Think of this for a moment--
Various laws since the civil war have the intent to LIMIT the ability of a veteran to obtain compensation for injury.
This attitude was/is prevalent in many civilizations, including our own. It's based upon the idea that solders are need in wartime, do what is needed to get them--then the war is over, and a veteran/soldier needing help is perceived as a drain of the nation.

This persists today, with the VA more interested in reasons why they should NOT pay compensation and provide services to veterans rather than why they should.

In my opinion, the VA should be eliminated, in favor of prepaid medical insurance, and further, the limits preventing Veterans from obtaining just and fair compensation via the "normal" legal system removed.

I believe that the present system is actually in violation of a veteran's constitutional rights, in that a veteran is barred from obtaining compensation based upon a jury's decision.

Only the people and Congress can change this!
Now is an appropriate time, since we have volunteer military instead of the draft, and a "war" is in progress.

RE: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,158300_2,00.html

In regards to this Hass case, VAW.org has several articles directly pertaining to this.
Search VAW.org for "blue water navy".