Ronald Abrams, the executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, testified yesterday in federal court in San Francisco after government lawyers and attorneys representing the veterans made opening statements in a trial.

"Even if we get 1,000 cases placed, there are hundreds of thousands of claims," Abrams said. Veterans suffering disorders cannot get enough legal aid even though hundreds of lawyers from dozens of law firms have volunteered to help them free of charge, Abrams said.

Staff shortages, inadequate care, long waits for therapy, and an adversarial appeals process when care is denied have led to an "epidemic of suicides," lawyers for Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth Inc. have argued.

The veterans sued the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying it was ignoring or delaying treatment of as many as 750,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The groups are seeking a court order for the government to speed the processing of claims and improve screening for psychological disorders.

Justice Department lawyer Daniel Bensing has argued that the VA already provided such care. The VA increased its budget for mental-health care to $3.5 billion this year from $3.2 billion last year; added 3,700 mental-health professionals; and began a suicide hotline for veterans, he said.

Lawyers for both sides are scheduled to present arguments and question witnesses before U.S. District Judge Samuel Conti through May 2. Conti will decide the case without a jury.

Peggy Willoughby, a spokeswoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The case is Veterans for Common Sense v. James Peak.