Veterans Are Struggling

CW: Military Service

Sky Lowe fought for his life. Though not in the way you may expect. Last October, the 25-year-old United States Navy veteran received a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs declaring him dead. “I remember just being super confused,” Lowe told NBC 7 Investigates. “Like I was laughing at first. And I would tell people, ‘I’m technically declared dead.’ They’d be like, ‘Dead man walking. Seen a ghost.’”

The letter went on to say that one of his payments was returned, indicating that he had died. He thinks the error was caused by his recent move to a new apartment. However, he says he informed the VA of the address change before receiving the letter. Lowe immediately called the VA to clear things up, and an employee confirmed Lowe was certainly alive — a mistake they promised to correct soon. Instead, Lowe said that he became trapped in a cycle of calling and emailing for months on end. During that period, he came no closer to a resolution or even an idea of when it would be solved.

“The very least y’all can do is just communicate, ‘Hey, give us two weeks.’ And I will sit down and leave it alone. But it’s been months and months,” Lowe said. ‘Honestly, I’ve gotten to a point where I just started having panic attacks.”

Lowe relies on the disability payments he receives each month. Last year, he was eligible for a 40% disability rating for his Navy service. It has enabled him to rent an apartment in Grantville, CA while attending  college and earning a business degree. His days are also hectic with a part-time job and an internship. 

Those months of delayed benefit checks have turned into missed bills. Last Monday, he received another delivery: an eviction notice for unpaid rent. “I just want to know what’s happening honestly,” Lowe said.

Adding to Lowe’s disbelief was the fact that, while the VA incorrectly believed he was deceased, some members of the VA believed he was still alive. Lowe is attending Mesa College on the G.I. Bill. His most recent tuition payment came four months after his alleged death. 

NBC 7 Investigates contacted the VA on Lowe’s behalf. They inquired as to how Lowe’s error occurred and why it had yet to be corrected. Within two days of our emails, Lowe received a call informing him that the matter had been resolved, and a direct deposit for his disability benefits payments had been begun.

In Arizona, cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs have already impacted employees. Now, veterans are concerned about their future healthcare. 

According to a VA document, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and President Trump must reduce their staff by 80,000 personnel. Cuts could have an impact on the treatment of Legion Post #26 members like Doc Brumme, a combat medic in Vietnam. Brumme is disabled and says he receives all of his medical treatment from the VA.

“I’m concerned about all of the things that are happening,” says Brumme. “My medical, all of my prescriptions, the VA is number one in my book.” He also expresses concern about the individuals and medical staff that care for him. “I was just down at the VA for an appointment, I was asking them, are you concerned about your job?” According to VA Secretary Doug Collins, cuts to the VA will have no impact on veteran benefits.

Veterans sacrifice so much to serve their country. They often don’t see their families for months and can’t communicate with them. When veterans come home, they should be able to receive the services and benefits they need.

Sources:

Klepp, Adam. “Pending Job Cuts at the VA Make Valley Veterans Concerned about Their Future Health Care.” ABC15 Arizona , ABC, 23 Mar. 2025, http://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/pending-job-cuts-at-the-va-make-valley-veterans-concerned-about-their-future-health-care. 

Rivas, Alexis, et al. “VA Mistakenly Declared San Diego Veteran Dead, Cut off Disability Payments.” NBC 7 San Diego, NBCUniversal, 24 Mar. 2025, http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/investigations/va-declared-san-diego-veteran-dead-cut-off-disability-payments/3786617/?amp=1.