Sec. Shinseki: VA working 'diligently' after Ft. Hood shooting

The Department of Veterans Affairs is "working diligently" to better assist members of the military returning home from stressful combat zones, Secretary Eric Shinseki said Wednesday.

In an interview with CBS on Veterans Day, and just days after a "heart wrenching, terrible" shooting at Fort Hood in Texas left 13 dead and many wounded, Shinseki noted there has been a sharp rise recently in incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

He attributed the increase to the reality that many service members complete multiple tours of duty, which increases their susceptibility to such conditions as PTSD.

"Well, we are working diligently to increasing our capabilities here," the four-star general told The Early Show, explaining that his department already has about 19,000 mental health professionals staffed to aid troops.

However, Shinseki admitted many challenges remain for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has long been troubled by budget qualms.

"We have a large backlog of claims that has been there for years," he said, adding that the VA was in the process of implementing recently passed G.I. bill reforms. "And that's the next priority. And we've begun taking that down, as well."