March 2023 ODVA Advisory Committee Report

Readiness Squadron equipment manager, tosses unserviceable uniform items into a burn pit at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on March 10, 2008. Military uniform items turned in must be burned to ensure they cannot be used by opposing forces.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Frances Gavalis, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics

PHOTO CREDIT: Department of Defense

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

James Gardner, Chair, USA ……………………………………………………………………...Eugene

Christine Gittins, Vice Chair, USA…………………………………………………………..Redmond

Robert “Bob” Van Voorhis, Secretary, USA………………………………………….. .John Day

John Howard, USN Medford

Reynold “Reyn” Leno, USMC……………………………………………………………Grand Ronde

Nell Stamper, USCG…………………………………………………………………………………...Astoria

Christina Wood, USAF……………………………..………………………………………….…..Portland

Christopher Waine, USA…………………………….………................................... Hermiston

Vacant Position…………………………...................................................................XXXXXX

ODVA STAFF

Kelly Fitzpatrick, USA ………………………………………………………………………………..Director

Dr. Nakeia Daniels, USA……………………………………………………..…….…..Deputy Director

Martha-Estela Garcia, USA…………………………………..Special Assistant to the Director

Jay DeFillipo……………………………………………………………………..….....Legislative Director

Nicole Hoeft………………………………………………….... Communications Division Director

Donna Haole-Valenzuela…………………………………..…………………Chief Financial Officer

Derek Simmons.…..…………………………………………..…………………………………… Controller

Cody Cox……………………………………………..….Veteran’s Home Loan Program Manager

Troy Croff……………………………………………………….Facilities and Construction Manager

David Kampff…………………………………………………………………..Chief Information Officer

Rebecca Cameron…………………………………………………………Human Resources Director

Ana Potter……………………………………………….Aging Veteran Services Division Director

Kelly Breshears..……………………………. Aging Veteran Services Division Asst. Director

Helen Ireland.………………………………………………………………. Conservatorship Manager

Sheronne Blasi, USN………………………………………………Strategic Partnerships Director

Joseph Glover, USN………………………………………Appeals & Special Advocacy Director

Martin Ornelas, USCG…………..………………………………………...ODVA Portland Manager

Vacant…………………………………………………………………………………………..Internal Auditor

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Quarterly Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Join by Zoom via Videoconference: You may pre-register for the meeting by clicking on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtceqhqTotGt1GVitnPFiJxrYVsmic 7YgO

Once pre-registered you will receive a link to the meeting. All attendees will be muted upon joining the meeting to prevent background noise. To improve bandwidth during the meeting, only Committee and Department staff members will appear on the video feed. We ask the public to turn their cameras off.

Join by Zoom via Telephone: You may join the meeting by dialing 1 (253) 2158782. When prompted, enter the meeting ID: 870 6397 1709# and password/participant ID: 654779#

Meeting Materials: Meeting reports can be found on the Committee’s website by clicking on the following link:

https://issuu.com/odva/stacks/38107bb40c054695831edf5634865ca4

I. WELCOME AND ADMINISTRATION – Business Meeting

• Call to Order – Chair James Gardner

• Pledge of Allegiance – Chair James Gardner

• Moment of Silence – Chair James Gardner

• Meeting Rules – Vice Chair Christine Gittins

• Committee Member Introductions

II. ODVA DIRECTOR’S REPORT

• Covered in the online report

III. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Legislative Update: Jay DeFillipo, ODVA Legislative Director

IV. OLD BUSINESS ITEMS

• Continue to share with veterans that they can apply at any time to be an Advisory Committee member through the ODVA website. Applications remain in the queue for consideration for two years.

• Open for Committee Members

V. NEW BUSINESS

• Open for Committee Members

• Next Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting:

Date: June 7, 2023| Time: 9:30 – Noon

Location: Grants Pass

VII. BUSINESS MEETING ADJOURNED

PACT ACT TOWN HALL with ODVA Director, Kelly Fitzpatrick

VA Portland Healthcare System Director, David Holt

Portland & Anchorage VA Regional Office, Veterans Service Center Manager, Kevin Kalama

Members of the community may submit comments at: vaac@odva.state.or.us

CONNECT WITH ODVA

WEBSITE www.oregon.gov/odva

BLOG www.oregondva.com

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/odvavet

TWITTER @oregondva or www.twitter.com/OregonDVA

ADVISORY COMMITTEE vaac@odva.state.or.us

PUBLIC INFORMATION ODVAinformation@odva.state.or.us

EMAIL SUBSCRIBE

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDVA/subscriber/new

LEGISLATIVE Page

www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Pages/Legislation.aspx

Director’s Message

Kelly Fitzpatrick

ODVA 23-25 Governor’s Recommended Budget and 2023 Legislative Session

In January, the 2023 Regular Legislative Session began as our new governor, Governor Kotek, initiated the final stage of the development of the agency’s 2023-25 biennial budget. The 20232025 Governor’s Recommended Budget for ODVA provides investments in agency programs that address many of the challenges facing today’s veterans across a broad spectrum of needs. It’s important to know that the Governor’s Recommended Budget for all state agencies is just the starting point for consideration by the state legislature. ODVA and other agencies will meet and discuss our budgets with legislators for the next several months as they consider how they want to refine what has been recommended and finalize a Legislatively Approved Budget by the end of the session in late June or early July.

The most urgent needs as prioritized by Governor Kotek are houselessness, behavioral health and access to education. Veteran issues intersect all three of these priorities. The budget also includes funding for key grant programs, special advocacy services for historically underserved veterans, and pass-through funds to ensure veterans have access to free assistance with claims representation in all 36 Oregon counties and on some tribal lands.

While this recommended budget enables ODVA to continue to work with our many partners to address critical gaps in accessing federal VA benefits and other community-based services, it also ensures that the agency’s foundational ORVET Home Loan Servicing IT modernization project progresses. Investments for needed capital investments at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles is also included in the recommended budget and will support residents’ health and wellbeing into the future

The Governor’s Recommended Budget provides a total of $421 million in funding to support veteran services with $9.1 million in General Funds and $20.6 million in Lottery Funds allocated to core veteran services, pass-through funding to partners, grants, and special advocacy services for veterans

The agency is scheduled to present the agency’s 2023-25 Governor’s Recommended Budget in March to the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development.

