Like many of those who served this country, U.S. Army veteran Marshall Mathis is a prideful man, never wanting to ask for help despite his struggles since returning home from war. “Majority of my time was 11 Bravo, which is infantry, and you learn how to cope,” he says, thinking back to his deployments overseas. “I’m an alcoholic,” he admitted. This week he celebrates more than 100 days sober, a huge step for him and his loving family. Though his struggles aren’t just with alcohol, at 43 he walks with a cane, his smile is not what it once was, and most of his teeth including the top row are gone. “His whole lifestyle has changed drastically because of it,” his wife Dania said. “I became a shut-in, depressed,” Marshall added, saying he often avoids the public because he’s ashamed of his appearance, and can no longer eat many of his favorite foods Mathis is considered 20% disabled by the Department of Veteran Affairs, meaning he qualifies for some health care due to service-connected back injuries and disability payments every month. But his oral health is something they don’t cover. According to a new study from CareQuest and the American Institute of Dental Public Health, of the more than 9 million veterans who are eligible for medical care from the VA, 85% are not eligible for dental coverage. According to the VA, there are a number of thresholds veterans must meet to receive dental care, case determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/struggle-veterans-dental-care/67-51a6985f-63e4-4bfb-8c01-2e92cb8460fb ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►X: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay