Tom's Journal

No-- those who are wounded/mulilated on Federal active duty, including whether after 180 days or before that, are supposed to be kept in the service, receiving medical services at military medical facilities, until either well enough to return to active duty, or until given a disability percentage rating and a monthly disability pension (at which point, they are entitled to use VA hospitals and receive other veterans benefits) and an official status of medical honorable discharge on the DD214. The widows/widowers/orphans of those killed on active duty are entitled to monthly Dependents Indemnity and Compensation, military medical care, commissary and PX privileges, etc. on top of the insurance/death benefits. But for people who simply don't serve at least 180 days Federal active, who return home safely, there are no vets benefits. The concern, of course, that some wounded Guards simply want to go home, to areas where there is no VA hospital near than, and without official resolution of their status. Due to Federal budget-cutting, there are fewer VA hospitals than there once were, and they are open fewer hours in some cases, with fewer staff. So while those with service-connected medical issues are priority, the services they need may not be available in their home area.