Compensation and pension examinations with older veterans.

Abstract

The recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan increased the number of younger veterans in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system, but older adults still comprise much of the veteran population, and they make up a large portion of disability claimants in the VA. Many disability claims involve mental disorders, and those usually necessitate examinations from mental health experts. Examining older veterans for mental disorders requires special consideration because multiple factors mediate or moderate claimed conditions. Many variables, including the war era served, the interplay of military and generational culture, medical comorbidities, and stages of life, can affect the presentation.Several key areas of the VA examination and adjudication process are covered in this chapter, such as reviewing VA disability benefits, the epidemiology of older veterans claiming benefits, the most common mental disorders