San Diego, CA

Junk Yards in San Diego, CA

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 14: (L-R) Actors Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder attend the 'Vampire Diaries' panel at San Diego Convention Center on July 14, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WireImage)

SAN DIEGO CA - MAY 10: Manti Te'o #50 San Diego Chargers runs through drills during Rookie Camp teams

Apr. 9, 2011; San Diego, CA, USA; Strikeforce lightweight world championship fighter Gegard Mousasi during a bout at the Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lex Patten, left, carries a bull moose shoulder mount with a rack measuring 64.5 inches with the help of Cory Purcell, that he donated to the USS Anchorage on Monday, May 6, 2013 in Anchorage, Alaska. Patten also donated a Dall sheep shoulder mount to the submarine USS Alaska during its commissioning in 1986. Patten's father Allen Patten, and five of his brothers survived the attack on Pearl Harbor while aboard the USS Nevada, and the brothers later survived the attack on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The USS Anchorage was commissioned on Saturday, May 4, and departed for a return trip to its home port of San Diego, Ca. on Monday evening.

Anthony Pike email Anthony@iava.org and cell 801 870 5179. Anthony is part of a Daily News story about vets waiting months and years for the VA to adjudicate their disability claims. New York's vets wait longer than vets anywhere else but Reno, averaging 640 days to have their medical claims resolved - double the national average. Republican and Democratic senators are howling over the 600,000 vet backlog. An even though Congress has authorized a 40% increase in the V.A. budget the past four years, there's been a 2,000% increase in vet claims pending for more than a year. In NYC alone, there are 12,000 claims pending. "We executed our missions every day and met our objections. Then I come home and the V.A., the one place I think I can go for help, doesn't. It's devastating," said Anthony Pike, who did two tours in Iraq and returned with PTSD. Anthony was photographed on Market Street in San Diego, CA.

Trails Surf Spot San Diego CA

This Nov. 2009 photo courtesy of Dan Suski shows Kate Suski, right, and her brother Dan while on vacation in San Diego, Ca. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Dan Suski)

This Nov. 2009 photo courtesy of Dan Suski shows Kate Suski, right, and her brother Dan while on vacation in San Diego, Ca. The brother and sister are recovering in the eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia after their ship sank on April 21 during a fishing trip, forcing them to swim almost 14 hours to reach land, according to the siblings. The Suskis said they are recovering after being hospitalized with severe dehydration and tendinitis. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Dan Suski)

This Nov. 2009 photo courtesy of Dan Suski shows Kate Suski, right, and her brother Dan while on vacation in San Diego, Ca. The brother and sister are recovering in the eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia after their ship sank on April 21 during a fishing trip, forcing them to swim almost 14 hours to reach land, according to the siblings. The Suskis said they are recovering after being hospitalized with severe dehydration and tendinitis. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Dan Suski)