Table 2 Data variables, definitions, and data sources

Demographic Characteristics

Age, Sex, Race/ Ethnicity, Education

OEF/OIF/OND Roster File (from Environmental Epidemiology Service)

Military Characteristics

Rank, Component (active, guard, reserve), Service Branch,

Military Discharge Date

Military discharge dates

Other Demographic Characteristics

Marital status

National VA Inpatient and Outpatient Care Files (Medical SAS data sets)

Diagnoses for which care is received

ICD-9-CM Codes each visit

Location of Care/ Facility Type (e.g. Medical Center, outpatient clinic, community based outpatient clinic)

STA5A/STA6A; Last letter of code indicates the type of facility

Type of care: Relevant specialty care: vascular surgery clinic (415), vascular lab (421), amputation clinic (418), prosthetic clinic (417), PM&R (201,211).

DSS Identifier (stop code)

Procedures: tests such as duplex ultrasound or type of surgery when admission is on day of surgery

CPT-4 Codes

Geospatial data of patient home to identify distance to primary station and clustering of these Veterans across the country.

Zip Code, Longitude/latitude of patient residence

Diagnoses for which care is received

ICD-9-CM Codes each visit

National VA Inpatient Care Files (Medical SAS data sets from national repository at the Austin Automation Center)

Location of Care/ Facility Type (e.g. Medical Center, domiciliary, neuro/psychiatric hospital)

STA5A

Provider Specialty: Bedsection is mapped 1:1 with provider specialty (e.g., vascular [106] and peripheral vascular [62].

Bedsection

Procedures: tests such as duplex ultrasound or type of surgery

ICD-9A Codes

Geospatial (same as above)

Zip Code, Longitude/latitude patient home

Medications Prescribed (e.g., opioids, other medications for pain, antibiotics for persistent infections such as osteomyelitis, antiplatelet agents, statins)

VA Product name, strength, day supply, number of pills dispensed Medicare Part D National Drug Code (NDC)

National Pharmacy Files from the Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic health Group, Medicare Part D

Dose of medications average monthly dose (dose per unit × day supply)

Generic, day supply, number of units, dose,

Medicare Part D: NDC code

Duration of use

Day supply summed over time

Specific Prosthetic Device

HCPCS PSAS, HCPCS CPT codes identify the specific item

National Prosthetics Patient Database (NPPD)

Specific Service Connected Disability and % disability for each condition

VETSNET condition code, %, number of disabling condition, service connected disability indicator

Veterans Service Network (VETSNET) Corporate Mini Master File (VETSNET File) derived from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Corporate Database.

Pain Scores: longitudinally (1–10 each visit)

Pain score

Corporate Data Warehouse