Secretary of VA visits Colorado Springs to discuss new resources for veterans exposed to toxic substances
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Denis McDonough, head of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the U.S. met with veterans and VA employees Thursday at the Colorado Springs VA clinic.
During his visit, McDonough discussed new resources available for the millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while fighting for our country.
McDonough is in the first week of a nationwide tour to kick off the "PACT Act Week of Action" -- an effort to inform veterans and their families and survivors, about the PACT Act, signed into law by President Biden in August.
The tour, which includes VA staff members, is promoting the Act's major expansion of health care and benefits to include clients who may have been exposed to toxic substances from Agent Orange, so-called "burn pits" and other sources during military service -- primarily in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Last month, the VA began offering screenings for toxic exposure and also will offer follow-up screenings every five years.
The VA said that so far, more than 176,000 veterans have applied for benefits related to the PACT Act, and more than 503,000 have received the screenings -- with nearly 40% concerned about exposure.
McDonough and his team attended a public hearing at the clinic Thursday, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., to answer questions from veterans.
The secretary said that at least four million veterans served from the Vietnam War to the first Middle East deployments after the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., and he expects most of them to contact the VA.
"Are we ready to handle that? I think we are," he said. "But we're going to need to hire more medical personnel. We have people recruiting right now. We also realize that many veterans have lost trust in us because of frustration and isolation after trying to navigate the system. We're trying to regain that trust."
The open house welcomed veterans who wanted help filing claims; veterans who have not yet registered for VA benefits; and provided flu and COVID booster shots.
"We officially start processing claims (for toxic exposure) Jan. 1 but we will move any claim from a terminally ill veteran to the top of the list," McDonough revealed.
Among veterans who received toxic screenings Thursday was Howard Lee Hampton, Jr. -- a retired Marine sergeant and Purple Heart recipient who served two tours of duty in Iraq from 2004 to 2006, and is concerned about impacts to his health from burn pits.
"I was throwing things into the pits and some of them were even on fire," he said. "There were pits everywhere so it didn't matter which way the wind was blowing. We burned everything from trash to debris that we used. We burned maybe a few days a week. No one ever told me about possible health risks. It was never emphasized."
Hampton said that when he returned home, he did his own research and found that many babies born to parents exposed to burn pits had birth defects.
"I have a persistent cough now but I don't know yet if the burn pits caused it," he said.
During his interview with KRDO NewsChannel 13, Hampton received a handshake and medallion from McDonough, who also thanked Hampton for his service.
"Now that this (Act) is actually something that’s going to benefit (veterans) across the board, and help them out, I think that’s pretty awesome," said Hampton, 40.
