Recently, VA joined Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) live on Facebook to discuss PACT Act benefits eligibility, who is impacted and what Veterans need to do now. You can watch the full conversation here.
August 9 marked the one year anniversary of the passage of the PACT Act, the new law expanding VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. If you think you have been exposed to toxic substances during your service you may now be eligible for VA benefits and health care, even if you have been turned down in the past.
Between now and Sept. 30, 2023, Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care—without first applying for VA benefits.
The Event
Rob Couture, VFW’s communications director, began by introducing Mike Figlioli, VFW director of National Veterans Service; Marc McCabe, St. Petersburg VVA Florida bureau chief; and two experts from VA: Steven Miska, executive director PACT Act; and Kate Hoit, Communications and Outreach lead, PACT Act Enterprise Project Management Office.
“What the PACT Act essentially does is it opens the aperture wide to millions and millions more Veterans,” Miska explained, “and that includes Vietnam-era Veterans, Gulf War-era Veterans and post-9/11-era Veterans. It also includes survivors.”
He went on to encourage Veterans that need help to reach out to a Veteran Service Organization or to contact VA. “We all just want you to be able to receive the benefits that Veterans have earned and deserve,” he said.
The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that VA assumes (or “presumes”) are caused by exposure to toxic substances during service—so called “presumptive conditions.” If you served from 1955 to the present, in any of the areas covered by the law and have a diagnosis for a PACT Act presumptive condition, then you should submit a claim now. And it’s important to apply as soon as possible to assure that, if you qualify for benefits, you receive them from the earliest point possible.
“Our message is… don’t wait. If you applied previously and were denied and what you applied for is now considered a presumptive condition—and you can see those right online probably on either one of VFW or VVA’s websites or just go to VA.gov/PACT, you can see all the presumptive conditions—file that claim again, because it can make a big difference,” Miska said. “And if you are a survivor out there, if your Veteran is no longer with us, you may be eligible for benefits as well. So go ahead file a claim.”
The Facebook Live covered the PACT Act eligibility and how it might impact you and your family. The discussion was wide ranging, and many commonly asked questions were answered.
To listen to the full conversation, watch the video on VFW’s Facebook page. To learn more about the PACT Act, including details about eligibility, go to VA.gov/PACT. And to learn more about VA benefits that help Veterans earn degrees, start careers, buy homes, stay healthy and more, and how to apply, visit Choose.VA.gov.
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Aloha,
I am a “Vietnam Blue Water Veteran”, with two different “cruises in the Gulf of Tonkin. We got “Combat pay” the whole time we were there so that put us with in the 12 mile limit. Sometimes we had to be closer as you could see the jungle the beach and houses very clearly. I was a “Snipe” so I didn’t see a map or chart of where we exactly. But, for the time I was in, and the ship I was on and where we at defiantly meets ALL of the, parameters for compensation. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus in 2013one of the “presumed” ailments.
I have received request for more information and have submitted as much as I have. Along with forms for them to access my records. Also, a 4 page questioner regarding “Agent Orange Exposure” .
After I heard about the “PACT ACT” and the inclusion I applied online. Then this past October I found out I needed to apply through my local VA Benefits officer, which I did. So, I should be on record and in the system. When I check back in all I get is the message “pending”.
If they delay long enough everyone in a position similar to me will be dead, so no more compensation to payout.
And what about the veterans who served state side on bases that considered contaimed area today The VA needs to treat ever veteran equality No more this must be true cause The VA is full of Got Ya details If you served every veteran should get 100% service from the VA this includes medical dental mental health and vision no exceptions The PACK act is great for those went but it took year of playing politics with the fat cats in DC to get it passed Plus the Fat Cats they get free 100% medical for life.
Who ever created this nightmare should be relieved of duty. I requested a copy of my S&P tests on my claim. What I received was a PDF cd of 4,154 pages of my medical history and service history with no mention of the S&P test in connection to my claim, as I had requested with the proper form and sent to the address as mentioned. I say the whole operation is screwed up, it’s no wonder there is such a delay. Perhaps on purpose. Who knows.
Notice the cut off dates for combat veterans. 2001 to present. Like
those of us in Iraq in 1990 just played game boy, and scratched our
butts. Some like myself where sent out front of the troops over and
over, saw plenty of combat. Really weird things. My unit should not
of even made it, they were used to flush out tanks at night – draw fire so the forward observers could pick there targets. 68% projected casualties in the first 8 seconds. I know, I saw the records back in Germany because I was the staff duty driver for battalion.
Besides, individuals mean squat to VA. Like the current 32,000 claims in limbo – some for years. Real priority with VA? You can bet there is a zero missing on that number. Those in limbo VA wont own up to. Tens of thousands of Gulf war vets are being ignored or denied out right in all this. Because VA has gotten rid of all reporting methods and statistics that would ever report this.
Its not for lack of coming forward. VA is ignoring everyone out there that isnt wealthy or famous. Ive been writing non-stop in news.va.gov and VA committees to no end since February 2022. Sec of VA Denis McDonough damn sure knows who I am. But, old Skeletor doesnt feel Im important enough to respond to directly. 18 emails and so far its his staff and others that respond. Mostly to attack people around me or anyone that helps me. Especially VISN 17 folks at Temple and Waco VAMC that get his misdirected wrath.
I served on the VA Gulf War Advisory Committee to address healthcare and benefits. https://www.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee/
It was blown off in 2009. Shinseki then gutted the other – the RAC in 2012. By 2013, Gulf war vets had no where to turn. Sec of VA Shinseki resigns in disgrace but no one fixes the damage he did.
Feb 2023 I shake the VA RAC tree in Hawaii. Made it into Stars and Stripes. Sec of VA Denis McDonough is in Waco trying to dodge me locally that same day as the only critic of the PACT act then. As I was in Waco Tribune about that. He knew who I was and dodged me.
If he can keep dodging me, then he is dodging all of you that have a real opinion. Because you never see him debate someone who is critical. VA prescreens the media to make sure interviews are pro-government. Even made sure the War Horse Symposium was toothless. No one could get a question to him or others, other than hand picked people. I know, I was there and furious at the censorship.
As long as your “Armies of one” out there, VA is going to pick you off. Media is not on your side, and neither is Congress. Just like those poor Ionizing radiation vets from long ago that didnt get help. VA waited them out. Atomic veterans claims were over whelming denied outright. 4,100 filed, 86% rejected. Thats what awaits you PACT act vets, just like the 92% rejection rate for Gulf
war vets of 1990.
Your silence is consent, and in 2023 VA has steam rolled us all with it. Right now the the loudest of them all and VA plans to ignore me in plain sight. Because they are very happy with there general 86% claim denial rates. Why change that?
Just like the $14,000 ER visit they forced me into and wont pay. Anything to cripple and harm a vocal veteran. Watch, Im saying this one a VA website and right in there faces. Crickets. VA is counting on your silence.
Keep up the good work! I was over there in 90/91 and have been dealing with the V.A. since the mid nineties. Your frustration level exceeds mine but then we all have had different experiences. You are so right about congress, do not go that route because I have been there much to my frustration. Find a good VSO like I did and with a little luck you may prevail in the claim game. I wish you good luck, Bob.