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'Pact Act' expands benefits for veterans exposed to toxins

The Pact Act is a federal law signed in August of last year that expands health care and benefits for military veterans who have been exposed to burn pits, agent orange, or other toxic substances. Officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are calling it “the largest health care and benefit expansion” for veterans in the organization’s history.

While there is no deadline to apply, VA officials are urging veterans to file by August 9 to ensure they get backdated benefits.

WFDD’s Neal Charnoff spoke with VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes about what veterans need to know.

Interview highlights:

On the intent of the Pact Act

"This legislation impacts more than 6 million veterans and their survivors. And you're talking anyone from the Vietnam warrior, to the Gulf War era, to the post-911 era that I served in. And we know that there's a lot of veterans and survivors living in the state of North Carolina, who this potentially impacts. And this is about toxic substances that they may have come in contact with ... so to any veteran who may have come in contact with Agent Orange, burn pits, or any toxic substances, we're urging you to please contact the Department of Veterans Affairs locally, so we can get you the care and benefits that you've earned."

On "presumptive" conditions: 

"A presumptive condition is a condition that we automatically assume based on the research, and evidence that we've gathered, basically says that that condition that you were diagnosed with is because of your service. So (if a) Vietnam War veteran may be suffering right now from hypertension, no longer is the burden of proof in the hands of the veteran. The only thing that that veteran needs to do is show us proof that he or she served in Vietnam, show us that they have said condition ... there's over 250 new conditions on the Pact Act website that you can learn more about."

On "Intent To File" submissions: 

"To veterans out there who may not have the complete package, and may not be totally ready to file a complete claim, that's perfectly fine. You can apply for what's called an 'intent to file', and that basically holds your place in line, because this is critical. We're leading into the anniversary of the Pact Act. And we need everybody to apply on or before August 9 to maximize their benefits, because you'll be eligible for backdated benefits to when President Biden signed the bill into law last August."

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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