It is estimated their backlog and secret waiting lists to hide that fact have resulted in at least 40 deaths.

Dr. Maryann Curl with the Portland V-A says nothing like that is happening here.

"It is not occurring in Portland.  It is not to my knowledge.  It is not happening.  We have actually sought out looking at our wait lists and ongoing management of our vets waiting.  We work on that.  It's not occurring in Portland."

Dr. Curl says Oregon's V-A system has seen a 30 percent increase in patients in the last five years.

Some of the patients are younger veterans, but a lot are older veterans who weren't using the system, but are now to meet the ACA's health insurance mandate.