THE US Army's healthcare system for wounded soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan has been "overwhelmed" by sheer numbers, according to a new government report by the service's inspector general.
There are only 30 physical evaluation staff to process disability claims for the 32,000 US casualties of the two wars and almost every medical holding facility for returning veterans lacks qualified staff.
In parallel with public complaints this week about long treatment delays for British soldiers suffering from psychiatric disorders after frontline tours of duty, the US report said the provision of military mental welfare specialists was "totally inadequate".
While the UK's Ministry of Defence admits 2% of veterans have shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder or other behavioural abnormalities, the US Veterans' Affairs department admits that as many as one in four of the regular and National Guard troops admitted to its hospitals are affected.
The VA has now ordered a "full and immediate review" of facilities at its 1400 hospitals and clinics, while the White House has instructed the Pentagon to review its procedures for handling the wounded.
More than 1.5m US regular and part-time soldiers have served year-long tours of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2003 and VA sources are now predicting a potential PTSD problem which could far exceed the psychiatric toll from Vietnam in the 1970s.
Britain admits 2100 Iraq veterans have been treated for mental health problems, with more than 200 developing PTSD. Welfare charities fear the final toll could be 10 times higher.
The study comes a day after the Pentagon forced Lieutenant-General Kevin Kiley, the US Army's surgeon general, to resign over the scandal of poor outpatient treatment of wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Washington.
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