In this first full month of the Legislative Session, a total of 2,337 bills have been introduced and assigned to committees. ODVA is actively tracking more than 130 veteran related bills. Every Friday, the agency releases the Veteran Bill Digest which contains the legislative activity for veteran related bills. To follow bills that ODVA is tracking, consider subscribing or downloading the reports on ODVA’s Legislative webpage

PACT Act

In 2022, the United States Congress passed the PACT Act that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The PACT

Director’s Message

Kelly Fitzpatrick

Act adds to the list of health conditions that the federal VA presumes were caused by exposure to these substances while in service. This law helps us provide generations of veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

In December, ODVA joined the Portland VA Health Care System Director David Holt, the Veterans Benefit Administration Regional Office Executive Director Melanie “Renaye” Murphy, the Veterans Health Administration VAPORHCS Chief of Staff, Dr. Sahana Misra, and Washington Department of Veterans Affairs to hold a Tele-Town Hall during PACT Act Week. More than 4,100 veterans in Oregon and Washington attended the call to learn more about the new expansion of healthcare and presumptives addressed by this Act.

Since the passage of this Act that massively expands veteran healthcare and benefits, ODVA has continued frequent communication on multiple media platforms to ensure every veteran and dependent is aware of the PACT Act, how to get a screening, and how to locate a Veteran Service Office in Oregon to file a claim.

To further the outreach to veterans and their dependent about this important change in VA law and benefits, following the introductory portion of the Veterans Advisory Committee, we will hold a follow-up PACT Act Town Hall in partnership with Portland VA Health Care System Director David Holt, the Veterans Benefit Administration Regional Office Executive Director Melanie “Renaye” Murphy leveraging the Advisory Committee meeting as yet another important means of spreading the word about this historic expansion of benefits to veterans

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Nicole Hoeft, Division Director

Communications

This quarter Strategic Communications finalized procurement of media services to support Charitable Check-off Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness media campaign efforts. A fully executed contract was completed in December and planning has begun to develop a statewide Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention campaign for use in 2023 Charitable Check-off funds are donated through chartable tax donations for the purpose of creating awareness and providing prevention tools for Oregon veterans in crisis.

In December, ODVA joined the Portland VA Regional Office, the Veterans Benefit Administration, the Veterans Health Administration VAPORHCS, and Washington Department of Veterans Affairs to hold a Tele-Town Hall during PACT Act Week. More than 4,100 veterans in Oregon and Washington attended the call to learn more about the new expansion of healthcare and presumptives addressed by this Act.

Since the passage of this Act that massively expands veteran healthcare and benefits, ODVA has continued frequent communication on multiple media platforms to ensure every veteran and dependent is aware of the PACT Act, how to get a screening, and how to locate a Veteran Service Office in Oregon to file a claim.

In the last quarter, ODVA also supported numerous communication and outreach initiatives aimed at engaging with veterans and partners to increase agency program awareness, and drive veterans to services.

Veteran Programs and Partner Communications

• Volunteer training (Marion, Linn, and Benton counties)

• Registration Open Feb. 22: Women Veterans Conference Press Release

• Promoted ODVA’s Home Loan lending of more than $100 million to veterans in 2022

• PACT Act messaging

• Start of weekly Legislative Veteran Bill Digest

• Emergency services for veterans in acute suicidal crisis (new VA benefit)

Media Engagement

• Increasing: Oregon Veterans Home Loan program

• Free dental insurance now available to many Oregon veterans

• Volunteers needed for Oregon Veteran Volunteer Training Program

• A mother’s fight for honor and dignity: Oregonian column

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Nicole Hoeft, Division Director

• Offering help and support for LGBTQ+ veterans

Outreach and Partner Engagements

• VA PACT Act Week Tele Town Hall

• Yellow Ribbon events: Post Deployment C/182 CAV; B/3-116 CAV (AR)

• Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles 25th Anniversary event

• Presented to the Oregon State Lottery about how Lottery Funds are allocated for veteran services in Oregon.

• Attended the United Veterans Groups of Oregon quarterly meeting

Honor and Remember Communications and Engagements

• Black History Month

• Coast Guard Reserves Birthday

• Pearl Harbor Day

• Wreaths Across America

• National Guard Birthday

Front Desk Reception

As part of the agency’s organizational rebalancing, the front desk function now falls under the Strategic Communication Division. In January, Amy Rumney joined the Front Desk team bringing 20 years of office reception experience.

Also in January, the team launched a new intake process that allows ODVA to better track the needs and outcomes of calls and walk-ins to the Salem office. This information will be used to improve front desk services and identify information that can be improved on ODVA’s website and other communication efforts in response to real time data analytics.

Since the beginning of the year, this new intake process has been very informative. Data since January 1 indicates that:

• 76% of calls or walk-in’s are veterans, followed by 10% Spouses/Dependents, 8% citizens, and 6% organizations

• 31% are seeking fiduciary services, 25% are engaging about claims or locating a Veteran Service Office, and 13% are calling about home loans.

• 40% of issues are able to be resolved by our front desk team, while 28% are referred to specific VA or local services.

APPEALS AND SPECIAL ADVOCACY

Joe Glover, Division Director

LGBTQ+ Veteran Program

The LGBTQ+ Veteran program originated from Oregon Senate Bill 946 (2015). This bill received bipartisan support and established the first ever dedicated LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator and program in the country.

This program works to help LGBTQ+ veterans and their families receive benefits that they are entitled to due to military service, but also specifically target advocacy focusing on assisting veterans with benefit challenges stemming from discriminatory discharges from policies such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as well as assisting with identity-confirming name changes to military discharge paperwork for transgender veterans.

