A U.S. Army Science Board study from 2001 recommended that soldiers should carry no more than 50 pounds for any length of time

A U.S. Army Science Board study from 2001 recommended that soldiers should carry no more than 50 pounds for any length of time. The Army chief of staff agreed, and hoped to reach that goal by 2010. Unfortunately, studies have learned that soldiers carry much more than that, even today.

The simple weight that all soldiers must carry is leading to a number of musculoskeletal injuries that erodes the readiness of the military. The wars will someday come to an end, but these spinal injuries could remain for a lifetime and cost a great deal of money and time to treat, according to doctors.

A study by a John Hopkins University and two others in Manhattan and Long Island researched revealed that nearly a third of all medical evacuations from Iraq and Afghanistan from 2004 to 2007 were due to musculoskeletal, connective-tissue, or spinal injuries. Experts estimate that is around double the number of evacuations from combat injuries. The number of soldiers who were retired from the Army due to musculoskeletal conditions increased almost ten times from 2003 to 2009.

Ever-increasing numbers of war veterans retire with problems such as regenerative arthritis or cervical strains, according to further studies. The disability benefits paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are more than $500 million each year. That number will only grow as more and more soldiers apply to the VA to receive the compensation they are due because of spinal injuries caused by gear that simply weighs too much.

If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of poor working conditions, a New York Spinal Injury Attorney can help you get the justice you deserve. A New York Spinal Injury Attorney will review your case and help you get the damages you’re looking for.