PACT Act gives veterans a boost

LEE COUNTY – The Veterans' Affairs office in Lee County has seen a marked resurgence since former Deputy Auditor Nikki Sugars took over, but a new law aimed at helping veterans get needed medical help is now the focus of the office

Sugars said the PACT Act is drawing new lines on what the Veterans' Administration considers a presumptive condition, among others is Agent Orange.

The Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Aug. 10, 2022 and expands health care and benefits for Vietnam-era Veterans.

Those who served in the Republic of Vietnam from Jan. 9, 1962-May 7, 1975, Thailand from Jan. 9, 1962- June 30, 1976, Guam or American Samoa from Jan. 9, 1962-July 31, 1980, Laos from Dec. 1, 1965-Sept. 30, 1969, Cambodia from April 16, 1969-April 30, 1969 or the Johnston Atoll, from Jan. 1, 1972-Sept. 30, 1977 are eligible to enroll in VA Health Care.

The act also expands eligibility for health care and benefits for veterans who participated in certain nuclear response and cleanup activities in the Enewetak Atoll from Jan. 1, 1977-Dec. 31, 1980, Palomares, Spain from Jan. 17, 1966-March 31, 1967 and Thule Greenland from Jan. 21 1968-Sept. 25, 1968.

Most of the expanded care applies to toxic exposure and includes two new Agent Orange presumptive conditions including Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and hypertension.

PACT, or the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, allows veterans to file and would consider the presumptive conditions to be applicable back to the date of the signing. But only until Aug. 9. After that, Sugars said any benefits will be linked to the Intent to file.

But she said don’t wait because veterans will be leaving money on the table.

“What it did for our Vietnam Vets was huge. It expanded the areas you could have had exposure. They’re calling it presumptive and if you were in those areas those given times, you had exposure to agent orange,” Sugars said.

“That presumption takes one step out of our process because we don’t have to prove the connection. We just have to prove they were there, and they have a current issue that’s presumptive.”

Younger veterans are also impacted for service in the Gulf War era and post 9/11 era. Toxic exposure can be air pollutants from burn pits, oil well fires, sulfur fire, sand and dust; chemicals such as Agent Orange or other herbicides, pesticides, contaminated water supplies, solvents; radiation; warfare agents; or occupational hazards.

“There’s a deadline of Aug. 9, 2023 to make a claim to be able to go back and use the signing of the act as the date of the claim,” Sugars said. “Normally we do an Intent to File and that’s the date of the claim.

“Let’s say you file on Aug. 9 and you’re found 100% compensable. That’s $3,000 a month and it goes back a year – so $36,000. That’s a ton of money sitting there. We want to get as much of that as we can for our vets and, in turn, for our county.”

County veterans who think they may now fit this new presumptive service and are presenting with issues, are encouraged to contact the Veterans' Affairs office in either Fort Madison or Keokuk to get an “Intent to File” submitted.

“I would just encourage everyone to come in. You may have something you’re not even aware is compensable and it could help,” she said.

Keokuk and Fort Madison offices in the courthouses are open Monday and Thursday from 9 to 3. Fridays are currently alternating between the two cities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This Friday, Aug. 21 will be Keokuk hours, and then Fort Madison the following Friday. You can also call in to set up an initial visit at 372-5853 in Fort Madison.

Sugars said veterans should bring in the DD2-14 which are discharge papers. She said bringing that in will allow them to get the ball rolling. From that point, it’s a matter of filing the intent, gathering all the necessary information, and then a follow-up interview in the office.