A key component to the program is the advocacy work that is done as a certified Veterans Service Officer (VSO) The pathway to VSO certification is typically a year-plus long effort with numerous milestones, trainings, and shadowing of other VSOs before receiving certification. This is in addition to the other casework that is being done with veterans and their families

On December 21st, 2022 the program coordinator received their certification while at the same time having assisted 68 different veterans in 2022 with advocacy work and support.

LGBTQ+ Success Story:

On January 21, 2023 the Oregonian wrote an article highlighting a mother’s efforts to obtain eligibility for her deceased son to be buried at Willamette National Cemetery (A Mother’s Fight For Honor and Dignity, Oregonian).

This veteran was discharged for being gay under a discrimination policy that predated Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and he received an Other Than Honorable Discharge which was a barrier to federal and state veteran benefits.

After a multi-year fight, the veteran’s discharge was successfully upgraded to honorable, however, unfortunately the veteran was still not able to access veteran benefits because he was discharged before serving 24 months of active-duty service time.

Sadly the veteran passed away in January 2021 and was initially denied burial eligibility at Willamette National Cemetery. However, continued partnership efforts from US Senator Jeff Merkley’s office, ODVA, and Multnomah County Veteran Services teamed up with the veteran’s mother to continue to exhaust all available options to have his burial eligibility established.

APPEALS AND SPECIAL ADVOCACY

Joe Glover, Division Director

Success from these efforts came on January 19, 2023 when the Board of Correction of Naval Records issued a determination that credited this veteran with 24 months of honorable activeduty service clearing the way for his burial at the Willamette National Cemetery this June to coincide with Pride Month.

On February 5, 2023 ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick wrote a Letter to the Editor to the Oregonian (Offering Help and Support for LGBTQ+ Veterans, Oregonian) to highlight the work of this program and shared,

“ODVA believes that all veterans in Oregon should be proud of their military service. We look forward to a day when no veteran feels forced to stay in the shadows simply because of who they are or whom they love

If you or someone you know was discharged based on sexual orientation and want to learn more about accessing your veteran benefits, please contact ODVA’s LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator at lgbtqvets@odva.oregon.gov or 503-373-2327.”

A motherʼs fight for honor and dignity: Steve Duin column

Martin Cerezo and his mother, Cheryle.

By Steve Duin | For The Oregonian/OregonLive

Come June, Martin Cerezo will finally find his rest at Willamette National Cemetery. His mother, Cheryle Cerezo-Gardiner, will hug the folded flag as a bugle call rises over the graves.

She’ll let go of her death-bed promise, catch her breath … then return to herbattlefield, a campaign to ensure no veteran, or their family, ever needs to work so hard to regain their benefits or their “honor.”

Martin Cerezo was Cheryle’s first-born. “He was the one I wanted from the time I knew girls could have babies,” she says. “But he was a difficult child. He bullied his brothers. I’ve often wondered how much of that was struggling with his sexuality.”

Cerezo told his mother he was gay shortly after graduating from a Miami high school in 1988. Thirty-five years ago, that revelation was devastating for a Reagan Republican attending a conservative church.

“After a lot of soul-searching, I realized nothing had changed about Martin,” Cheryle says.“I just had a new piece of information about him.” One they would not share for another four years with his father.

Cerezo enlisted in the Navy that fall. His uncle served in the Navy; his grandfather was a Seabee in the Aleutians during World War II.“The sea is in my family’s blood,” Cheryle says.“That was a tradition he wanted to carry on.” Cerezo also knew he needed military discipline, and it turned him into a 4 O sailor. He served aboard a storied aircraft carrier, the USS Constellation. He lined up for officer’s candidate school.

Martin Cerezo's official Navy portrait, taken in San Diego in 1989

And, after 19 months, he was outed as a homosexual.

It was 1990, four years before “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Homosexuality was still grounds for a court martial.“He was told he needed to name names, anyone he’d had a relationship with,” Cheryle says,“and the Navy would go easy on him.” Cerezo did. The Navy didn’t. He was sent home with an “Other Than Honorable” discharge.

“The worst you could get,” Cheryle says.“It was a disgrace. A scarlet letter. It prevented you from serving on any police force, including Portland’s, or holding any job that required government clearance.” Or any job her son cared about.

Cerezo was forever the nomad, living in Texas, New York, Portland, San Francisco.“I’m not sure if he was looking for something, or if he was trying to lose himself,” Cheryle says.“He met Madonna. He danced with Boy George. He’d call from some swanky penthouse in a Miami Beach hotel. But he had no money because he couldn’t hold a job. No place was ever satisfying.”

He was sometimes homeless, often on drugs.“Fairly heavy stuff,” Cheryle says.“In 2000, he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and told to avoid drugs and alcohol. I don’t think he ever gave that (advice) another thought.”

“Martin and I were close, a 14-month age difference,” says his brother, Jason, who served eight years in the Navy Reserve.“We had the same group of friends. Our lives were identical. But I came out of the Navy married with kids, a business owner, homeowner, all the markings of a successful life. And he came out homeless, battling drugs, and with this general sense of being a pariah.

“The only thing I can point to is that when I left the Navy, I got an honorable discharge. When he left the Navy, he was given ʻOther than Honorable,’ which continued into his life as shame and this need for secrecy.”

Martin died of cancer in January 2021, painfully overweight, blanketed by indignity. He’d always wanted the redemption of a military burial, and on his deathbed, Cheryle promised him she would finish his quest to have his discharge upgraded and find a burial plot at Willamette. For the last time, he squeezed her hand.

Cheryle Cerezo-Gardiner was true to her word, though it took 20 months.

She contacted Lawyers Serving Warriors and worked with the attorneys at Winston & Strawn, a Chicago firm that provides incredible pro bono service to veterans. They helped her secure the upgrade in Martin’s discharge to “Honorable.”

When the National Cemetery Administration said her son still could not be buried at Willamette because he hadn’t served the minimum requirement of 24 months, Cheryle enlisted the help of Oregon’s two U.S. senators, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden.

And on the advice of Ian Michael, the Marine Corps Iraq war veteran serving as the LGBTQ+ coordinator at the Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs, Cheryle asked Matthew Quinn at the Department of Veteran Affairs for an exemption on the minimumservice requirement.

