SPOKANE, Wash. – An audit by the Inspector General's Office highlights "severe" staffing challenges within the Veterans Affairs (VA) system, notably in key positions like psychology and psychiatry.

This comes among a series of deadly tragedies involving veterans facing mental health challenges, and their families' claims about the VA system's shortcomings.

Kenneth Bradley Caldero is one of those cases. Caldero was found dead on a porch in Hayden Lake Monday morning. While his cause of death has not been released, the Sheriff's office says his body had traumatic injuries.

Caldero was a combat veteran. He served in the Army as a sniper, deploying to Afghanistan. He suffered from mental health issues and substance abuse disorder, but his family says he asked the VA for help.

"He's unfortu

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