An internal report within the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, shared recently with the media and members of Congress, revealed an unbelievable statistic: More than one-fourth of veterans awaiting medical treatment through the VA end up dead before receiving care.

The “Analysis of Death Sources” report, leaked to the Huffington Post and shared with Congress by VA program specialist Scott Davis, dates from April of this year. It shows, amazingly, that at least 28 percent of VA patients awaiting a benefits enrollment decision have died.

Of the 847,882 applicants listed among those awaiting an enrollment decision, 238,657 of them (that the VA knows of) are deceased. Here’s the relevant slide from the report:

The VA’s database dates to 1985, and VA representatives have told the media the number may appear to be artificially inflated because the agency has no way to purge former benefits applicants from its rolls.

Perhaps, but it’s important to note that this information was leaked to the press by Scott Davis, a VA employee with a track record of blowing the whistle on the administration’s past abuses and neglects.

Though Davis has been harassed and intimidated for speaking out, he’s managed to keep his job — and he’s obviously showing no sign of backing down.