The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the most complex organizations in government. At the center of this complexity is VA disability ratings and compensation; a program developed over 200 years ago to compensate service members while they recovered from service. Today, this program is convoluted, lengthy and often the most challenging process a Veteran must endure during transition to civilian life. 

Daniel Gade, a retired Army Officer, combat-wounded amputee and author of Wounding Warriors: How Bad Policy is Making Veterans Sicker and Poorer joins host Fran Racioppi to challenge the current one-size fits all approach to VA disability compensation calling it outdated and antiquated; as well as providing recommendations for reform. 

Daniel served in the Bush and Obama administrations and was the Republican nominee in the 2020 election to represent Virginia in the US Senate.

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-Daniel breaks down the VA disability claims process through a personal account of his combat and non-combat related injuries, including a detailed account of being wounded twice in Iraq and the events leading to the loss of his leg.

-We explain the numbers behind the VA, the increase in disability claims over the last two decades, the addition of bi-partisian policy and the cost of disability claims as related to other VA education and health programs.

-After losing his leg in Iraq, Daniel explains how he took control of his rehabilitation by focusing on the future, what factors would aid in his recovery and what must be done to “self-rescue.”

-Daniel used extreme sports like triathlons and cross-fit to prove he could recover and raise his expectations of himself and his ability to thrive as an amputee.

-The concept of “Stolen Valor” demonstrates how too many people misrepresent their service, the level of their injuries and their disabilities to increase their payments from the VA leading to increased policy complexity and bureaucracy.

-Daniel defines the term “permanent and total” and shows how it allows veterans to avoid treatment to ensure continued compensation.

-The path to reform requires three initiatives: focus on employment, link compensation to treatment, separation of military-related injuries vs those incurred while in the military.

Quotes:

-”It causes veterans to see themselves as sick, or as disabled, or as useless and worthless.”

-”We should be much more careful about how we use the word disability. The current process uses disability for anything wrong with a veteran.”

-”The VA spends more on veterans staying sick than veterans getting better.”

-”The VA’s priority is on paying people disability benefits. Not on rehabilitating them, educating them, housing them, or helping them in other ways.”

-“It ripped a chunk out of my thigh and I woke up in a ditch.”

-”I was in a surgeon's care in 37 minutes and my blood pressure was 60 over 0.”

-”My philosophy has always been find a solution and engage in whatever the solution might be.”

-“I realized right then that I wanted to be a person who can do anything.”

-”The veterans’ Iron Triangle is the most difficult Iron Triangle in all of politics.” 

Daniel’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:

-Hug my kids

-Connect to something greater than yourself

-Find a way to serve others

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.