Veterans encouraged to apply for PACT Act benefits
The message to Veterans is clear: It’s worth your while to seek VA benefits offered through the PACT Act, even if you were denied in the past.
And delivering that message was the thrust of a Friday symposium offered by the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.
“If you think you have even the slightest chance that you may qualify for some of the entitlements under the PACT Act, then apply,” said Duane Honeycutt, director of the Milwaukee regional office of the Veterans Benefits Administration. “Do it. I can’t be more serious.”
Via resource tables, a panel discussion and one-on-one meetings with experts, the event at the War Memorial Center in downtown Milwaukee dispelled myths and delivered the facts about the ground-breaking legislation signed into law in August by President Joe Biden.
“This is the most exciting legislation that we have seen in three decades,” Honeycutt told the approximately 110 attendees at the event. “This is going to dwarf everything I’ve seen in my career.”
Honeycutt noted that too many Veterans – especially those from the Vietnam era – have been denied claims when it comes to possible exposure to toxic materials.
But the PACT Act changes all that, he said, and paves the way for countless Veterans to get the health care and compensation they deserve.
John Polk is one such Veteran, and he implored his fellow Vietnam-era Veterans – as well as Cold War and post-9/11 Veterans -- to take advantage of everything the PACT Act provides.
He said the law adds nearly two dozen presumptive conditions that qualify for benefits, including hypertension, and that Veterans no longer need to prove that they were exposed to toxic substances such as Agent Orange and the fumes from burn pits in places like Afghanistan and Southwest Asia.
“There are 33 cancers, diseases and presumptive conditions on the airborne hazards and burn-pit exposure list,” he said. “That's a very comprehensive list, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see more things added in the future.
“If you think you have a condition caused by your service, you should go in and file a claim. Even if it gets denied initially, these lists change over time,” he said. “Veterans need to step forward. You need to get registered, and you need to file claims.”
Gene Hembrook, commander for the American Legion post in Franklin, Wis., said he attended the symposium so he could better help his fellow Veterans. He said the PACT Act will help many of those Veterans.
“Several of them have some serious (health conditions), and others are starting to exhibit some issues, and they don’t know what to do,” he said. “So this is additional information we can get to them.”
During the panel discussion, it was noted that the first step in the process is for Veterans to get screened, and that Veterans who were previously not eligible for VA health care are eligible to take part in the screening.
The screening is not a medical procedure; it is a series of questions regarding the Veteran’s possible exposure to hazardous materials. It takes only a few minutes and can be done during a routine appointment with a VA health care provider or over the phone.
Veterans will be asked if they think they were exposed to hazardous materials and if they now have diseases or conditions that could be related to that exposure. If it is determined that the exposure meets PACT Act requirements, then the Veteran will be instructed on how to apply for benefits.
“The most important thing is to apply for benefits. That’s the most important thing you can get out of that screening process,” said Dr. Michael Erdmann, chief of staff of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.
“You might be eligible for some additional compensation, potentially from the VA, of you might be able to avoid co-payments,” he said. “If you’re in the VA, we’re going to take care of you, and we’re going to do whatever you need to screen for anything you're concerned with.”
Screenings are already underway, and Honeycutt said more than 176,000 claims have been filed nationwide. Processing of those claims will begin Jan. 1, he said.
“You can file at any time, but sooner is better than later,” he said, noting that all claims filed before Aug. 10, 2023, will be backdated to Aug. 10, 2022 – the date the legislation was signed into law.
Honeycutt also cautioned Veterans not to be taken in by advertisements from attorneys regarding exposure to tainted water at Camp Lejeune. That exposure is included in the PACT Act, and Veterans don’t need an attorney to file a Camp Lejeune claim. Doing so means part of a Veteran’s compensation would go to the attorney.
“That’s your entitlement, not the lawyer’s entitlement,” he said.
Honeycutt also said filing a claim doesn’t require a trip to his office in Milwaukee. He encouraged Veterans to work with their county Veteran Service Officer or any of the many Veterans groups – American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, etc. – to do so.
And he asked those Veteran services officers at the event to push their comrades to get screened and file claims.
“Do it. That’s the key,” he said. “This is going to help us help you. So get the word out there.”