Increasing numbers of U.S. troops have left the military with damaged bodies and minds that will cost the nation tens of billions of dollars over coming decades.

According to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press, the government expects to spend 59 billion dollars a year to compensate injured warriors in 25 years, up from today's 29 billion. And that's despite the decline in total vets as soldiers from World War II and Korea die. And the Veterans Affairs Department concedes the bill could be much higher.

Among the reasons: the wounds are worse, there are more of them and more vets are aware of the benefits and are quicker to file for them.

And because of advanced medical care, troops survive injuries that might have killed them in earlier wars.

Annual benefits are more than $30,000 for those at 100-percent disability. Disabilities such as the loss of a limb draw additional compensation.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)