VA Disability Benifits - 20230307 - 0001

Department of
Veterans Affairs February 21,2023

EVIDENCE INTAKE CENTER
POBOX4444
JANESVILLE WI 53547 -4444
KENNETH W MICHAEL In Reply, Refer To: 25 lll 42I

PO BOX 439030
PMB 160
SAN YSIDRO CA 92143
You May Qualify for Disability Benefits
To Whom It May Concern,

Due to a recent legislative change, you may be eligible for additional
What is Happening
On August 10,2022, President Biden signed the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring
our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, also known as the PACT Act, into law.
This law increases eligibility to benefits by expanding lists of locations, timeframes, and presumptive
conditions related to herbicide exposure.
If you have already filed a disability compensation claim based on the PACT Act, please disregard
this letter.
How This May Affect You

If you were previously denied for disability compensation benefits, you may now be eligible and are
encouraged to apply if you performed covered service in the following locations during the specified
timeflrames:
o Thailand at any United States or Royal Thai base during the period beginning January 9,1962, and
ending June 30, l9T6,regardless of where on the base you were located or what military job specialty
you performed.
o Laos during the period beginning December l, 1965, and ending September 30, 1969.
o Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province, during the period beginning April 16, 1969,
and ending April 30, 1969.
o Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof, during the period beginning January 9,
1962, and ending July 31, 1980.
o Johnston Atoll, or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll, during the period beginning January 1,
1972, and ending September 30, 1977.
Additionally, two new presumptive conditions associated with herbicide exposure have been added:
o Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
. Hypertension (also known as high blood pressure)
Fraud Prevention and Reporting Resources
o Be cautious of companies claiming to be contacting you on behalf of VA. Contact VA directly at 1-
800-827-1000 if you are unsure about the authenticity of a message you've received.
o No individual or organization may charge you a fee for filing an initial VA claim. Only VA-
accredited agents and attorneys may charge a fee to assist you with additional claims or appeals once
VA has made a decision on your initial claim.
o Use the Office of General Counsel Accreditation tool to confirm and validate accredited
representatives at a Veteran Service Organization, agent, or attorney credentials at
www.va. gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp.
To report suspected fraudulent activity, please contact VA's Office of Inspector General at
www.va. o tli ne.
gov-.,bi g/h
If You Have Questions or Need Assistance

https : //www.benefits. va. gov/vso/
Find a Local, Accredited Representative Note: Veterans Service Organizations can

help you with a claim for benefits, free of
charge.
www. va. gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-
VA Website: PACT Act
benefits/
VA Forms Website www.valgov/find-forms/
Frequently Asked Questions www. va. gov/resources/
Submit a Question: Include yourfull name and VAfile
https://ask. va.govl
number
1 -800-827- 1000 Monday through Friday,
Toll Free Number
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
TTY, Federal Relay 7 1.r
VA Regional Office Location www. va. gov/find-locations
Yeteran Crisis Line Dial988 then Press I

You can also send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, 365 days a year.
For more information, visit www.veteranscrisisline.net
Thank you for your service to our country.
Sincerely,
Beth Murphy
Executive Director, Compensation Service
Veterans Benefits Administration
What We Need from You
o If you have nol previously submitted a disability compensation claim for your herbicide exposure-
related disability and would like to do so, please submit VA Form 2l-526E,2, Application for
D i s ab il ity C o mp e n s at ion and Re lat e d C omp e ns at i on B enefi t s.
o If yo:u have previously submitted a claim for disability compensation for your herbicide exposure-
related disability, but were not found eligible, please submit VA Form 20-0995, Deciston Review
Reqttest : S upplemental Claim.
o If you wish, you may submit additional evidence, such as medical records or a biopsy report, with
your application. For more information on herbicide exposure, please see VA's page on herbicide
exposure at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/. Also, VA can assist you in
gathering new and relevant evidence to support your claim.
o You may have your provider complete a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) based on your
current condition. For more information and for access to the DBQs, see
https ://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_publicdbqs.asp.
Where to Send Your Correspondence

Documents may be submitted by mail, in person at a VA regional office or electronically. However,
VA recommends submitting correspondence electronically as this is the fastest method of receipt.
VA provides several tools to assist in electronic submission. To learn more about how to submit
documents and claims electronically, visit www.va.gov/disability/upload-supporting-evidence. You
can also go directly to https://euth.va.gov/accessva/?cspSelectpfl1=quicksubmit to digitally upload
any correspondence using QuickSubmit.
By visiting www.va.goy you can also check your claim status and learn about other VA benefits
If you prefer to mail your correspondence, please use the mailing address below
Compensation Benefits
Department of Veterans Affairs
Compensation Intake Center
P.O.Box4444
Janesville, WI53547
Toll Free Fax: (844) 531-7818
This address serves all United States and foreign locations

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Department of

Veterans Affairs February 21,2023

KENNETH W MICHAEL In Reply, Refer To: 25 lll 42I

You May Qualify for Disability Benefits

To Whom It May Concern,

How This May Affect You

If You Have Questions or Need Assistance

Find a Local, Accredited Representative Note: Veterans Service Organizations can

VA Regional Office Location www. va. gov/find-locations

Yeteran Crisis Line Dial988 then Press I

Thank you for your service to our country.

Where to Send Your Correspondence

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