Martin Cerezo and his niece, two months before his death.

“They told me it could take anywhere from 18 months to five years,” Cheryle says. Quinn granted her request in less than three months.

You would hope.“I’m sorry a mother had to go through what she did,” says Kelly Fitzpatrick, a retired Army officer and the first openly lesbian director in ODVA history. “As with so many things, policy and the law must catch up to big social changes. No veteran should ever feel they need to stay in the shadows.”

In the shadows, Martin Cerezo never lost his love for the Navy. When the USS Constellation was towed from Bremerton, Wash., to Brownsville, Tex., for its scrapping in 2014, Cerezo tracked its final voyage around Cape Horn each night on a webcam.

“The Navy lost a lot when it lost him,” his mother says.“There were no marks against him. His only sin was that he was gay.”

He will be buried June 9. No interment date has yet been set for the fear and bias that decommissioned him … and still denies benefits and military burials, Cheryle believes, to thousands of other gay veterans. Her fight for them will continue.

“It floors me that we’re still dealing with this,”Jason Cerezo says.“I don’t know how long we’re going to be fighting this battle. But I will say that putting my brother in the ground at Willamette is a step. It’s not the final step. But it feels good.”

-- Steve Duin stephen.b.duin@gmail.com

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Readers respond: Offering help and support for LGBTQ+ veterans

Published: Feb. 05, 2023, 7:00 a.m.

By Letters to the editor | The Oregonian

I want to thank The Oregonian/OregonLive and Steve Duin for his Jan. 21 column “A mother’s fight for honor and dignity.” The article tells the heartbreaking story of Martin Cerezo, a U.S. Navy sailor who was discharged in 1990 under the military policy prohibiting gays from serving. Tragically, Martin died not knowing whether his final wish— to be buried with military honors in a national cemetery — would be granted.

What happened to Martin should not have happened. Unfortunately, it is a story that is painfully familiar to many who served both before and during “don’t ask, don’t tell.” In 2016, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs created the nation’s first LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator position to advocate for and work with the LGBTQ+ veteran community.

ODVA provides specialized assistance to LGBTQ+ veterans and their families for discharge status upgrades, name and gender changes on military records. ODVA provides these services and others to restore veterans’ dignity and pride in their service and help them gain access to potentially lifechanging benefits and resources.

ODVA believes that all veterans in Oregon should be proud of their military service. We look forward to a day when no veteran feels forced to stay in the shadows simply because of who they are or whom they love.

If you or someone you know was discharged based on sexual orientation and want to learn more about accessing your veteran benefits, please contact ODVA’s LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator at lgbtqvets@odva.oregon.gov or 503-373-2327.

Kelly Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick is director of Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Aging Veterans Services

Ana Potter, Division Director

Veteran Volunteer Program Update

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) Veteran Volunteer Program is one example of the agency’s commitment to ensure every Oregon veteran is connected to the benefits they have earned The role of the volunteer is to help aging veterans and their family members learn about county, state and federal veteran benefits to which they may be entitled. Working through ODVA and in collaboration with our community partners, volunteers work to locate veterans who have not accessed all of their veteran benefits.

After the initial success of the pilot program in three counties and with 17 volunteers, we expanded the program with the goal of opening it up statewide. We held our first statewide training for Washington, Multnomah, Columbia, Marion, and Yamhill counties on January 20, 2020 Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the portion of the program that involved visiting with seniors in person was put on hold. During the pandemic, the Volunteer Program continued to reach out in different ways to help connect with veterans. ODVA developed and sent out brochures to several different organizations including food banks and meals on wheels to remind recipients that ODVA is here to help connect them to resources during the pandemic.

Training new volunteers now that travel and outreach is appropriate has been the primary function of the program. Several in-person and virtual training events have taken place throughout the state. The program currently has 43 volunteers and 45 applicants who have submitted the necessary paperwork to become certified. The program currently has volunteers in 14 counties The maps below reflect where we currently have volunteers and the number of pending applications per county at this time. After the next training, Mark is planning on focusing his efforts on the areas of the state where we do not have volunteers, as well as supporting the current volunteers in program.

In addition to training new volunteers, a refresher training was also prepared by Mark to help our returning volunteers ease back into this role. Mark also has a virtual “Coffee Talk” 2-3 times a month for volunteers to call in, ask questions, share experience and knowledge as well hear positive results from their peers regarding how they helped a veteran.

One volunteer who has been part of the program since the inception of the program in 2018 shared how her volunteering has positively impacted her husband, who was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. As she worked with other Veterans and they gained access to benefits for hearing loss and other service connected disabilities, her husband watched, and waited. He had a negative image of the USDVA and was apprehensive about his wife’s participation in the volunteer program.

Due to the volunteer’s hard work and Veteran Service Officers in Clackamas County, her husband finally applied for hearing loss. He was initially rated at 10% service connected for

Aging Veterans Services

Ana Potter, Division Director

hearing loss and is now rated at 70% service connected. While the compensation does not fix the disabilities he has suffered, it does recognize and acknowledge he has been impacted due to his wartime experience. He realizes there may be additional benefits he has earned and failed to collect over the last 50 years. The volunteer’s husband has also talked with several of his Veteran colleagues who are engaging with a Veteran Service Officer to determine what benefits they may qualify to receive

This situation is a wonderful example of how the program is positively impacting veterans and their families in Oregon. Although the volunteer’s husband is not a volunteer in our program, he has shared his positive experience with other Vietnam Era Veterans and is encouraging them to inquire about potential benefits because of his positive experience that started with a volunteer. This kind of exponential growth can change the Veteran landscape in Oregon.

In addition to training and managing volunteers, Mark has also been busy attending several outreach events including veteran’s breakfasts, Stand-downs, and a Veteran Concert with over 700 people in attendance.

Aging Veterans Services

Ana Potter, Division Director

Aging Veterans Services

Ana Potter, Division Director

Strategic Partnerships Division

Sheronne Blasi, Division Director

Oregon Veteran Emergency Financial Assistance Program -

The newly created Strategic Partnerships division administers several grants including: Veteran Services Grant, Campus Veteran Resource Center Grants, Veterans Educational Bridge Grant, USDVA Highly Rural Transportation Grant, and the Oregon Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance Program Grant.

