On Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, VA Secretary Denis McDonough spoke at the PACT Act Week of Action at the Maj. Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center. The following are his remarks from the event.
General Berry, thanks for the warm welcome, and for your three decades of service and leadership. The Delaware Guard’s been defending our freedom since long before our founding — whenever and wherever the country needs them.
We all saw that kind of devotion in the actions of Tech Sergeant Matt Keefer — recognized last Friday with the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism in Afghanistan, responding to the tragedy at the Karzai International Airport a year ago August. And you’re sending the 160th Engineer Company down-range come January. May God bless ’em and keep them safe.
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It’s an honor to be here at one of the last of the 100-plus events VA’s hosting during this PACT Act Week of Action. To our Vets, their family members, caregivers, and survivors — we’re forever in your debt, and we’re fighting like hell to serve you as well as you have served us. We won’t settle for anything less.
And thanks to the PACT Act that President Biden signed into law on August 10th, VA has expanded health care and benefits for millions of Vets and their survivors — including many of you here, today. If you or a loved one served in the Vietnam era, the Gulf War era or the Post-9/11 era, you may be eligible for new or increased care and benefits because of the PACT Act.
And here’s what you need to know.
First, apply for your benefits and care right now. If you’re enrolled in VA care, get a quick and easy toxic exposure screening. If you’re not enrolled, get enrolled. If you haven’t yet applied for your PACT Act benefits, apply. You can do all that here, today, or you can call the Delaware Office of Veterans Services at 302-739-2792, or make an appointment with the VBA Regional Office at 302-994-2511, extension 4845.
Second, VA will begin processing most PACT Act-related benefits claims on January 1st, the earliest date possible. And if you apply for PACT Act-related benefits before August 10th of next year, then your benefits will be backdated to August 10, 2022, the day President Biden signed the bill into law. So, get your claims in as soon as you can.
Third, I hear some Veterans are worried that applying for PACT Act benefits will impact their current benefits. The truth is, with the PACT Act, you’re 32 times more likely to have your benefits increase, or stay the same, than to see a decrease.
Fourth, there are people out there who will try to convince you that you need to pay someone or use a lawyer to apply for VA benefits. Not true. Applying for your PACT Act benefits is free, and easy, by working directly with VA, or a Veteran Service Organization.
And fifth, you can learn more about the PACT Act — and apply, anytime — by visiting VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411.
So, join the nearly 190,000 Vets and survivors who’ve already applied for their PACT Act-related care and benefits.
Listen, whenever someone signs up to serve our country in the military, our nation makes them a promise. If you fight for us, we’ll fight for you. If you take care of us, we’ll take care of you. If you serve us, we’ll serve you when you come home. Our nation as a whole makes that promise, but it’s our mission here in Delaware and across the country to keep that promise to all Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.
The PACT Act will help us keep that promise. President Biden is leading the way to keep that promise. And we will not rest until every Veteran and survivor knows about this new law, understands what it means for them, and gets the care and benefits they’ve earned. That’s what our country owes you. That is what we will deliver.
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With that, it’s my privilege to introduce someone who doesn’t really need a lot of introduction in these parts. Senator Carper’s the last serving Vietnam Veteran in the US Senate. And he’s given more than 40 years of devoted service and strong leadership improving Veterans’ health care and services here in Delaware, and across the country. Join me in welcoming a 23-year Veteran of the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve, Captain and Senator Tom Carper.
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Thank you for your wise insight, valuable perspective and willingness to share this vital information. Wishing you a happy, successful and fulfilling new year. – Paul
I get 100% pemanent & total disability for unemployability I have also filed for high blood pressure and denied but the pac act has changed that now but I’m afraid to refile for fear the VA would cut my disability
[Editor: Service-connected conditions marked “permanent” are permanent.]
When will funds be approved to pay Veterans who qualify for benefits under the PACT ACT? I am of the understanding that Congress has yet to approve the funding. Is this another wonderful piece of legislation that is never paid?
This info was very vital. Appreciate t j e simple, clear message.
I went to the conference about the PACT act at the local VA,sign up for hazardous exposure they got all my information about jet and diesel fuel and exhaust and afff,I was an aircraft firefighter in the marines 73-79 Vietnam Era. I was told that unfortunately there nothing covering firefighter in the PACT act
have (IPF) idiotagophy(sp) pulmonary fibrosis. am on concentrator. am 85 served 4 years in USAF, 22 years in usn. retired aug. 1980. served jul.54 to aug.1980. am in last stags of IPF. doctor sez; unknown caused it, no cure. I sailed on the USS Midway(54 to 55)served in VP-17 (55 to 58) usaf (58 to 62) then tar 62 to 73. training aviation reserves(tar)73 to 77 VA-155 then 77 to 80 nas power plants senior chief Lemoore,Ca. am on medicare and tricare for life, have 20 % disability due tobroken leg. hearing aids both ears due jet noise. would do again if could. loved navy still do.
Mr. Glenn Im so sorry you have not been successful in getting the medical disability benefits you clearly deserve. My dad served in the Army in the 1940’s. He served in a segregated Army. When he returned to the US he was denied access to the GI bill and other benefits because of his race. Because of the denials he returned to college, got married, had 6 children, all went to college and graduated (a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, an engineer, plant manager, and researcher). I want to thank you for your service. You are a true military man. God Bless You and your family.
I want to thank President Biden and his administration for the Pact act and taking care of the veterans
My understanding is that compensation wont be until 2026 for some vets based on our age a lot of vietnam vets probably wont be here we have waited 40 50 and some 60 years for that help if the bill has passed why wait ?
I had esophagus cancer got treated. Applied for disability over year ago. Was caused by Camp Lejeune contaminated water. On list of cancers why does it take so long to be approved. Or are they waiting for me to die
My husband was diagnosed with throat Cancer in 2016 and was recovering when he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in October of 2020 and died as a result in March 2021. My husband served from 1971-1975 and was stationed in Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune and was on a Ship or ships for 14 months in the Vietnam area( have not been able to get his at-sea time) we filed a claim back in 2016 which I received the decision in September 2022 which they denied no idea why because he was clearly entitled to benefits but this seems to be the norm for the VA.
Dear Sandra, if your husband passed away the claim went with him. I had the same thing happen to me you need to file a new claim for yourself and anyone else who might be a dependent.
You can call the va and ask them about the denial.
They only told me because I knew someone.
Try again. News.va.gov very informative
Diane S.
Diane I had the same thing my friends said to go in and ask questions so I did after he passed and guess what I received compensation and a DIC monthly benefit cause his passing was war related go in ask don’t give up
I am an acupuncturist who tries desperately to take care of our veterans in NC. VA Care in the Community fights the veteran for new acupuncture consults every time the consult is issued by their VA primary care physicians. I feel so bad for our vets who are simply trying to just keep going! They love acupuncture because it is non-toxic and helps them sleep better, decreases their pain and discomfort AND assists them with being able to take less medication…as their pain begins to decrease.
When I try to follow progress on the REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES that we send Care in the Community, I run into the rudest supervisor employees I have ever encountered that work in Care in the Community! It takes months for these RFSs to be processed by Care in the Community! Why??? No one has an answer……
I am also thoroughly dejected and more than a little pissed at the incredible red tape delays one must endure while waiting for the cost cutting bean counters to slowly process the multiple layers of authorization required before a disappointing denial is issued. I also hear that when one applies for an increase in disability rating, their results are often a decrease in compensation (for service connected injuries, like PTSD). This puts a chilling effect on those with worsening conditions to forego applying for fear his/her compensation will be reduced, despite the declaration that such requests for additional compensation is 32 times less likely.