Young veterans encouraged to get medical checks

AMARILLO, Texas - The Department of Veterans Affairs offers five years of free medical care for recent veterans dealing with combat-related medical problems.

Its encouraging returning vets to check in with its medical and counseling centers once they get back home. David Crabtree works at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Amarillo and says the sooner our vets get checked, the better.

"Whether they think they need it or not, it's important to come in and enroll and get their first combat physical and do their first combat intake, " Crabtree said. "That way we can see what they have going on and we'll get an idea of what their health condition is and where we need to go with it."

The Amarillo Vet Center say it is normal for younger veterans to cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and traumatic brain injuries. The medical center says it also helps treat many veterans who are experiencing unexplained pain.

For more information on the VA Health Care system, you can click on the provided link.