title: Health and Health Care Service Utilization Among U.S. Veterans Denied VA Service-Connected Disability Compensation: A Review of the Literature.
abstract: The general consensus in studies of individuals seeking federal disability compensation is that individuals "denied" disability compensation are healthier than those "awarded." In contrast, studies of military veterans seeking U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation suggest that those "denied" ("denied applicants") may be as impaired as those "awarded" ("awarded applicants"), and likely have critical, albeit unmet health care needs. Moreover, although social isolation among U.S. Veterans has received some attention, its broad influence on health and health care consumption among veterans "denied" VA disability compensation is not well understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide a more thorough understanding of "denied" applicants' health, health care utilization, and social conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed published reports of health, health care utilization, and social isolation "relevant" to U.S. Veterans "denied" VA disability compensation. Among 122 research items initially reviewed, a total of 47 met our inclusion criteria and are summarized herein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to veterans "awarded" VA disability compensation, those "denied" have poorer health, use less VA health care, and may experience social isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Veterans "denied" VA disability compensation may comprise a vulnerable subgroup of veterans in need of supportive services. Such needs may be addressed through evidence-based targeted outreach programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, Room F506 Newark, NJ 07101.
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.affiliation: War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA-New Jersey Healthcare System East Orange, New Jersey 85 Tremont Avenue, Mail Stop 129, 11th Floor, East Orange, NJ 07018.
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Helmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, Room F506, Newark, NJ 07101.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, Room F506, Newark, NJ 07101.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passannante
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, Room F506, Newark, NJ 07101.
authors.forename: Bart K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014728:Veterans; D014729:Veterans Disability Claims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*