A survey completed in October 2018 found that veterans are more likely to develop arthritis than civilians. These injuries can short circuit a military career by rendering the veteran non-deployable and lead to mobility issues earlier in life. Earlier onset can also lead to a veteran requiring major surgery in their 30s or 40s as opposed to their 70s and 80s. Interested veterans can contact their national representative to encourage them to add a budget for studying arthritis treatment and prevention to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.