The Oregon Veteran Emergency Financial Assistance Program (OVEFAP) grant is a one-time grant available to veterans and their eligible dependents who have emergent needs. This program provides aid on a monthly basis to help relieve health and welfare emergencies such as: rent, mortgage, utilities, auto and home repairs, medical and dental care, and housing stability and houselessness.

Since 2006, ODVA has awarded over $1.8 million to almost 1,500 individual veterans and their dependents. ODVA currently receives applications on a monthly basis from veterans, or their eligible immediate family members, for emergency financial assistance. Applications are received directly by ODVA, submitted through ODVA’s network of tribal and county Veteran Service Officers, and/or received from other community partners including National Service Organizations, HUD-VASH Social Workers, Veteran Coordinators at Community Action Agencies, non-profits, etc.

This program helps address veteran financial instability by providing a one-time grant to help pay for expenses, and by providing referrals to applicants for other supportive services. These referrals identify additional benefits and resources that the veteran may be eligible for, and helps veterans partner with multiple resources to meet their financial needs. Veterans are referred to local community assistance programs, such as Community Action Agencies, Work Source, and non-profits to diversify their assistance sources to help achieve greater financial stability. Lower-income veterans are also referred to state assistance programs such as the Oregon Health Plan, SNAP, and TANF

Unfortunately, this financial assistance program has had an ongoing demand for services that far exceeds available funding. During fiscal years 2020 and 2021, ODVA received 222 requests with a total request of $640,402. ODVA awarded $103,857 to 68 applicants. In fiscal year 2022, ODVA received $880,556 in requests, and awarded $106,134 to 56 veterans.

Strategic Partnerships Division

Sheronne Blasi, Division Director

Success story examples resulting from this grant:

An elderly Navy veteran applied for OVEFAP during winter, requesting assistance with repairing the furnace in her home. The veteran reported that her home had been without heat for two months, and she was not able to pay the repair costs on her fixed social security income. She was distressed and worried about her health if she were to not get the heat going before the Klamath Falls snow started. The veteran was granted her full requested amount, and when contacted to discuss next steps, she cried “happy tears” and arranged for repair the next week. The veteran was also connected with her County Veteran Services Officer and given referrals to Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and Disability Services. Once repairs were completed, she contacted ODVA to let us know that she was warm and toasty, right as temperatures dipped into the teens.

An Iraq War veteran applied for OVEFAP requesting assistance with past due housing expenses. As a single mother of high needs children, she had been doing her best to find odd jobs that would allow her to pay childcare expenses, while also having enough left over to contribute to household expenses. At the time of the OVEFAP request, the veteran was facing eviction and had been waitlisted for several community resources. ODVA was able to grant her request for past due rent, which aided in her avoiding eviction, and connected her with a number of community resources. The veteran was also able to connect with the ODVA LGBTQ+ and Houseless Veterans Coordinators to further aide in her and her family’s stability.

Veterans Health Administration

H.R.3967: Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022

SES Conference | February 21, 2023

Opening Remarks

• Data

• Eligibility

• Outreach

Vietnam

Gulf War Era

Post-9/11 Afghanistan and Iraq

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson

Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022

is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve.

Placemat

Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022

An Overview of Key Elements

February | 2023

Bottom Line Up Front

What is Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022?

The PACT Act requires VA to improve health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to toxic substances by expanding eligibility and available health care services.

Key Messages

What are the immediate impacts to our Nation’s Veterans?

The PACT Act expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for toxic-exposed Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam era, Gulf War era and Post-9/11 era.

How is VA managing the sections of the PACT Act?

The PACT Act has 53 substantive sections spread across VA and other agencies. Department level integration is being led by VA Office of Enterprise Integration. VBA and VHA are working collaboratively to address all sections and identify areas with cross administration impacts.

Top Line Messages

• The PACT Act is one of the largest expansions of Veteran benefits and health care in VA’s history and could impact generations of Veterans and their survivors.

• VA recognizes the complexity and broad demographic cross-section of Veterans the PACT Act will affect and will ensure that a “Veteran-centric” approach to the timely and efficient delivery of health care and benefits is available.

• VA is developing a multifaceted outreach plan to provide affected Veterans and their family members with information about the new law, and potential entitlement to care and benefits.

• Every attempt will be made to reach Veterans who may have been exposed to toxins while serving and to outline their claim options.

• The PACT Act will ensure generations of Veterans and their survivors can receive the benefits and care they’ve earned and deserve.

• VA will seek to implement PACT Act provisions as soon as possible, and work to ensure the expansion of eligibility does not result in the delay or disruption of care for those Veterans already receiving VA health care. VA will conduct outreach to affected Veterans and their family members with information about the new law and potential entitlements.

• We urge all Veterans to continue to file claims so we can provide the benefits and care they have earned and deserve. To learn more visit: http://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file.

• Veterans not yet enrolled in VA health care, and who believe they may now be eligible, should apply at https://choose.va.gov/health

Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022

Public Law 117-168

TITLE I: EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY

(Sections 101-111)

Short Title: Covenant Act of 2022

• Expands eligibility to specific categories of Toxic-Exposed Veterans

• Expands eligibility to Veterans supporting certain overseas contingency operations

• Expands eligibility period for certain eras

• Creates a one-year open enrollment period for certain Post 9/11 combat Veterans who did not enroll in VA health care previously to enroll or receive care

TITLE II: TOXIC EXPOSURE PRESUMPTION PROCESS

(Sections 201-204)

Short Title: TEAM Act of 2022

• Improves the decision-making process for presumptions of service connection based on toxic exposure

TITLE III: IMPROVING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SERVICE CONNECTION PROCESS FOR TOXICEXPOSED VETERANS

(Sections 301-303)

Short Title: Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2022

• Any entry in an exposure tracking record system is a qualifying toxic exposure risk activity

• Any entry in an exposure tracking record system is a presumption of exposure for a claim for service connection

