PACT Act presumptives

[GBArmy]

The VA has confirmed that all 23 diseases identified in the PACT Act will be considered to be effective the date of the bill passage, Aug. 10. There will not be a "phase-in" of the effective dates that were staggered over several years! He went on to say that the VA will start to process the new claims Jan 1, 2023, which is the earliest possible date for them to begin.

[brokensoldier244th]

39 minutes ago, Whodat said:

If I see something to that effect and didn't like it, although I need a job and the money for my bills, I do not think think that I could support an organization that turns their left cheek to my band of brothers or sisters, especially if none of them have or had family members that had never served. 

Many of them are veterans, it's not just civilians. And what better way to try to enact change, sit around on the outside and expect politicians to do it, or work from the inside? 

[brokensoldier244th]

36 minutes ago, Vync said:

@brokensoldier244thYep. Despite new presumptives like the PACT act, I often listen to other vets discussing similar issues while in VAMC waiting rooms. 

- Some never sought treatment while in service because they wanted to maintain a tough guy persona.

- Some never sought treatment after service because they were able to manage with over the counter remedies. With no physician documentation, the VA discounts their lay statements and denies.

- I heard one vet tell another to just file for any and every ache and pain regardless. I was mentally facepalming when I heard that advice. The guys were about twice my size, so it was not my business to contradict them.

- And then there are those who did everything right, but don't want to deal with the VA because it reminds them of red tape from while in the service.

It would be interesting if the VA would post metrics showing how many vets files claims without meeting any of the criteria: no in-service issue, no continuity of symptoms and/or care, and no current diagnosis. 

 

I had 3 out of 15 today in the midwest. It's not usually a whole claim, though, it's the claims that claim everything under the sun 10 yrs later that they found on web MD, including associated conditions, and then reworded variations of same, with no anything for care afterwards- no vamc, no private- just their statement, and that's one of the three elements for caluza.

I don't decide that, though, in the end, the raters do. The standards for what I needed to submit for an exam are extremely low. One of them was a ground pounder so I based all elements on their MOS. Let the raters sort it out. 

Somewhere in there I found some contentions that had basis in their STRs though, too. Every day an adventure*¯\_(ツ)_/¯ hands written records suck. 

 

Last day for me in this office. After 3yrs I'm following my job virtually to PR. Full time remote from home not based on an Accomodation. Sounds like my new station is a fustercluck, too. Should be fun, but I get to train some people, too, so, help make change- one person at a time. 

[Whodat]

1 hour ago, brokensoldier244th said:

Many of them are veterans, it's not just civilians. And what better way to try to enact change, sit around on the outside and expect politicians to do it, or work from the inside? 

Maybe that's a true statement. Many may be veterans. But their boss may not be. I was once a GS 12. In order to have good standings with higher up, you must have ACQ level 1 2 and 3. How to save the government money. I know. Level 3. Very good with DTS as well. What did it do for me? Good appraisal and a very happy CEO that had no military experience. Just college.