Hundreds of Veterans from across the Central Savannah River Area and beyond gathered at Augusta Tech recently for a crucial event aimed at providing support and assistance through the VA PACT Act.
More than 500 Veterans registered for the event with over 300 in attendance, underscoring the importance of accessible benefits and resources among the Veteran community. There were 28 new enrollments, 17 additional consultations and 13 Veterans screened for toxic exposure.
Among them was Lawanda Boswell, Army Veteran with 20 years of service. “I greatly appreciate the valuable information and the contacts I received,” she said, while expressing gratitude for the focus on women’s health care and acknowledging its significance for Veterans like herself.
PACT Act expansion ensures Veterans receive care and benefits they deserve
The expansion of the PACT Act has opened doors for Veterans exposed to various toxic substances during their service, including from burn pits and Agent Orange exposure, regardless of whether they served in combat. This expansion ensures that Veterans receive the care and benefits they rightfully deserve.
The Warrior Alliance (TWA) spearheaded the event, collaborating with key stakeholders Augusta VA and the Georgia Department of Veterans Affairs, to offer comprehensive benefits and claims assistance. Various VA outreach teams, including those focusing on women’s health and caregiver support, were present to provide personalized assistance.
TWA President and CEO Scott Johnson emphasized the importance of supporting Veterans in accessing their entitled benefits, particularly those exposed to hazardous substances during their military tenure. The collaboration between TWA and local partners aims to provide ongoing support to Veterans across Georgia.
Since 2023, TWA has organized multiple VA PACT Act events, ensuring Veterans receive real-time assistance and access to essential services. The event also saw participation from several community organizations further enhancing the support network available to Veterans.
Partners such as Disabled American Veterans, Habitat for Humanity and Hire Heroes USA underscored the collective commitment to serving those who have served their country.
The event provided immediate assistance and fostered a sense of community and solidarity among Veterans and their supporters, reaffirming the importance of ongoing support for those who have sacrificed for their nation.
For more information on VA benefits, visit VA PACT Act.
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Army Veteran Denis Velez donated a painting of his VA hospital as a way of giving back for his treatment there.
Unfortunately, the PACT Act has been nothing but a source of frustration for my husband. He was diagnosed with the atypical Parkinsonism, Corticobasal Syndrome. Atypical Parkinsonsims were recognized as Agent Orange presumptive in Vietnam but not for veterans in Thailand. We still had to hire an attorney to get his disability rating above 10% and attend 4 C&P exams. He participated in a clinical trial with #Biogen’s #Gosuranemab, which greatly improved his life quality. Unfortunately, the drug is not being manufactured because it failed for Alzheimers. I cannot get anyone in the VHA to contact Biogen and see what clinical trials could be initiated for our veterans. Gosuranemab reduces tau, a protein problem also for veterans with head injuries. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the drug could be explored? Instead, our veterans are told to meditate, improve their diet, exercise, and participate in therapy. Let’s give our veterans with medical issues, medical treatments NOW!
I am a retired military members from the American Airforce
Before I departed the Airforce in 1982, I elected to become a member of the Survivors Benefit Plan, for my wife, in case I
pass on. I am a paid-up member.
Therefore, my wife is German, and we currently reside in Germany.
I have searched the internet for a phamphett that lists all of the documents that my wife must submit and where to send it,
in order for her to commence collecting her government pension that is attached to the Survivors Benefit Plan (SBP), but I
have not located what I seek. I had thought that if I had all the documents that my wife must submit to commence receiving
he pension, it would be easier for to be ready when I pass on. Therefore, can your organizaion please indicate these
documents, and please send them to my email as a list?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dennis P. Habern
How come I never get a notice before these occur but always get a notice after they occurred with one of these ‘pat on the back’ articles?
I’ve been trying to get assistance to file a claim for the past 16 months. The list they provide for groups that will assist you is bogus, overburdened, or non existent. The phone numbers are wrong or the sources say they don’t assist?
I drank that water at Lejuene for 3 years in the early 70’s. I guess the VA just wants me to age out and die? Shame on the VA for it’s inadequate and vague services concerning the Pact Act related victims.
I agree with Kirt Love’s post. They aren’t screening your health. They’re screening your tenacity in dealing with avoidance and red tape. My VA doc won’t discuss it and when I try to make an appt with the pact rep I get a run around or have to drive 50 miles to meet them. The whole Pact Act is a political package that is helping a Few veterans and feeding the Many Land Sharks. The rest of us can go …. up a rope.
Shame on you! Quit patting yourself on the back. You don’t deserve it.
Vets need more affordable housing .I’m 76yrs old disabled veteran looking to move to Greenville SC.i need help getting there
Ive been the first critic of the PACT act in January 2023, and the
media got the story wrong. Left out alot, and claimed I got help
when I did not. But, I was right about claim refusals, and zero
ratings that vets found out later in the year. The law is filled with
loopholes that VA lawyers have really enjoyed.
The biggest flaw is the lack of hard evidence to support Toxic
exposures issues. VA is not doing genuine tissue collection. You
have to look at this like a autopsy, and without tissue you cant
look for offending compounds. That is hidden in adipose body fat
you carry for life. Run that through mass spectrometer and gas
chromatograph to find out what is there, and how ppm / ppb. I would
know, begged everyone including the WRIISC for this and they wont
do it. They just want questionnaires. Oral exams. Self reporting.
We need a Toxic Exposure Pathology Center to take samples and
apply forensic style pathology with living tissue. VAs answer is
TERA ( Toxic Exposure Risk Activity ) is not up to this job. Its
a claim option, but vague. Relies on you to find your own data.
Senate VA committee is supposed to be looking in on all this. Ive
found them to be very slow and lazy about the whole PACT act
issues. Just like with programs like the VA Burn Pit registry that does
not do true tissue collection, 10 minute light exam at best. A chest
Xray and pulmonary function test are not near enough. Most that
use the registry dont even get a actual exam.
Ive made presentation to presentation to VA, and letters to research
committee about all this the last 2 years. VA knows who I am. Ive
cornered Sec of VA Denise McDonough outside of VA who blew me
off after that. They dont want answers, or to implement. Its not
urgent to them while they pocket there $100,000 PACT act bonuses
for doing nothing.
26 years of advocacy work, and I served on my own advisory committee.
Its applied experience from my own efforts over decades. Which I find
blocked by small minds, and control freaks playing me down. So much
effort out there to slow or stop people, very little on objective science.
If nothing else, VA should implement Uservoice voting systems for vets
to post ideas and see how many vote of them. If they like a idea then
VA can take a more serious look at that. Rather than these phony town
halls with one way communication from cherry picked vets.
Ive run into plenty of dead heads running interference. Hackers and weirdos
on the internet trying to chase off vets. Beginning to think these are VA
stooges to help VA drive off vets, because they certainly allow that on
social media like Facebook. As Im finding out with the VA press secretary.
Not sure how much of this is accident?
Im still here VA, and your not answering my questions or helping me. Sec of
VA Denis McDonough sure lied about calling me back. A combat veterans
medical advocate is a joke to you? But, not your PACT act bonus? OIG
seems to think you maybe wrong.
OSHA and the EPA was not implemented until 1970 Many homeland military were subject at most all AIR STATIONS to many chemicals that were very toxin especially in the field of Aviation. All I see in the PACT ACT is the words “other toxins.” So what are they? I can name a few; /Stoddard solvent has Benzene in it , carbon tech. MEK, JP5, isoprophe (de-icing solution). And many more. With same results like Prostate cancer, Coronary heart disease, etc.