VA has announced that beginning on March 5, 2024, toxic-exposed veterans will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible, as well as veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States. This expansion comes after years of effort by Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Jon Tester and the passage of the PACT Act. In response to the announcement, Tester said, “Generations of veterans answered the call to serve and came home changed, and it’s our duty to ensure they have health care that meets their needs. I’m glad to see VA announcing they will honor this nation’s promise by expanding health care eligibility for toxic-exposed veterans immediately, rather than waiting for a years-long phase-in. This is exactly why we fought to pass the PACT Act — to expand health care access for millions of veterans without the red tape that has turned too many folks away in the past.” Toxic-exposed veterans and survivors can apply today at va.gov/PACT or by calling (800) MYVA411.
Senate Committee Hearing on Burial Benefits
VFW National Veterans Service Director Michael Figlioli testified at a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing on the National Cemetery Administration’s job performance and customer satisfaction rating. “The National Cemetery Administration has consistently rated in the high 90th percentile in every American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey since 2015. It most recently achieved a 97 percent rating in 2022, which was the highest score ever achieved by any organization rated by ACSI,” said Figlioli. He also called attention to the importance of being precise when honoring veterans’ legacies. “We all served. We all went obediently to where we were told to fulfill whatever duties we had been assigned. The issue is about accuracy, not self-importance.”
VFW Meeting
The PA. VFW 28th. District, Post and Auxiliary meeting will be held Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at VFW 6166, located at 5550 E. State St. in Hermitage. All members in good standing are encouraged to attend. The 28th district covers Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties.
Claim Shark Victims
Predatory unaccredited companies referred to as “Claim Sharks” coach veterans in filing VA disability claims with promises of increasing their ratings, while charging fees and taking a portion of the veterans’ compensation. This is an illegal practice. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations like the VFW have service officers who provide claims assistance to veterans free of charge, as is the law. If you or someone you know has been charged fees for VA claims assistance, email vfw@vfw.org.
POW/MIA Update
Army Technician Fifth Grade Clifford H. Strickland, 25, of Fowler, Colorado, was a member of Company C, 803rd Engineer Battalion. He was among those captured in the surrender of the Bataan Peninsula. He died while a prisoner of war on July 29, 1942. He will be buried in Florence, Colorado, on June 29, 2024.
Till next week, praying for all veterans.
– Charles Castelluccio
