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Fairs Offer Help Applying for Toxic-Exposure Benefits

Burn Pit Balad Iraq
Smoke billows in from all sides as a U.S. Army soldier with the 84th Combat Engineer Battalion pushes a bulldozer deep into the flames of a burn pit in September 2004 in Balad, Iraq. Courtesy Defense Visual Information Dissemination Service.
By Nathan Ferraro, Public Affairs Volunteer

As a U.S. Marine deployed to Iraq in 2007, Sean Godfrey was frequently exposed to toxic burn pits.

“We’d throw things like radio batteries into the burn pits,” said Godfrey, who was among some 75 Veterans who attended a July 18 VHA enrollment and VBA benefits fair at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. “I was (also) around human waste and chlorine gas.”

Under a new law – the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act) – Godfrey is among some 5 million Veterans who are estimated to be eligible for expanded health care and disability compensation benefits.

To help Veterans check their eligibility or apply, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and the Pittsburgh Regional Office Veterans Benefits Administration are hosting a series of enrollment and benefits fairs throughout southwestern Pennsylvania and a portion of Ohio.

Veterans who file claims or an intent to file under the PACT Act by Aug. 9 that are approved will have their benefits backdated by one year. They can still file after Aug. 9, but benefits might not be backdated.

At the events, Veterans can receive a toxic exposure screening, file or check on a claim, and apply to enroll in VA health care. Veterans with toxic exposures are encouraged to undergo the screenings, which may help determine the best course of action to receive backdated PACT Act benefits.

VA Pittsburgh will host a Veterans Town Hall at 3 p.m. following each event. The town halls are VA Pittsburgh’s ongoing effort to hear from Veterans and use their feedback to improve VA care.

Godfrey stressed the importance of filing a claim under the PACT Act before the Aug. 9 deadline for backdating benefits.

“I would definitely encourage people to come [to future events],” said Godfrey. “It’s important.”

Air Force Veteran Jerome Matthews also attended the Pitt-Greensburg event. He found it to be beneficial because he received help filling out forms to file a claim.

 “It’s worthwhile to show up,” said Matthews.

Upcoming events are from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on:

  • July 25, Belmont County, Ohio, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, 51110 National Road East, St. Clairsville, OH 43950.
  • July 27, Fayette County, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, Swimmer Hall-Williams 14, 2201 University Drive, Lemont Furnace, PA 15456.
  • Aug. 7, Beaver County, Beaver County Community College, Learning Resources Center 9103, 1 Campus Drive, Monaca, PA 15061. Co-hosted by U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio.
  • Aug. 8, Washington County, Washington County Veterans Affairs Office, Crossroads Center, 95 West Beau Street, Washington, PA 15301

Can’t make the events? You can also go online to file for disability compensation with VA Form 21-526EZ or learn how to submit your intent to file.

To learn more about the PACT Act, visit VA PACT Act or call 1-800-MY-VA-411.