TITLE IV: PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE CONNECTION

(Sections 401-407)

• Expands Agent Orange exposure and adds hypertension & monoclonal gammopathy to the list of presumptions

• Establishes a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits and airborne hazards exposure

• Improves compensation for Persian Gulf War Veterans with disabilities

TITLE IX: IMPROVEMENT OF WORKFORCE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

(Sections 901-909)

• Improves national rural recruitment and hiring planning for VHA

• Improves the ability of VA to hire and retain staff, including health care providers

TITLE VIII: RECORDS AND OTHER MATTERS

(Sections 801-808)

Short Title Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (s.804)

• Creates a fund to cover health care and benefits expenses associated with exposure to environmental hazards in service

TITLE VII: RESOURCING

(Sections 701-707)

• Appropriations to enhance claims processing capacity and automation

• Authorizes 31 major medical facility leases across 19 states

TITLE VI: IMPROVEMENT OF RESOURCES AND TRAINING REGARDING TOXIC-EXPOSED VETERANS

(Sections 601-604)

Short Title: Fairly Assessing Service-Related Toxic Exposure

Residuals Presumptions Act of 2022

• Requires VA to create a list of resources and outreach program for toxicexposed Veterans

• Incorporates a clinical toxic exposure screening for VHA enrollees

TITLE V: RESEARCH MATTERS

(Sections 501-510)

• Requires additional training for health care personnel and claims processors

• Improves compensation for Persian Gulf War Veterans with disabilities

• Includes studies on mortality of Veterans who served in certain locations during certain periods, post-9/11 Veterans’ health trends, Veterans’ cancer rates, and the effects of toxic exposures and mental health outcomes

• Includes studies on the effects of waste related to the Manhattan Project, Veterans in Territories of the United States, and the health effects of jet fuels

• Establishes interagency working groups on toxic exposure research

1. Population Projections

2. Staffing Projections

3.

4.

5.

6. Section specific data

a) Sec. 603 – Toxic Exposure Screening

b) Sec. 104(a) – Resource Assessment CMR and implementation

Data Management and Forecasting Line of Effort

Internal VHA data coordination

Collaboration with DoD

Data Projections – Bottom Line

• We have used Milliman’s actuarial estimates as an authoritative starting point for our PACT Act Staffing projections

• Based on these workload projections, we have projected 10-year cumulative staffing needs (providers + support).

• Estimates are very sensitive to productivity assumptions

• Facility & Network-specific estimates have been being released to the field to support planning & recruitment efforts

Under Secretary of Health Charge*

EHCPM PACT Act Projections Planning Data

Professional Clinical Workload wRVU Projections (baseline and aggressive) by Provider Specialty Type and by Location

EHCPM Baseline Projections under Local (facility-specific) VHA Internal Productivity and Support Staff Levels

Simulate Staffing Projections under Productivity and Support Staff Scenarios

External Benchmarks (MGMA) Productivity and Support Staff Levels

*December 12, 2022

Minimum Performance in Reaching Hiring Requirements at each Facility

Hiring Requirements

Superior Performance in Reaching Hiring Requirements at each Facility

ACRONYMS: EHCPM: Enrollee Healthcare Projection Model MGMA: Medical Group Management Association

National FTE Projections

*Providers= MD Providers = Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians by Specialty as well as Chiropractic, Optometry, Podiatrists, Psychologists, Rehab Disciplines of: Audiologists, Speech Pathologists, PT, OT, KT, Blind Rehab APP = CNS, NP, PA; Social Work; Other = Pharmacists, etc.

Provider* and Support Staff Direct Care and Community Care National FTE Projections

*Providers= MD Providers = Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians by Specialty as well as Chiropractic, Optometry, Podiatrists, Psychologists, Rehab Disciplines of: Audiologists, Speech Pathologists, PT, OT, KT, Blind Rehab APP = CNS, NP, PA; Social Work; Other = Pharmacists, etc. Support Staff: Administrative Support Staff FTE Include: Budget Object Code (BOC) 1001, 1002 (MSAs) Clinical Support Staff FTE Include: BOC 1061 (RNs), BOC 1065 (LPN), BOC 1031 (Other Health Technicians), BOC 1037 (Medical Machine Techs) Note: For the Specialties of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Pathology Technologists and Technicians are included (BOC 1033, 1034, 1022 & 1023)

Impacted Areas – Heat Map

By Specialty Providers and Support Staff

Vietnam Era Veteran VA Health Care Eligibility

Veterans who served in the following locations and time periods are also eligible to enroll in VA health care now :

 Republic of Vietnam (between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975),

 Thailand at any US or Royal Thai base (between January 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976)

 Laos (between December 1, 1965, and September 30, 1969)

 Certain Provinces in Cambodia (between April 16, 1969, and April 30, 1969)

 Guam or American Samoa or their territorial waters (between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980)

 Johnston Atoll, or a ship that called there, between January 1, 1972, and September 30, 1977

Extended Health Care Eligibility for Certain Gulf War era Veterans

Beginning October 1, 2022, Gulf War era Veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after the Persian Gulf War may be eligible to enroll in VA health care.

This also includes Veterans who, in connection with service during such period, received the following awards or recognitions:

 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

 Service Specific Expeditionary Medal

 Combat Era Specific Expeditionary Medal

 Campaign Specific Expeditionary Medal

 Any other combat theater award established by Federal statute or Executive Order

Extended Health Care Eligibility for Certain Combat Veterans

Beginning October 1, 2022, Post-9/11 Veterans who did not previously enroll in VA health care will have a 1-year window in which they may be eligible to enroll if they:

 Served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or

 Served in a combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998, and

 Were discharged or released between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013

# of New Enrollments by VISN

Social Media – General Information (Pre-Passage)

• Facebook and Twitter posts engaging with Veterans before PACT Act passage began 8/25/2022 and ended 10/1/2022

• Social media messages are posted on VA, VBA and VHA platforms, as well as provided to local VAMCs for their own use.

