I’ll be honest; I really don’t like the Family Feud. This may be an unpopular opinion, but it is mine, and I have the right to have it. My displeasure with the show is not with the host, the families on it, or the format; it’s with the survey they use for the answers. They only Survey 100 people for these questions! Are you really trying to tell me that 100 people can really represent the entire country when it comes to something as important as naming something you bring on a picnic? This is really the problem with surveys and polls as a whole, at least in my opinion. As a country, we are far too diverse to believe that 100 people can really speak for everyone. (By the way, check out the video below of a Marine and a civilian giving the greatest response ever to a Family Feud question. It’s worth a view.)
Ok, as in most of my blogs, we have to ask “how does this pertain to VA disability?” Well, a recent poll by the Washington Post examined Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and let’s just say they didn’t take the “Family Feud” approach. The complete story can be found here, but be warned, it’s much longer and doesn’t reference the Family Feud once.
There is a ton of great information here, and the information found is valuable and up to date. Over 800 Veterans participated who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or both. Veterans from every branch of the military, with the exception of the Coast Guard, participated, and both men and women were asked questions. There were over 50 questions that ranged from “how long did you plan to serve” to “Do you feel as if President Obama is a good commander in chief for the military.” While I will stray away from politics, it is interesting to note that 47% of the Veterans surveyed consider themselves independent.
The Washington Post article that accompanied this survey has some interesting statistics:
Of the 819 Veterans surveyed,
•18 percent were seriously injured while performing their duties.
•34 percent say they have a service-connected disability.
•52 percent say their physical or mental health is worse than it was before the wars.
•41 percent report experiencing outbursts of anger, at least sometimes.
•51 percent know a service member who has attempted or committed suicide.
See the entire poll with results by clicking here,
What do these numbers really mean though? Well, one thing we can gather from this is that claims for PTSD will likely be on the rise. Over half of the individuals surveyed admitting that their mental health is worse than it was before they were deployed. Also, 18% who stated that they were seriously injured while serving means there will likely be an influx of physical claims.
Overall, this survey was really informative. I spent a lot of time reading the numbers as well as the report that the Washington Post released with the data. If you are interested in filing for VA disability or would like a free consultation, give me a call. Our toll-free number is 1-877-526 3457. If you’d rather be contacted by us, fill out this form and we will call you.
