TY - JOUR
T1 - Predicting and Planning for Musculoskeletal Service-Connected Disabilities in VA Using Disability for Active Duty OEF/OIF Military Service Members
AU - Gundlapalli, Adi V.
AU - Redd, Andrew M.
AU - Suo, Ying
AU - Pettey, Warren B.P.
AU - Brignone, Emily
AU - Chin, David L.
AU - Walker, Lauren E.
AU - Poltavskiy, Eduard A.
AU - Janak, Jud C.
AU - Howard, Jeffrey T.
AU - Sosnov, Lt Col Jonathan A.
AU - Stewart, Lt Col Ian J.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this project was provided by grant F3Z4537031-GW01 (Travis Air Force Base, PIs: I.J.S. and A.V.G.), and VA Center of Innovation Award #I50HX001240 from the Health Services Research and Development of the Office of Research and Development of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/1/7
Y1 - 2020/1/7
N2 - Introduction: Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are commonly seen among military service members (SM) and Veterans. We explored correlates of award of MSK-related service-connected disability benefits (SCDB) among SM seeking care in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Materials and Methods: Department of Defense data on SM who separated from October 1, 2001 to May 2017 were linked to VA administrative data. Using adjusted logistic regression models, we determined the odds of receiving MSK SCDB. Results: A total of 1,558,449 (79% of separating SM) had at least one encounter in VA during the study period (7.8% disability separations). Overall, 51% of this cohort had at least one MSK SCDB (88% among disability separations, 48% among normal). Those with disability separations (as compared to normal separations) were significantly more likely to receive MSK SCDB (odds ratio 2.37) as were females (compared to males, odds ratio 1.15). Conclusions: Although active duty SM with disability separations were more likely to receive MSK-related service-connected disability ratings in the VA, those with normal separations also received such awards. Identifying those at highest risk for MSK-related disability could lead to improved surveillance and prevention strategies in the Department of Defense and VA health care systems to prevent further damage and disability.
AB - Introduction: Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are commonly seen among military service members (SM) and Veterans. We explored correlates of award of MSK-related service-connected disability benefits (SCDB) among SM seeking care in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Materials and Methods: Department of Defense data on SM who separated from October 1, 2001 to May 2017 were linked to VA administrative data. Using adjusted logistic regression models, we determined the odds of receiving MSK SCDB. Results: A total of 1,558,449 (79% of separating SM) had at least one encounter in VA during the study period (7.8% disability separations). Overall, 51% of this cohort had at least one MSK SCDB (88% among disability separations, 48% among normal). Those with disability separations (as compared to normal separations) were significantly more likely to receive MSK SCDB (odds ratio 2.37) as were females (compared to males, odds ratio 1.15). Conclusions: Although active duty SM with disability separations were more likely to receive MSK-related service-connected disability ratings in the VA, those with normal separations also received such awards. Identifying those at highest risk for MSK-related disability could lead to improved surveillance and prevention strategies in the Department of Defense and VA health care systems to prevent further damage and disability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079781331&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/milmed/usz223
DO - 10.1093/milmed/usz223
M3 - Article
C2 - 32074349
AN - SCOPUS:85079781331
SN - 0026-4075
VL - 185
SP - 413
EP - 419
JO - Military Medicine
JF - Military Medicine
ER -