A group of MPs have slammed the way veteran benefits are paid out and say the current system "drives many into poverty and increases the risk of suicides".
The system set up by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to help veterans is not fit for purpose, the MPs say - and needs a full review.
In the spotlight are two benefits exclusive to veterans - war pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) payments.
Veterans physically or mentally harmed during service before April 6 2005 can apply for war pension payments, and after that point they must go to the AFCS.
But many veterans trying to access these payments say they face lengthy waits to have their claim heard only to be rejected or not given enough money.
They then have to undergo lengthy and difficult struggles to appeal their case at a tribunal, which often fails.
But now SNP MP Owen Thompson is speaking out.
Are you a veteran struggling to get war pension or AFCS payments? Message sam.barker@reachplc.com
Thompson, the MP for Midlothian, has published an early day motion (EDM) on the issue - a sort of formal petition that can be debated in Parliament if enough MPs sign it.
Thompson's War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation payments EDM says "this House believes that the current process for claiming War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation payments is not fit for purpose and drives many veterans to give up on claims, severely deteriorates many veterans’ mental health, drives many into poverty, and increases the risk of suicides".
The EDM "applauds our veterans for the immense sacrifices they have made and believes that all veterans deserve to be fairly compensated for injury, illness and death caused by their time in service".
It goes on to say the MPs signing it are "deeply concerned about the mental health impact on veterans of the complexity, lack of transparency and lack of impartiality in the process of putting in a claim, requesting a review of evidence and engaging with the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Tribunal".
Thompson also said too many veterans are not getting the payments they need and then struggle to get an increase.
Veteran benefits are handled by part of the MOD called Veterans UK.
Thompson said that he is "deeply concerned by reports of medical evidence and paperwork being removed from veterans’ evidence bundles by Veterans UK during the tribunal process".
This has led to many veteran claims being rejected at tribunal as vital proof of their injuries mysteriously goes missing.
One former soldier in this position is Garry McDermott, a 47-year-old veteran of the Royal Scots regiment, who has campaigned tirelessly on the issue.
McDermott gets war pension payments due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a bad back brought on from carrying a heavy backpack and his military career.
But he is appealing the payout he gets because he has bad hips, needs a knee replacement and has had worsening PTSD.
During his service he carried weights of up to 88kg every day, and regularly was made to run with the same load. His Army medical file notes this led to trauma to his hips.
But Veterans UK told him the worsening of his condition was because he admitted going for a run after he left the Army in 2017.
McDermott says he sent the crucial Army medical documents to the MOD 50 times, but these were still among 1,500 pages of evidence missing from his evidence bundle.
McDermott said: "I have never had an apology from them and that’s with reports going missing, injuries being labelled incorrectly, being told I am a nuisance, it’s disgusting treatment."
The EDM has been signed by 14 MPs so far.
Speaking to The Mirror, Thompson said: "The treatment of veterans seeking the support they deserve is simply scandalous. Veterans make immense sacrifices for their country - the least they should expect is to be fairly compensated for injuries or illnesses they sustain.
"The UK Government must get its house in order. They must honour their duty of care to veterans and launch an independent inquiry into the failings of this system."
The charity Combat Stress helps veterans handle mental health problems, and its experts also say former members of the forces are let down by the current system.
Combat Stress consultant psychiatrist Dr Walter Busutti said: “We are very much aware that veterans are struggling as a direct result of the inefficiencies within the process of applying for and claiming War Pensions and payment from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
"The system seems pitted against the veterans’ claims, making it an overly long and protracted process with a series of appeals that risks their mental wellbeing and exacerbates any pre-existing mental health issues."
Defence minister Leo Docherty said: “Veterans UK is committed to ensuring the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme provides extensive support to former and serving personnel, helping them claim, and receive, payments to which they are entitled.
"Free support is provided for veterans and their families and Veterans UK staff are always available to discuss any applications with individuals.
“We take the wellbeing of all those who have served extremely seriously. Former service personnel can access specialist medical care from the NHS, and every part of the UK now has a dedicated mental health service for veterans.”
