WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE MILITARY BASE TOXIC EXPOSURE VETERANS DISABILITY BENEFITS SCREENING
Back in September 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced new military base toxic exposure Veterans disability benefits. This would require all Veterans to undergo a toxic exposure screening to test for environmental hazards during their military service. The screening will take five minutes and consists of answering questions from the Veteran’s primary care physician. Suggested read:The Veteran Directed Care Program Empowers the Military Community
Military Base Toxic Exposure & Veterans’ Disability Benefits
Roughly 112,949 claims have been submitted by Veterans under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, also known as the PACT Act. The VA is encouraging more Veterans to submit their claims. The military toxic exposure screening will begin on November 8. Veterans will be able to schedule an appointment with their primary VA doctor for a screening, or they can be screened during a routine checkup. More than 20 benefits will be available for Veterans with toxic exposures who served during the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and after 9/11. Veterans who served after 9/11, specifically, had a lot of exposure to burn pits. Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Secretary for Health, stated, “We are on track to doing that, and we had a very successful pilot. Over 13,000 veterans were screened with a very high 'hit rate' of Veterans who expressed concern about a possible environmental exposure.”
The Screening Process
The toxic exposure screening VA will consist of three parts: Question 1: Do you think you were exposed to any toxins during your time in the Armed Forces?
- Yes
- No
- I Don't Know
- Declines Screening
Question 2: If you answered yes above, do you think you were exposed to any of the following during your time in the Armed Forces?
- Open Burn Pits/Airborne Hazards
- Contaminated water at Camp Lejeune
- Agent Orange
- Radiation
- Gulf War-related exposures
- Other exposures
Question 3: Do you have any questions relating to…?
- Health/Medical
- Benefits/Claims
- VA Health Care Enrollment and Eligibility
- Registry
- I have no questions
The good thing about this program is that the screening does not require Veterans to show proof of any exposures at this stage; they just need to report them, along with their symptoms. Mary Ellis, VA physician and Acting Chief of Staff for the Tomah VA, said, “We want to honor our Veterans, and they are entitled to the care that we can offer them and we feel this is very important to support our nation’s heroes. And we do look forward to helping Veterans access the care and the benefits that they’ve earned and deserve.”
Veteran Benefits for Toxic Exposure
Veterans will get screened for toxic exposure every five years as part of the PACT Act, and it will be recorded in their health records. The PACT Act was signed by President Biden and finalized by Congress in August 2022. It strives to improve funding and access to healthcare for Veterans who may have been exposed to toxins while they served in the military. It also aims to improve the research and care surrounding injuries related to toxic exposures. The bill has made strides in providing healthcare services and disability compensation for roughly 1 million Veterans so far. Goals of the bill include:
- Expanding eligibility for VA healthcare for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras.
- Adding more than 20 new conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures.
- Adding more exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.
- Requiring the VA to provide screenings to Veterans enrolled in VA health care.
- Improving research, staff education, and treatment for toxic exposures.
This screening program underwent a trial in early fall 2022 across twelve different medical centers in the U.S. Roughly 15,000 Veterans were screened, and 38% of them said yes to question 1 above, showing a high rate of possible military base toxic exposure. These screenings allow the Veterans Health Administration to possibly be able to distribute more benefits and can also help VA doctors research how to combat toxins. Luckily, you don’t need to register, and there are no length-of-service requirements to get the military base toxic exposure Veterans disability benefits. Veterans who are interested in the PACT Act should visit the VA’s website or call 1 (800) 698-2411. Read next:VA Disability Claim Status in Limbo? Thank the PACT Act & 113,000 Applications
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