Veterans seminars focus on new PACT changes

Bowman County veterans had a chance to learn first-hand Aug. 30 from the county’s veterans service officer the impact of the latest legislation which may affect them.

Laci Coates, the Bowman County veterans service officer held the first of two seminars with the latest information in an evening session in the county commission’s conference room in the Bowman County Building.

It was repeated the following morning.

According to the veterans service officer, there will be additional seminars in the future to help serve the approximately 200 veterans in the region.

Changes

The two seminars held in the final week of August were specifically tied to the changes created by the passage of the PACT Act in early August. It was signed into law by the president on Aug. 10 in the nation’s capital.

According to Coates, the new guidelines for veterans require service connections to receive compensation or VA benefits. “The three elements of service connection are current disability, an event in service and a link between an in-service event and a current disability,” she said, reading from the guidelines.

A direct service connection covers issues that directly caused an injury or trauma during the time the veteran was serving, she explained. The disability can develop or get worse many years after service.

Among the examples were hearing loss, shrapnel related issues, knees, backs and PTSD, Coates said.

In addition, certain disabilities are now recognized as causing other disabilities, she said. Among the examples which were cited including amputations caused by cardiovascular disease; traumatic brain injury causing Parkinsonism, seizures, depression, certain types of dementia and other hormone deficiencies; diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy.

In some cases, aggravation of a pre-existing condition was also covered.

The VA regulations also covered the presumption of disability. That includes the facts of the veteran’s services such as when and where they served and sometimes their MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). The regulations list the disabilities which are associated with that job specialty. As a result, if the veterans service meets the requirements, all they would need to show would be the evidence of a disability, according to the VA.

Veterans can also apply for compensation for a service-connected disability.

The VA has established that presumptive service connections for chronic, tropical or prisoner-of-war related diseases and would cover diseases that are associated with exposure to certain herbicides or contaminants to water supplies. It also established a window of service from Jan. 1, 1947 to the present.

Some veterans compensation is establish by a ratings system which increases according to the degree of disability.

In addition, there is a 10-year rule with the VA that states a service connection for a disability which has been in effect for 10 years will be protected and cannot be severed unless there is proof of fraud.

There is also a 20-year protection rule that states that a veteran with a disability rating for 20-years or more can not have it lowered or reduced unless there was proof of fraud.

PACT Act

The PACT Act was signed into law in early August and was designed to cover the veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. It is considered to be one of the largest benefit expansions for veterans in history.

The PACT Act was named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson and called the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act.

Among the changes with the PACT Act are the addition of conditions for toxic exposures and burn pits; requiring the VA to do toxic exposure screenings; extends and expands the eligibility for VA health care for toxic exposures; adds more presumptive locations for radiation and Agent Orange exposure; will help the VA to improve the treatment, research and staff education.

The PACT Act was designed to provide new support to approximately 3.5 million veterans and ensures if they were exposed to toxins they will receive the benefit they deserve as veterans.

It will also add 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures, as well as other conditions for radiation and Agent Orange exposures.