Yesterday's release of a new study published in The Journal of Science has renewed the mind numbing numbers game surrounding the cases of post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam war veterans. The study finds that the number of cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans was not as high as originally thought The fact is that quibbling over numbers misses the point. The point is that the number is high no matter how you analyze it and the discussion should be on what matters - and that countless veterans are suffering from PTSD. Their families are suffering, and this country needs to do everything it can to treat them so they can go on and lead productive lives.

What has gone unnoticed in the discussion around this study is that it validates, once again, the diagnosis of PTSD. It confirms that the consequences of war can affect those who serve in war, years, and decades after returning home. We cannot let the numbers game distort those critical facts because today, 25,317 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have been treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for PTSD. We cannot let this study and those numbers disrupt their critical care.

The lead investigator cautioned us on just that, he said "I hope this re-analysis will not lead our government to shortchange the VA, in terms of providing clinical services for returning troops. Let's make sure that people get the help they need soon, so that they don't develop chronic PTSD."

And that's the bad news about this study, too many are ignoring his warning. Already pundits, talking heads and government bean counters are sharpening their knives, ready to hack away at the funding for this generation of war veterans. The focus on the numbers produces just enough doubt to create more stigma, prevent veterans from seeking help, and give the Department of Defense (DoD) and the VA another excuse to deny face to face mental health screening.

We simply cannot let those numbers distract us from the task at hand: caring for our returning soldiers. What I hope this study does is prompt our leaders to act and force Congress to address this serious medical condition. Veterans for America is working to bring the real fact to our elected officials about this issue so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.

A study that says 18% or another that says 30% or another that says 50% really just doesn't matter. What matters is that we have a responsibility to provide the best medical care to anyone who has served so that we bind up and heal the wounds of our war veterans.