Vietnam Vets Say VA Data Theft Story Does Not ‘Add Up’

The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) looked at VA’s account of the recent theft of veterans’ personal information and decided the numbers just didn’t "add up."

Specifically, the VA reported that the 26.5 million records stolen represents every military veteran discharged since 1975, and possibly earlier if the individual had filed a VA claim. However, the total number of living US veterans, as reported by the VA is... 26.5 million. And, according to the VVA, more than two-thirds of Vietnam era veterans left the military prior to 1975.

"There are only about 26.5 million living American veterans, and only a fraction of these have ever sought anything from the VA," said John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America in a VVA press release.

The VVA goes on to question whether the VA should have been in possession of the data in the first place. "The real story here may be hidden in plain sight," said Rowan, "it is questionable that this data should have been in the possession of VA or anyone other than the Social Security Administration for strictly narrow and legally defined purposes."

Also See: VA Advises Veterans on Information Theft