Introduction

According to the US Census, as of 2019, approximately 30% of veterans had a service-level disability. However, more recent data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) provide a clearer picture of the extent of service-connected disabilities among U.S. military veterans. In August 2019, the VA and DoD reported that 4.7 million veterans, or 25% of the total U.S. military veteran population, had assigned service-connected disabilities. These disabilities are officially recognized by the VA or DoD and include various ratings given to veterans based on their injuries or illnesses resulting from their service.

Current Statistics

The VA maintains updated, publicly available statistics to estimate the number of U.S. veterans, currently standing at approximately 19,209,074. These estimates are updated quarterly based on the best available information to ensure statistical reliability. Assuming the VA’s estimates are the most reliable and valid, we can use this figure to make further analyses.

The VA provides additional data indicating that as of April 29, 2020, 5.04 million U.S. veterans were receiving VA disability compensation. This number represents a subset of the total VA population and implies that these veterans have service-connected disabilities, as they would not be receiving compensation otherwise. However, this figure may exclude veterans with a service-connected disability rated as “0,” as these veterans do not receive disability compensation.

Calculating the Percentage of Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities

To determine the percentage of U.S. veterans with a service-connected disability, we can use the following basic mathematical calculations:

5,040,000 (veterans receiving VA disability) ÷ 19,209,074 (total estimated number of US veterans) ≈ 26.18%

Considering the complexities of these statistics, including the possibility of some veterans not being accurately included, we can conclude that approximately 25% of U.S. veterans are rated with a service-connected disability and receiving VA disability compensation. This translates to a range from 20% to 30%.

Conclusion

To summarize, roughly 25% plus or minus 5% of the U.S. veteran population has been rated with a service-connected disability, and is receiving VA disability compensation. This highlights the significant number of veterans who require ongoing support and care due to disabilities resulting from their service. Understanding these statistics is crucial for policymakers, healthcare providers, and the general public to ensure appropriate resources and support are available for veterans in need.