Amarillo VA hosts PACT Act Summer VetFest for Veterans
The Amarillo VA Health Care System hosted a PACT Act Summer VetFest VBA Claims Clinic for Veterans July 25, 2023. This event was an opportunity for Veterans to file PACT Act claims, receive toxic exposure screenings, enroll in VA health care, ask questions and receive resources.
Regional Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) representatives joined to assist with the event and help file claims at a large capacity. More than 145 Veterans attended the event with 74 toxic exposure screenings completed, 131 claims filed and seven Veterans enrolled in VA health care.
“This event was great, especially for the Veterans that came home from Vietnam and are getting help with Agent Orange,” said Matthew Boatman, U.S. Marine Corps and Army Veteran, who attended the event for his PACT Act claim.
The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The PACT Act is the largest expansion of Veteran health care and benefits in VA history.
Although there is no deadline, Veterans who file a PACT Act claim by Aug. 9, 2023, may have their benefits, if granted, backdated to Aug. 10, 2022.
“Our goal for this event was to provide an easy way for Veterans to come and get everything done at one time and in one place to file a PACT Act claim,” said Julia Lynch, Chief Experience Officer at the Amarillo VA. “We had a great turnout and look forward to hosting more PACT Act events in the near future.”