Databases show vets get uneven treatment

Chris Adams September-October 2006 View as JSON

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Government & Politics

This investigation explores how U.S. military veterans receive inconsistent benefits and treatment depending on their geographic location despite uniform federal regulations.

All things being equal, a military veteran on the West Coast should get the same treatment as his colleague from the East, right?

You would think so. After all, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has but one set of regulations, which applies to veterans whether they live in Sacramento, Calif., or Syracuse, N.Y..

But in fact, a veteran from one state is unlikely to get the same service, treatment or monthly disability check as his