imelda Llanos at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital March 21, 2007 in Tampa, Fla. James was injured in Iraq. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Joshua Pitcher works with occupational therapist Imelda Llanos at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital March 21, 2007 in Tampa, Fla. James was injured in Iraq. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)   (Associated Press)
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