“This is a cold call but I’m not trying to extend your car warranty. I just want to let you know about the PACT Act,” is how Mike Boyd breaks the ice when sharing PACT Act benefits news to his fellow Veterans.
Boyd works at Atlanta VA as a PACT Act and social work toxic exposure screening (TES) navigator. The PACT Act passed in 2022 and VA has seen the greatest outreach efforts in its history. But some Veterans still haven’t heard about it.
“Veterans may not be aware of the PACT Act because they may not be a part of Veterans groups, see the flyers or connect on social media. The big bulk of the Community Care Veterans I’ve called are in their elder years, ranging from 65 to 80 years old. They’re not plugged into YouTube or seeing VA ads on the internet. I know from experience because my father would spend his time mainly watching westerns or the Grit channel,” Boyd shared.
The PACT Act expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances. It also helps VA provide generations of Veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
“Anytime you get an increase in your pay, it helps you a lot,” said 82-year-old Army Veteran Wendell Bell (pictured above), who was 30% service-connected disabled and unaware of additional service-connected conditions he was made eligible for under the PACT Act. “I didn’t talk to anyone that didn’t try to help. Everyone was very nice to me.”
“Even if you’re 100% it’s important to apply.”
As the son of a Vietnam Veteran and an Army Veteran, Boyd says he can connect with Veterans by phone easily. “I always stress that health care is important. Even if you’re 100%, it’s important to apply,” Boyd said.
The main mission is awareness. The team provides PACT Act health and benefits information and offers a warm handoff to the Veterans Benefits Administration to get them the non-health benefits they’ve earned.
“This is only one small example of a ‘hard to reach’ Veteran that Mike and our team have helped,” said Lauren Ruchin, Atlanta VA’s PACT Act coordinator and TES navigator. “We are constantly reaching out to rural and elderly Veterans who may only be using Community Care to offer a toxic exposure screening and help make connections to VA benefits, health care and other psychosocial resources that may assist them.”
The Veterans Benefits Administration representative reaffirmed what Boyd had suggested to Bell: As a Vietnam Veteran, he should be entitled to more compensation.
The following week, Bell learned he was approved for a 30% increase to his service connection percentage, which brought his total service connection to 60%, making his wife eligible for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC) and Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA) benefits.
“All in all, it was a nice experience, and I learned a lot,” Bell said.
What’s the PACT Act and how will it affect my VA benefits and care?
The PACT Act is the largest health care and benefits expansion in VA history.
With the PACT Act, Veterans may be entitled to additional compensation, as it has added more than 20 presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic exposures and additional presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.
VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
If you’re the surviving spouse, child or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty or the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, you may be able to get a tax-free monetary benefit called VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
Find out if you can get VA benefits or compensation.
CHAMPVA benefits
Are you the spouse or surviving spouse of or a child of a Veteran with disabilities or a Veteran who has died? If you don’t qualify for TRICARE (the Department of Defense’s health care program for active duty and retired service members and their families), you may be able to get health insurance through CHAMPVA. Through this program, VA covers the cost of some of your health care services and supplies. This is called cost sharing. Find out if you qualify for CHAMPVA and how to apply.
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For your information it is ptsd I can already tell you’ve never been in combat Cassie Ragan or seen death starring you in the face.
When are you going to detox the toxins out of our veterans? Sauna therapy, clean water, and nutraceuticals is all it takes. Toxins like lead cause mental illness. We have known this since the fall of Rome. It’s not PTSD, it’s Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Stop pushing pharmaceutical drugs and detox our veterans! #MAHA #heavymetaldetox #detox
For those who commented about their claims being rejected in the past, YES, please re-apply. The PACT act is new legislation and there is a higher likelihood that your condition will be covered, and/or at a higher rate.
This website (linked in the article above) gives instructions on how to apply as well as answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/
OIG reports
December 3, 2024
Staff Incorrectly Processed Claims When Denying Veterans’ Benefits for Presumptive Disabilities Under the PACT Act
December 3, 2024
Survivors Did Not Always Receive Accurate Retroactive Benefits for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Claims Reopened Under the PACT Act
I’m a Vietnam era veteran January 1962-January 1966 due I qualify for the PACT ACT
I served 1 year in Southeast Asia from 1966-67 & also during Desert Storm where I was exposed to toxics coming from 700 plus oil well fired daily. I have a constant cough and my civilian doctor has diagnosed that I have a serious case of Asthma but it appears that the VA doesn’t agree. Thanksgiving eve I suffered an attack so bad my wife had to call 911 and EMT techs got me breathing again. The VA has given me a 20% disability, a far cry from what I believe I deserve. I am going to be 78 on December 9th so I am more worried about my wife’s future than my own.
I have contacted the Portland VAMC back in 1998 about agent orange coverage from when I was stationed in Vietnam nam in 70-71, and have not heard from anyone since then.
My sister just passed but her husband a Vietnam Veteran was rated 100% when he passed years ago my sister was on champs and until her recently passed. She had nothing but good things to say about how the VA (champs) cared for her.
I’m a combat Viet-Nam Veteran 1967-68-69. I’m still trying to get compensated for Agent Orange Exposure. I got 0 percent disability also put in for hypertension and seizures from my disabilitating tension migraines o percent disability. So much for the Pact Act.
You should get 100% for Agent Orange under the Pact Act. It is online or you can go to your County VA. They can help you! This is a benefit for all war heroes who suffered the crap that was burned and other item such as Agent Orange, around jets in a combat area and other things please appy and get benefits you deserve. I am also a Veteran and considered a Vietnam ERA Veteran. i volunteered for Nam, but the Navy didn’t send us there! Best of luck brother!
I applied for agent orange compensation back in 1998 and never heard from anyone. Should I apply again to receive the agent orange compensation?
Where and how do I apply? I lived in Washington State at the time. Now I live in Sterling Heights, mi (go to the John Dingell VA MC).