June 17, 2024
A study found about 41% of Veterans live with chronic pain, nearly double the rate of the civilian population and 63% of Veterans with chronic pain live with a mental health condition. In transitioning from federally funded and delivered care to provincial or territorial systems, Veterans commonly report challenges with finding a family physician and transferring medical information. Some Veterans may distrust government institutions if they experienced moral injury, systemic discrimination or violence during service. In addition, Veterans may have reservations about disclosing health issues owing to fear that doing so will affect their eligibility for benefits with VAC.