“Ok, why don’t you give me your number and I’ll call you …”
Nikki Presley is talking with Rich Henson, an Army veteran, at the Evansville VFW Hall. She’s laughing because she can’t quite remember her phone number so Henson can follow up with her about benefits.
She’s with Veterans Benefits Administration through the Indianapolis regional office. “We're here to talk to veterans about the PACT Act and see which of our veterans and their dependents might be eligible for some services,” she said.
The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) was passed last summer.
Zachary Sage is the Executive Director for the Marion Illinois VA Health Care System, which ran this PACT Act Town Hall Wednesday Feb 8. The Marion VA also has clinics in Evansville.
“This piece of legislation really expands the presumptive conditions for our most recent veterans, but also includes more presumptive conditions for our Vietnam-era veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange, those those Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation New Dawn veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan,” Sage said. “Those veterans were exposed to things that they previously have not had a lot of presumptive conditions for.”
Meaning conditions they assume are linked to exposure to these toxins during service time.
For Vietnam-era veterans, hypertension and nerve damage of “undetermined significance” are now included.
For the Gulf War and beyond, the list is long, but includes several types of cancer such as lymphomatic cancer of any type of pulmonary fibrosis and COPD. There’s also chronic sinusitis, post military service asthma and others. Family coverage is also expanded.
“So when they filed the claim, say it's related to their burn pit exposure in Iraq or Afghanistan … they may have some really serious illnesses,” Sage said. “So right now our job is to get the word out and to help veterans get through the screening process and to file claims so that they can get the benefits that they've earned.”
The several-hour event includes educational speakers, and tables for various service organizations set up around the perimeter of the dance hall.
One such organization was the VA Evansville Healthcare Center with Health Benefits assistant Richard Carawan. Many veterans were interested in their eligibility.
“Really, I asked the questions,” he said. “You know, talk to them about their service dates, service times, locations."
He said most veterans he’s met today are experiencing increases in benefits and some are receiving first-time benefits.
In a separate room beyond folding tables with snacks and coffee are the temporary privacy walls behind which people like Registered Nurse Cindy Daily are giving screenings to veterans applying for coverage.
Sage expects thousands of additional veterans will be able to apply for benefits.
Said Carawan, “it opens up a lot of opportunities for our veterans to apply for service connected conditions that they previously didn't have. It's an acknowledgement that the veterans did breathe in contaminants …”
In all, dozens attended the event, with six on-site screenings and seven screening appointments scheduled. Anyone screened was referred to the VA for PACT Act benefits. One veteran enrolled in benefits for the first time.
To explore VA benefits go to VA.gov, or call 1-800-827-1000.
