Fundamental Changes and Surging Costs for Veteran Disability Compensation

July, 2016
IDA document: D-8076
FFRDC: Systems and Analyses Center
Type: Research Summary/Research Insights , Documents
Division: Cost Analysis and Research Division
Authors:

Authors

David Hunter, Kristen Guerrera See more authors

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Further Evidence on the Effect of Acquisition Policy and Process on the Cost Growth of Major Defense Acquisition Programs (revised)

The percent of veterans receiving disability compensation was remarkably consistent between 1960 and 1999, hovering around 8% for 40 years.
However, the period 2000 to 2014 shows a fundamental change in participation. The percentage of veterans receiving disability compensation more than doubled in the last 15 years. The number of disability compensation recipients increased substantially even while the total number of veterans declined.