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PACT Act Adds More Locations To AO List
Did you know the PACT Act added five new locations to the “assumed herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) list? (1) All U.S. or Royal Thai military bases in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976; (2) Veterans who served in Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969; (3) Veterans who served in Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969; (4) Veterans who served in Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980; (5) Veterans who served at Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977.
Types of Toxic Exposures
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considers the term “toxic exposure” as referring to a subset of military environmental exposures? According to the VA, “toxic” is determined by four distinct factors: substance, concentration of exposure, route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, etc.), and duration of exposure. Veterans may have been exposed to many types of toxic exposures, such as the following: 1. Chemicals. Herbicides (Agent Orange) used during the Vietnam War era, burn pits and sulfur fires in Iraq, water supplies at Camp Lejeune during specific time periods, pesticides used during Operation Desert Storm, and exposure to depleted uranium and industrial solvents. 2. Air Pollutants. Burn pits, oil well fires, and sulfur fires in Iraq. Additional air pollutants may include exposure to the Atsugi (Japan) waste incinerator, or sand, dust, and very small, fine particles or liquid droplets. 3. Occupational Hazards. Asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, radiation, vibration, noise, fuels, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and special paint used on military vehicles. 4. Radiation. Exposure to nuclear weapons and testing, x-rays, and/or depleted uranium. 5. Warfare Agents. Chemical weapons, Project 112/Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD), herbicide tests and storage, and chemical experiments.
New VA Form
Did you know the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the elimination of the HUD/VA Addendum to Uniform Residential Loan Application (VA Form 26-1802a), as well as the Federal Collection Policy Notice (VA Form 26-0503)? The VA advises that it has consolidated those forms into VA Form 26-1820, which is used by lenders to report a loan to VA for guaranty upon closing.
New Tax Ememption Status In Pennsylvania
Did you know in Pennsylvania that military service members discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, shall be exempt from the payment of all real property taxes upon the residence occupied by the veteran and residents of the Commonwealth imposed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any of its political subdivisions if, as a result of military service, they are blind, paraplegic or double or quadruple amputees or have a service-connected disability declared, rated or compensated by the United States [Veterans Administration]
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or its successor to be [a total or] 100% [permanent disability] permanent and totally disabled, and if the State Veterans' Commission determines that such persons are in need of the tax exemptions [granted herein.] based on the economic circumstances that exist at the member's place of residence?
PACT Act Eligibility Questionnaire
Did you know the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has developed a quick and easy questionnaire to determine potential eligibility for veterans under the new PACT Act? To learn more about PACT Act eligibility, and get connected with an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for assistance with your VA claim click here.
Veterans Crisis Line Update
Did you know while Dial 988 and then Pressing 1 is a new option for contacting the Veterans Crisis Line, the original number, 800-273-8255 and Press 1, still remains available? Also, individuals can make contact via chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or by texting 838255.
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Supreme Court Denies Veteran
Did you know the Supreme Court unanimously rejected
arguments by a disabled veteran that he and other individuals who missed filing deadlines for disability benefits should still be eligible for retroactive payouts? The Courts decision also included language that veterans are not eligible for back pay even if they could show compelling reasons for the late submissions past the deadline.
Agent Orange Remains In Body for Decades
Did you know the dioxins in Agent Orange are highly lipophilic, meaning that they dissolve in fat and are stored in the body's adipose tissue (body fat)? Dioxins metabolize slowly at a young age, and even slower as we age. One of the primary long-term effects of Agent Orange is that it can accumulate in fatty tissue and remain there for decades.
Federal Court Rejects Additional Benefits for Veterans
Did you know a federal court recently overturned an earlier decision that would have allowed veterans to receive up to an additional year of education benefits under the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI bills? Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed a 2021 ruling by a three-person Federal Circuit panel that would have let Army veteran James Rudisill receive the maximum amount of education benefits stipulated in the GI bills.
Veterans Need To Confirm ASAP
Did you know Tricare users who receive prescriptions by mail need to confirm their refills before they are sent? A change that could cause disruptions for millions of beneficiaries if they don’t immediately respond to the confirmation messages and take the needed steps. Express Scripts, Tricare's pharmacy benefits manager, let patients know in December 2022 that the Tricare Mail Order Pharmacy Program would stop sending refills automatically without any confirmation.
VA Helps Veterans Start Business
Did you know the VA offers various resources to veterans looking to start a business? These include counseling, training, and mentorship programs. Additionally, the VA provides access to capital and other financial assistance programs. The VA also helps veterans connect with other entrepreneurs and potential investors. The VA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is a great resource for veterans looking to start a business. OSDBU provides information on available grants, loans, and other forms of assistance, as well as advice and guidance on starting and running a business.
Free Smartphone
Did you know senior veterans can get free smartphones via government and non-government programs? One of the most well-known programs is FCC’s Lifeline Program, which offers a huge discount on monthly phone service to qualified individuals. Other programs involve state-specific initiatives such as Link Up America and the Federal Government’s Veterans Affairs Telecommunication Program. Senior veterans can get qualified for free phones by fulfilling the income criteria set by each program. For instance, the FCC’s Lifeline program requires that the participants must have an annual income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Moreover, seniors will have to offer documents to prove their eligibility for the program.
Lowe's Discount Policy Update
Did you know Lowe's has ended its military discount for certain items such as major appliances? Lowe's spokeswoman Candace Gordon reported that, "as of March 2022, Lowe's updated the Everyday Military Discount to exclude select product categories, including major appliances, lumber and electrical cable/wire." But Lowe’s still offers a discount "on thousands of eligible items for active duty military, veterans and their spouses.
Full Benefits With Less Than 20 Years
Did you know U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jon Tester (D-Montana) recently announced the reintroduction of the Major Richard Star Act? The Act is bipartisan legislation to provide combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of military service their full benefits. Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) retirement pay and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments. The Major Richard Star Act will fix this policy for medically retired combat veterans by providing them their full VA disability and DOD retirement payments.