VA Letter

[Jeepnik]

I know we have a lot of vets on this forum. I just received a letter regarding the PACT Act. This has to do with compensation for exposure to thing's like Agent Orange, Radiation & Asbestos. Apparently just serving in some areas including SEA we now have presumptive exposure to this stuff.

Anyone else get a letter.

 

[GunnyGene]

No letter here, but I've never bothered with the VA for anything so I don't expect to get one.

 

[RC44Mag]

Im sure I have a good amount of AFFF, asbestos and non skid stuck in my lungs. possibly higher levels of radiation then acceptable as well. I haven’t gotten a letter.

 

[Jeepnik]

Web site listed on the letter is
https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/

If it's been a while sine you were in contact with the VA they might not have you current contact info. They also have a place on the site to update that and to receive updates.
I was easy to find, I live in a house I bought on a VA loan over forty years ago.

 

[bigjake]

I get the letters (several) over the last 2-3 months. I'm a USMC Vietnam Veteran and have been getting VA Disability since 2005 and 100% since 2009. I don't think this is aimed at Vets like me who are already at or above 100%.

 

[dannyd]

Im sure I have a good amount of AFFF, asbestos and non skid stuck in my lungs. possibly higher levels of radiation then acceptable as well. I haven’t gotten a letter.

Your forgetting the lecture in Fire Fighting school, AFFF will never harm you because it's made from Animal Bones. And that's no S***.

 

[JPGLSG1234]

I'd seek out the services of a veterinary before I would ask the VA medical to do a damn thing for me. The last time I was at one of their medical facilities there were more non Vets working there than Vets. Most of them had the look and attitude that they would rather be any place on earth other that at their jobs working for Veterans. I assume I got exposed to all kinds of crap Agent Orange, Radiation & Asbestos, AFFF while I was in the Marine Corps in the vary late 60s and early 70s. So far so good....

 

[g5m]

My VA service for hearing aids has been very good. Haven't gone there for other services. No exposure in service for the items mentioned but plenty outside the service.

 

[RC44Mag]

Your forgetting the lecture in Fire Fighting school, AFFF will never harm you because it's made from Animal Bones. And that's no S***.

Lol. I must have nodded off during that line but I don’t doubt it one bit.

 

[epags]

I know we have a lot of vets on this forum. I just received a letter regarding the PACT Act. This has to do with compensation for exposure to thing's like Agent Orange, Radiation & Asbestos. Apparently just serving in some areas including SEA we now have presumptive exposure to this stuff.

Anyone else get a letter.

Yep. And to those who have had VA issues long ago, let it go. I had hearing loss and VA provided free to me new hearing aids every 4 years and when I found out about PACT I filed a claim due to high blood pressure due to agent orange. I have been awarded tax free monthly benifits.
PS: Since I am a military retiree, the tax free monthly benifits are deducted from my retiree pay.LOL
However, do submit a claim. You put your life on the line and should be provided for if you suffered from your service.
PM me if you have questions.
FWIW: I volunteered for 20 years as a liaison between the DOD and us military.

 

[dannyd]

Taking the benefit out of our retirement pay goes back to the aftermath of the War Between the States. The Southern Democrats did not want Union Soldiers to get both disability and retirement, so that's why they do the money that way.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I go to the Haley VA Hospital here in Tampa Florida ; It is one of the very best in the Nation and I have always gotten excellent service from ALL departments ! Dont think the "Pact Act" applies to me as I spent 15 months in South Korea on OSAN AFB while serving in the Army.

 

[WAYNO]

Interesting...

I had my yearly VA check up a week ago. They asked about all the things I may have been exposed to, but when I mentioned asbestos, they said it wasn't on the list.

 

[Chief 101]

I have a feeling the fed government thru the VA is attempting to create dependency....let that sink in.

 

[Jeepnik]

Lol. I must have nodded off during that line but I don’t doubt it one bit.

Older “protein” or mechanical foam was based on animal byproducts. The newer AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) was non biological.

Mechanical foam was being phased put but we still had scores of drums left. To use it up and preserve the much more costly AFFF we used the mechanical foam for foaming runways.

As an aside, the mechanical foam acted as a fertilizer and spurred plant growth alongside runways The AFFF didn’t seem to have that effect.

There was one alcohol based fuel used during my service. It burned almost invisibly and neither foam was much good as the vapors penetrated the foam blanket. Dry powder wasn’t much good either but chlorobromomethane and later halons did work pretty well.

 

[ronto]

I don't expect to hear from them nor do I want to hear from them.

 

[2Late45]

Got the letter and placed it in the round file. I did use the VA for new glasses this year at no cost, other than gas for the one hour drive.

 

[3manfan]

I know we have a lot of vets on this forum. I just received a letter regarding the PACT Act. This has to do with compensation for exposure to thing's like Agent Orange, Radiation & Asbestos. Apparently just serving in some areas including SEA we now have presumptive exposure to this stuff.

Anyone else get a letter.

My next door neighbor served in 'Nam & he looked into this several years ago. He said based on the areas he was in they included him in this program & he ended up with quite a hefty check. He's since passed or I'd get you more detail but if I'd definitely look into it instead of discounting it.

