Every year, around the time the leaves change and politicians start appealing to veterans, the VA announces a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to disability compensation payments. And the veterans, they believe, are supposed to feel good about whatever rate they announce.

Now, don’t get us wrong. Some COLA is better than no COLA. But times, they are a-changing, and the cost-of-living adjustments are not a-keeping up with the cost of a-living.