• Facebook and Twitter posts announcing the expanded eligibility for Vietnam Veterans began 10/1/2022 and are continuing

• Are you a Vietnam Veteran? Thanks to the PACT Act, you may be eligible for free, no annual costs, health care. To enroll, you must have served at one of the following locations:

‒ Republic of Vietnam

‒ Thailand

‒ Laos

‒ Cambodia

‒ Guam or American Samoa (or their territorial waters)

‒ Johnston Atoll (or a ship called there)

• Learn more about your eligibility and sign up for VA health care by visiting VA.gov/PACT.

Social Media – Gulf War Veterans

Facebook and Twitter posts announcing the expanded eligibility for Gulf War Veterans began 10/1/2022 and are continuing

If you’re a Gulf War era Veteran, the PACT Act may have expanded your eligibility to enroll in VA health care. Learn more at VA.gov/PACT.

• Facebook and Twitter posts announcing the special one-year health care enrollment began 10/1/2022

• Gulf War and Post 9/11 Veterans, did you forget to enroll for VA health care? Take a deep breath because there is still time! The PACT Act 1year special open enrollment period may apply to you if:

‒ You served on active duty during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or

‒ You were in combat against a hostile force after November 11, 1998, and

‒ You were discharged between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013.

• Learn more at VA.gov/PACT and apply online at www.va.gov/healthcare/apply/application/introduction.

Social Media – Expanded Eligibility

Facebook and Twitter posts announcing the special expanded eligibility for health care enrollment began 10/1/2022 and are continuing.

Did you know? The PACT Act extends eligibility for VA health care enrollment. Learn more at VA.gov/PACT.

• How PACT Act affects Vietnam Veterans | Agent Orange, Radiation Exposure & New Locations

• How PACT Act affects Gulf War & Iraq Veterans | Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Somalia & More

• How PACT Act affects Post 9/11 Veterans | Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan & More

• 5 Ways the PACT Act Helps Veterans | VA Health Care | VA Disability | Vietnam, OIF, OEF

270,000 Subscribers

VHA Facility Signage

(art provided to PAOs for local printing and optional use)

Lanyard Badge and Wallet Card

PACT Act Outreach Strategy: Targeted Outreach

• VA has leveraged its #VetResources weekly newsletter to ~10 million Veterans and influencers with multiple PACT Act messages for Veterans and their influencers since pre-signing of the PACT Act.

• VA has identified ~3.5 million eligible Veterans who are not yet enrolled.

• These will be reached through a series of targeted email and direct mail campaigns when we have completed data cleansing and deduplication.

• Messages will be personalized for specific war eras, genders, age, and any other relevant information that can be appended to the files.

• VA will focus these efforts to reach eligible but non-enrolled Veterans, particularly in high Veteran density regions, as well as rural and underserved areas to ensure awareness of expanded benefits and eligibility for VA health care.

PACT Act Week of Awareness (December 10-17)

• VA hosted 127 PACT Act Week of Action events December 10-17 in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico.

• Each event was open to Veterans, Veteran families, caregivers, survivors and advocates as well as the press. Invitations were also extended to Members of Congress, State Directors of Veterans Services, and local elected officials and stakeholders.

• Representatives from VHA and VBA were available to answer questions and help Veterans file for PACT Act-related health care and benefits.

• More than 50,000 attendees participated in person or online, with 5,600 exposure screenings completed, 2,600 VBA claims submitted, and more than 800 enrollments completed during the week.

Paid Media Outreach Efforts

Paid Media: Broadcast and Digital Commercials

• Spots were also shown during the Armed Forces and Military Bowls, with 2+ million viewers each.

• The current campaign includes a TV broadcast mix, as well as Hulu and Roku streaming platforms.

You Can Help VHA Get the Word Out about the PACT Act

• Veterans will have questions about VHA health care eligibility and VBA benefits. We have tools to help you answer their questions. There should be no wrong door for Veterans and their families to seek answers to their questions.

• Resources are available for front-line employees to ensure Veterans, their families, and survivors understand expanded health care eligibility and benefits for which they now may be eligible:

• VHA Insider resources are now available for all employees: PACT Act - VHA - VA

INSIDER

• VHA communications toolkit is now available on VHA Comms Site: PACT Act Communications (sharepoint.com)

• The PACT Act Virtual Resource Room is available 24/7. This online forum provides an avenue for VHA employees to submit questions for answers from subject matter experts within 24 hours. PACT Act Resource Room - Power Apps

VBA: PACT Act Changes Highlighted

The “Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics” (PACT) Act, signed into law on August 10, 2022:

• Establishes presumptive service and conditions for “covered” Veterans

• Amends the law involving Persian Gulf War Veterans

• Expands presumptive conditions and locations associated with herbicide exposure

• Expands locations associated with radiation exposure

• Changes VA’s responsibilities for non-presumptive toxic exposure claims

VBA: What are Toxics?

Below are examples of toxics to which servicemembers may have been exposed during service:

• Chemicals (Herbicides, pesticides, industrial solvents)

• Radiation (nuclear weapons, depleted uranium)

• Air pollutants (burn pit smoke, particulate matter)

• Occupational hazards (asbestos, lead, paint, fuels)

• Warfare agents (mustard gas, nerve agents, biological weapons)

• Other garrison exposures (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, volatile organic compounds, solvents, paints, fuels)

VBA: Burn Pits and Other Toxins (Covered Veterans)

Service Locations and Dates (on or after)

• Iraq (8/2/90)

• Kuwait (8/2/90)

• Saudi Arabia (8/2/90)

• Neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia (8/2/90)

• Bahrain (8/2/90)

• Qatar (8/2/90)

• United Arab Emirates (8/2/90)

• Oman (8/2/90)

• Gulf of Aden (8/2/90)

• Gulf of Oman (8/2/90)

• Persian Gulf (8/2/90)

• Arabian Sea (8/2/90)

• Red Sea (8/2/90)

