VCSO Nolan County Calls Attention to Recent Changes in PACT Act

The VA has added multiple burn pit and other toxic exposure presumptive conditions based on the PACT Act. This change expands benefits for Gulf War era and post9/11 Veterans. Also impacted are Veterans exposed to herbicides at locations other than Vietnam and Radiation Exposed Veterans at specific locations. It has also added two new presumptive conditions for Agent Orange Exposure. These cancers and conditions are now presumptive for Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veterans:

Brain cancer Gastrointestinal cancer of any type Glioblastoma

Head cancer of any type

Kidney cancer Lymphatic cancer of·any type

Lymphoma of any type Melanoma

Neck cancer

Pancreatic cancer Reproductive cancer of any type

Respiratory (breathingrelated) cancer of any type

These illnesses are now presumptive:

Asthma that was diagnosed after service Chronic bronchitis Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic rhinitis

Chronic sinusitis Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis

Emphysema Granulomatous disease Interstitial lung disease (ILD)

Pleuritis

Pulmonary fibrosis Sarcoidosis

If you served in any of these locations and time periods, we’ve determined that you had exposure to burn pits or other toxins. We call this having a presumption of exposure.

On or after September 11, 2001, in any of these locations or the airspace above any of these locations:

Afghanistan

Djibouti

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Syria

Uzbekistan

Yemen

On or after August 2, 1990, in any of these locations or the airspace above any of these locations:

Bahrain

Iraq

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Somalia

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Based on the PACT Act, the VA has added 2 new Agent Orange presumptive conditions:

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)...

If you think you’re eligible for VA health care and benefits, we encourage you to apply now.

The VA has added these 5 new locations to the list of presumptive locations for Herbicide Exposure:

Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976

Laos from December l, 1965, through September 30, 1969 Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969

Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 30, 1980 Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January I, 1972, through September 30, 1977

If you served on active duty in any of these locations, we’ll automatically assume (or “presume”) that you had exposure to Agent Orange.

The VA has added these 3 new response efforts to the list of presumptive locations for Radiation exposure:

Cleanup ofEnewetak Atoll, from January I, 1977, through December 31, 1980

Cleanup of the Air Force B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons off the coast of Palomares, Spain, from January 17, 1966, through March 31, 1967 Response to the fire on board an Air Force B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons near Thule Air Force Base in Greenland from January 21, 1968, to September 25, 1968 [fyou took part in any of these efforts, we’ll automatically assume (or “presume”) that you had exposure to radiation. If you have any questions or wish help with filing a claim call or come into my office at the Nolan County Courthouse Suite 110D

325-235-2214.

Robert R. McBride

SFC U.S. Army (Ret.)

VCSO Nolan County