PACT Act means more benefits for veterans, says White

Area veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and burn pits may be eligible for  additional benefits following the passing of the recent PACT Act in congress.
Montgomery County Veterans Affairs director Curtis White said the new legislation is much needed.
“It’s something that has been a long time coming. It came out in August, and now we’re starting to get some conversations about it and so we’re trying to get on top of it and get the word out to people. In fact, in anticipation of this, I’m adding office hours of 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays, and of course if anyone wants to meet outside of those hours, I can be reached at 712-370-1577,” said White.
The PACT Act includes new locations conceding Agent Orange exposure in Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai base beginning Jan. 9, 1962 and ending June 30, 1976; Laos, beginning Dec. 1, 1965 and ending Sept. 30, 1969; Cambodia at the Mimot or Krek Kampong Cham Province beginning April 16, 1969 and ending April 30, 1969; Guam or American Samoa or territorial waters during the period of Jan. 9, 1962 and July 30, 1980; and Johnson Atoll, or a ship that called at Johnson Atoll from Jan. 1, 1972, to Sept. 30, 1977. This includes all presumptive diseases for Agent Orange.
The PACT Act also covers presumptive diseases based on burn pits or toxic exposures for veterans who served any active duty assignment while assigned to a duty station on or after Aug. 2, 1990 in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the United Arab Emirates. Also covered are active duty veterans who served at a duty station after Sept. 11, 2001 in Afghanistan, Dijbouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, or any other country determined relevant.
White said the aftereffects of exposures to Agent Orange or burn pits is once again showing lasting side effects.
“Agent Orange has an impact on the body that’s being felt again, and the burn pits in those other places, and our servicemen being so close to those toxic fumes all the time is causing medical issues. Now these issues are codified, and the servicemen in these places during these time frames are going to be eligible for re-evaluation and potential compensation,” explained White. “Now there’s a big list of medical issues that they’re acknowledging that servicemen need to be checked out for, and the VA can now help with medical care. Something as simple as emphysema, it could be caused by fumes, and so we need to get veterans in and get a claim opened to have them looked at. They may not be affected today, but it may be as early as tomorrow.”
White said he’s hopeful that by getting the word out, he will encourage veterans to come out to his office for a meeting and talk to them, and cut through some of the prior red tape.
“Thanks to this new legislation, the VA will have to look a bit harder at claims and it will be an easier job to approve it.  What we have to do is prove it was service related, and whether they were in these documented areas during this time. It’s all part of the documentation you have to develop,” stated White.  “Overall, I think this is going to make things easier to get people compensated and covered for treatment and not have to pay out of pocket. If we can prove any sort of service-related connection, the VA has to deliver. It’s all down to developing these cases.”
White also wanted to make it clear that if anyone wished to pursue filing a case for compensation or treatment, they should come to him.
“I don’t charge for my services. There are lawyers out there that are anxious to get veterans to apply through them, because they take a piece of the benefits. I’ll work with them, or they can go to any veterans affairs director in the state, and there is no charge.  So I urge them not to pursue filings with lawyers or untrained claim representatives. Make sure they’ve gotten accredited like I am,” advised White.
White also said if anyone is suffering affects of service time at Camp Lejune, they can also pay a visit to his office and file a claim. For more information, White can be emailed at va@montgomerycountyia.gov, or call him at 623-3180.