Vietnam Veteran banks benefits after one PACT Act event
“I know this is a cold call, and I’m not trying to extend your car warranty. I just want to let you know about the PACT Act,” says Mike Boyd to break the ice with his fellow Veterans. He works at VA Atlanta Health Care System as a PACT Act and Social Work Toxic Exposure Screening (TES) Navigator.
The PACT Act law passed in 2022 and the Department of Veterans Affairs 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,” said Boyd. “The big bulk of the Community Care Veterans I’ve called are in their elder years, ranging from 65-80 years old,” Boyd says. “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.”
The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This law helps us 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, who was 30% service-connected before the We Care Vet Fair event and was 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,” Bell said.
As the son of a Vietnam Veteran and an Army Veteran himself, Boyd says he can connect with Veterans by phone easily.
“I always stress that healthcare 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 benefits and care 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 Health Care System’s PACT Act Coordinator and TES Navigator. “We are constantly reaching out to rural and elderly Veterans who may only be using Community Care because of the distance they are from VA facilities to offer a Toxic Exposure Screening and help make connections to VA benefits, healthcare, and other psychosocial resources that may assist them.”
While at the event, Veterans waiting on the status of a claim were asked to go to a different area where a benefits representative would review their cases. The VBA representative reaffirmed what Boyd had suggested to Bell, that as a Vietnam Veteran, he should be entitled to more compensation.
The following week, Bell learned he was approved for a 30% increase in service connection which brought his total service connection to 60%, making his wife eligible for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC) and Champ VA benefits. He is still awaiting a determination for another claim, which may further increase his overall service connection.
“All in all, it was a nice experience, and I learned a lot,” Bell said.
If you are in the Atlanta VA area and have questions about toxic exposures or want to learn more about the PACT Act, please contact 404-321-6111 Ext. 206300, or email: VHAATGPACTAct@va.gov.
What’s the PACT Act and how will it affect my VA benefits and care?
The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/
Exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials
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. https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/
VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC)
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 (VA DIC). Find out if you can get VA benefits or compensation. https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/survivor-compensation/dependency-indemnity-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 the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). Through this program, we cover the cost of some of your healthcare services and supplies. This is called cost sharing. Find out if you qualify for CHAMPVA and how to apply. https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/health-and-disability/champva/