• Afghanistan (9/11/01) PACT Act

• Syria (9/11/01) PACT Act

• Djibouti (9/11/01) PACT Act

• Uzbekistan (9/11/01) PACT Act

• Somalia (8/2/90) PACT Act

• Egypt (9/11/01) PACT Act

• Lebanon (9/11/01) PACT Act

• Yemen (9/11/01) PACT Act

• Jordan (9/11/01) PACT Act

Presumptive Disabilities

(manifested at any time, and to any degree)

• Asthma

• Chronic Sinusitis

• Chronic Rhinitis

• Head cancers PACT Act

• Neck cancers PACT Act

• Respiratory cancers PACT Act

• Gastrointestinal cancers PACT Act

• Reproductive cancers (including breast cancer) PACT Act

• Lymphoma cancers PACT Act

• Lymphomatic cancers PACT Act

• Kidney cancer PACT Act

• Brain cancer PACT Act

• Melanoma PACT Act

• Pancreatic cancer PACT Act

• Chronic bronchitis PACT Act

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease PACT Act

• Constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis PACT Act

• Emphysema PACT Act

• Granulomatous disease PACT Act

• Interstitial lung disease PACT Act

• Pleuritis PACT Act

• Pulmonary fibrosis PACT Act

• Sarcoidosis PACT Act

• Glioblastoma PACT Act

VBA: Undiagnosed Illnesses (Gulf War Veterans)

Service Locations and Dates (on or after)

• Iraq (8/2/90)

• Kuwait (8/2/90)

• Saudi Arabia (8/2/90)

• Neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia (8/2/90)

• Bahrain (8/2/90)

• Qatar (8/2/90)

• United Arab Emirates (8/2/90)

• Oman (8/2/90)

• Gulf of Aden (8/2/90)

• Gulf of Oman (8/2/90)

• Persian Gulf (8/2/90)

• Arabian Sea (8/2/90)

• Red Sea (8/2/90)

• Afghanistan (8/2/90) PACT Act

• Israel (8/2/90) PACT Act

• Syria (8/2/90) PACT Act

• Turkey (8/2/90) PACT Act

• Egypt (8/2/90) PACT Act

• Jordan (8/2/90) PACT Act

Presumptive Disabilities

• Undiagnosed Illnesses like:

• Abnormal weight loss

• Fatigue

• Cardiovascular disease

• Muscle and joint pain

• Headache

• Menstrual disorders

• Neurological and psychological problems

• Skin conditions

• Respiratory disorders

• Sleep disturbances

• Medically Unexplained Multi-symptom Illnesses like:

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, dyspepsia, abdominal pain syndrome

Undiagnosed illnesses and MUCMIs may manifest at any time after service, and to any degree.

PACT Act

VBA: Herbicide Exposure

Service Locations and Dates

• Vietnam (1/9/62 – 5/7/75)

• Boots on ground

• Brown waters

• Blue waters

• Korean DMZ (9/1/67 – 8/31/71)

• Thailand US or Royal Thai Base (1/9/62 – 6/30/76)

• Without regard to where on base or MOS PACT Act

• Laos (12/1/65 – 9/30/69) PACT Act

• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek (4/16/69 – 4/30/69) PACT Act

• American Samoa (1/9/62 – 7/31/80) PACT Act

• Guam (1/9/62 – 7/31/80) PACT Act

• Johnson Atoll (1/1/72 – 9/30/77) PACT Act

Presumptive Disabilities (and Manifestation)

• AL amyloidosis (10% or more)

• Chloracne (10% or more within 1 year of exposure)

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (none)

• Parkinsonism (none)

• Bladder cancer (none)

• Hypothyroidism (none)

• Hodgkin’s disease (10% or more)

• Ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease (10% or more)

• All chronic B-cell leukemias (10% or more)

• Multiple myeloma (10% or more)

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (10% or more)

• Parkinson’s disease (10% or more)

• Early-onset peripheral neuropathy (10% or more within 1 year of exposure)

• Porphyria cutanea tarda (10% or more within 1 year of exposure)

• Prostate cancer (10% or more)

• Respiratory cancers (10% or more)

• Soft-tissue sarcoma (10% or more)

• Hypertension (none) PACT Act

• MGUS (none) PACT Act

VBA: Radiation Exposure

Service Locations and Dates

Presumptive Disabilities

• Leukemia

• Onsite participation in test involving detonation of nuclear device

• In US or another nation

• E.g.: Amchitka Island, Paducah, Portsmouth, K25, Operations Crossroads, Trinity, Sandstone…

• Hiroshima or Nagasaki (8/6/45 – 7/1/46)

• POW in Japan during WWII

• Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000

• Enewetak Atoll Cleanup (1/1/77 – 12/31/80) PACT Act

• Palomares, Spain Response (1/17/66 – 3/31/67) PACT Act

• Thule Air Force Base, Greenland Response (1/21/68 –9/25/68) PACT Act

• Cancer of the thyroid

• Cancer of the breast

• Cancer of the pharynx

• Cancer of the esophagus

• Cancer of the stomach

• Cancer of the small intestine

• Cancer of the pancreas

• Multiple myeloma

• Lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s disease)

• Cancer of the bile ducts

• Cancer of the gall bladder

• Primary liver cancer

• Cancer of the salivary gland

• Cancer of the urinary tract

• Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma

• Cancer of the bone

• Cancer of the brain

• Cancer of the colon

• Cancer of the lung

• Cancer of the ovary

All disabilities may manifest at any time after service, and to any degree (including 0%).

VBA: Non-Presumptive Locations/Conditions

If you believe you were exposed to toxins in service but:

• you did not serve in one of the presumptive locations previously shown, and/or

• You did not serve during one of the time periods previously shown, and/or

• You have a disability related to the exposure, but it’s not one of the presumptive disabilities previously shown…

How to file a toxic exposure claim:

• Consult an accredited VSO (strongly recommended)

• National VSO

• State VSO

• County VSO

• Describe your exposure to toxins

• VA Form 21-526EZ, Section IV: Exposure Information

• Identify the disability you believe is a result of toxic exposure

• VA Form 21-526EZ, Section V: Claim Information

Where to get help from VBA:

• (800) 827-1000

• 100 SW Main Street, 2nd floor, Portland

• Vets.force.com/VAVERA