Medical
PACT Act
The Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act is a comprehensive look at supporting Veterans from Vietnam through Iraq and Afghanistan . BLUF: the PACT Act may well apply to you, now that it has been signed into law and we recommend reading up on it in the links below.
A comprehensive page the VA has put together to address the PACT Act, and what it means to Veterans and their survivors as well as filing.
What is the PACT Act?
- Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
- Adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures
- Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
- Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
- Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures
If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.
What if you submitted a claim for service connection and a disability award and it was previously denied? Resubmit. ASAP. How do you do that? It’s called a Supplemental Claim and you can locate it at this link: https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-20-0995-ARE.pdf
Info on Supplemental Claims and submission instructions are found on the 20-0995 form and again, at www.va.gov/PACT.
Registration with the VA
I didn’t realize until reviewing that the VA covered things that TRICARE for Life and Medicare A & B didn’t cover such as hearing aids.
How To Apply For VA Health Care | Veterans Affairs
About VA Health Benefits | Veterans Affairs
River Rats Medical Page (available to non-members)
MEDICAL – Red River Valley Fighter Pilot Association (river-rats.org)
AMIC Initiatives
The Wild Weasel Society is a member in good standing (through Quack Bear) of the River Rats Medical Issues (AMIC) board and we have supported their efforts in conducting a RRVA-wide Pilot Cancer Survey in Fall 2019.
Constitutional Link to the cancer study bill in Congress – H.R.7524 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): ACES Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Article on the Cancer Bill – Aviator Cancer Bill Would Push VA to Study Toxins Air Crews Faced, Assess Links to Cancers – Defense One
Conducting the first-ever online survey of the matter of musculo-skeletal injuries to aircrews of high-G military fighter/attack aircraft. The RRVA AMIC coined the term, “High-G Repetitive Strain Injury (High-G RSI) for the basket of associated spinal injuries that are linked to years of high-G flying.
In 2022, the AMIC will report the results of its CY2021 High-G RSI Survey, debut its 5-year Cancers Campaign, continue to lead the public discussion of aviator cancers, advocate for RRVA aviator cancer proposals to federal lawmakers, and roll out the AMIC’s expanded online web presence at the RRVA homepage.
Other Links