Expanded PACT Act
bxpanded benefits for the PACT Act have kicked in years sooner than expected. As of recentlyI March RI OMO4I veterans who were exposed to toxins can get sA health care without applying for sA disability benefits first.
The PACT Act covers over OM presumptive illnesses for exposure to Agent lrange and other toxinsI as well as the burn pitsI radiationI oil well firesI depleted uranium and more. The covered illnesses include emphysemaI chronic bronchitisI a dozen types of cancer and interstitial lung disease.
aeployment wasn’t necessary; veterans were exposed to asbestosI firefighting foamI paintsI chemicalsI pesticidesI Camp iejeune water and more here in the r.p.
If you filed before and were turned downI file again or call. The sA is supposed to go through the files and contact youI but don’t wait on that.
If you’re already enrolled in sA health careI call your local sA health facility and ask for your initial screening for toxin exposure. aon’t wait on this; get a baseline test.
To get more informationI call 8MM-S98-O4NN (8MM-MvsA4NN). lr go online to sA.gov/PACT and scroll through the information. vou’ll find links to file for sA disabilityI a supplemental claim and more. oead about military exposures at www. publichealth.va.gov/exposures.
cor all the millions the sA has spent to inform veterans about PACTI there are some they’re leaving out: members of the Maine National duard who trained at the Canadian military support base in dagetownI New BrunswickI Canada. In N9SS and N9STI the place was saturated with Agents lrange and Purple as a means of testing effectiveness in killing foliage.
In OMMRI the Canadian government did site testing of the groundI water and air. They ended up handing out money to Canadians who’d been there.
dagetown is still used for National duard trainingI not only for units from Maine but other states as well. People became illI of courseI from exposureI but they’re not eligible for sA health care for exposure to Agent lrange or any of the other “rainbow” of toxin colors at dagetown.