 

[Old and grumpy]

Just got the letter. I have never had ANY contact with the VA. Yet they have my address. Only way for them to know it would be from the veterans mark on my drivers license. ----- Am I opening a f***** can of worms if I respond?

 

[Jeepnik]

No worms, they already know where you live.

 

[Big Old Boy]

VA saved my life last month I was on deaths door two hours from meeting my maker only complaint I have is they can’t cure cancer, love the VA and all that work for them!!!

 

[sfhogman]

VA saved my life last month I was on deaths door two hours from meeting my maker only complaint I have is they can’t cure cancer, love the VA and all that work for them!!!

Glad to hear it!
I worked at the San Francisco VA for most of my working life found most of the medical and nursing staff to be good, caring people. I miss them. And the veterans...

 

[protoolman]

I just quit last year being a county VSO veterans service officer. So the deal with the Navy guys getting agent orange cancer presumption has been fought for years. It is now approved. The va fought it and lost but they delayed it until all the vets were on Medicare. Since the VA is the last payer they won't have to pay as much for any care. Do go talk to your local VSO from the county, legion, VFW whatever. They may be able to file a claim for monthly compensation for something as minor as hearing loss. There are essentially 2 sections to the VA: compensation and medical. The vsos don't work for the VA they work for you and free. I was a paid county employee. Don't pass up free hearing aids and such. I could get some 1 time grants through the state for a couple thousand for just about anyone whos a vet for dental based on income for instance. Lots of federal and local freebies for veterans available. Many states free hunting fishing licenses state park passes etc. Please go talk to a VSO!

 

[dweis]

No letter here, but I've never bothered with the VA for anything so I don't expect to get one.

Me too. When I mustered out in ‘69 I had been under USN medial care for a wound. Upon discharge I went to the Philadelphia VA hospital to check out the scene. It was ugly, smelly, and there were a lot of vets waiting for treatment that I spoke with, and they all niched and moaned about the care. So I did not apply for VA benefits. I read that the VA hospitals are better now, but being on Medicare makes me uninterested.

 

[JPGLSG1234]

I get what some of you are saying, and I'm thankful you are getting the health care you deserve from the VA. However, freeies, fiddle sticks, I'm retired but still do business with my partner form FL. I sent uncle, federal and state some pretty damn big tax checks in April. Somebody is paying for all these freeies. Way back when I thought the VA might be a good health care option/program I was offered a whooping $400.00 for my agent orange poising. No thanks it was and is Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield with a drug plan for me. the VA center in Atlanta needs to emptied out and start over. They were more concerned with a 5 million dollar parking deck than providing care for the Vets.

 

[protoolman]

Totally understand the not going for med care if you're on Medicare. But what if they gave you a check for say $200 month For a service connected hearing loss? Most states, counties give disabled veterans a big property tax break on their house on top of your old age homestead exemption too. I got a friend 40 percent off his property taxes and they refunded him back 3 years under ND state law so he got $3000 to go buy a few new guns. Every vet needs to do a review with a VSO. Remember they don't work for the VA. Heck if nothing else pick up the free headstone application and fill it out so you can pick your own symbols and writing. Then when you die someone can send it in and get your free stone delivered to whatever funeral home you put on the form. Easy peasy. Ask about any free hunts for vets while you're at it.

 

[WAYNO]

I am envious of folks who have a VSO office that truly works for Vets. I gave up. They win.

 

[protoolman]

I am envious of folks who have a VSO office that truly works for Vets. I gave up. They win.

If you have a crappy regional or county VSO call the American legion or DAV or VFW or go to one in another town. They will all tell you what's available and you don't have to be a member of their organization usually. Heck if I was still in my ND office I'd have offered to run you through to see what we could do! It's seldom I couldn't find something. I showed up on one guys doorstep with a frozen turkey and a basket of other goodies at Thanksgiving and said thank you for your service. A local bank donated a bunch of thanksgiving baskets and I got to just have fun giving them away to any vets I knew.

 

[JPGLSG1234]

Totally understand the not going for med care if you're on Medicare. But what if they gave you a check for say $200 month For a service connected hearing loss? Most states, counties give disabled veterans a big property tax break on their house on top of your old age homestead exemption too. I got a friend 40 percent off his property taxes and they refunded him back 3 years under ND state law so he got $3000 to go buy a few new guns. Every vet needs to do a review with a VSO. Remember they don't work for the VA. Heck if nothing else pick up the free headstone application and fill it out so you can pick your own symbols and writing. Then when you die someone can send it in and get your free stone delivered to whatever funeral home you put on the form. Easy peasy. Ask about any free hunts for vets while you're at it.

Well yugo fire protoolman, you convinced me to search out a VSO. PM me and I'll give you my location, I need a strong Man to rep for me. Don't want no damn grave stone, how about a cheap urn.

I'm pissed off about trying to keep ahead of the run out of money program, that we are all facing in one way or another, paying taxes on retirement and what business I do. After years of paying my taxes !!! I feel I'm full up. Like I said I'm still keeping busy dialing for dollars, I want a new truck and guns and I'm awfully thankful for my station in life.

 

[Conman]

Yep, I got a letter. I ignore all disability items as my health isn’t bad for a person their late 80’s. I went to SEA and got out alive. Any money for disability needs to go to anyone who is disabled.