Montana Veterans! Do You Have Health and Benefits Questions? Ask Questions Now!

Thank you!

Hello SSgt Patricia Moritz Thank you for your excellent question. I found this Peer Specialist toolkit on the VA website. https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn4/docs/peer_specialist_toolkit_final.pdf

The Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network also provides training in caregiver peer support. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/services-for-veterans/military-veteran-caregiver-network.html

Hello, SSgt Moritz. VHA has bimonthly national webinars available for peer specialists and quarterly national webinars available for supervisors of peer support staff members. VHA also has an annual virtual national conference for peer support staff and peer support supervisors that you can attend. There are other trainings available as well for peer specialists. I encourage you to check the VHA Peer Support Services SharePoint which has archived recordings of presentations and other resource information available for peer specialists and peer support supervisors. Additionally, if you are not already receiving email messages about upcoming VHA national training offerings for peer support staff members, I encourage you to contact your VISN's Peer Specialist Point of Contact so that you can be added to your VISN's mail group for peer support staff and peer support supervisors so that you can receive future messages about available trainings. If you are not certain who your VISN's Peer Specialist Point of Contact is, you can find the list of all of the VISN Peer Specialist Points of Contact and VISN Peer Support Supervisor Points of Contact on the VHA Peer Support Services SharePoint which is accessible by all VHA employees.

Thank you, Dr. Sweeney!

Thank you so much for your comment. I can feel the frustration for you and your wife. Please know the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network is here to support your caregiver. I want to share this information about appealing the PCAFC decisions so hopefully you get access to the program. https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/PCAFC_Appeals.asp

There is also a General Caregiver Support Services Program that has been helpful. https://www.caregiver.va.gov/Care_Caregivers.asp

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/services-for-veterans/military-veteran-caregiver-network.html

Thanks for reaching out, I am sorry it has been a difficult experience. Melissa mentioned incredible resources above. I will add Quality of Life - Wounded Veteran Family Care. It has a guide to understanding the PCAFC program: https://woundedveteranfamilycare.org/. For further support, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is happy to support your caregiver with our programs here: https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/our-programs/. This includes financial assistance, respite relief, peer support, and much more! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at [login to see] .

Hello Deb, I'm sorry to hear you're having this experience. First, I want to ensure you have the contact information for the Office of Community Care at [login to see] . I'd also strongly recommend scheduling an appointment at the upcoming Veterans Experience Action Center (VEAC) for direct assistance over the phone.
https://www.va.gov/initiatives/veterans-experience-action-centers/

There is also support for caregiver survivors with our partners at TAPS https://www.taps.org/caregiver

Thank you Melissa for the info on TAPS

Thank you Douglas for the info

Hello Harold,

I have asked our Beneficiary Travel Manger, Rob, to contact you so we can sort out what claims have been processed and the ones that are still being worked.

Hi Paul, if you would like to read the complete history of the Pact Act please follow this link.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3967/text

Hi Bryan. I've read the full text of the PACT Act. My question concerns the testing the VA plans to use to confirm exposures-blood tests, xrays/CAT scans, or just wait until cancers appear? The VA position to date is exposures don't mean anything unless a condition manifests itself. My short bio is Engineer Company Commander in Desert Shield/Storm. We weren't at Khamasiyah (at the time I was pissed we didn't get that demolition mission) but could see the mushroom clouds from seven miles away. Throw in burning oil, and a light dusting of sarin and mustard and I'm concerned about exposures. Returning to home station, Fort McClellan, now dealing with dioxin in the drinking water, all the confirmed chemical/rad residues in the soil (my Engineer Company also did all the range and road maintenance for McClellan) so worried about CONUS exposures. Adding insult to injury, I was the project manager to renovate and certify the Chemical Corps Museum. Turns out the building was contaminated from a botched asbestos abatement prior to the renovation. My staff and I received baseline asbestosis physicals in June 1992. Addin two tours in OEF (12/2005-03/2007 and 01/2008-07/2009) breathing god knows what. Hair tests done by a civilian lab show me having high levels of aluminum, lead, titanium, and uranium in my body (sounds like shot up Iraqi armor). Chronic sinusitis (S/C %), chronic cough, hoarseness, cardiac issues, the whole drill. Have done the Burn Pit Registry (2014, and post-PACT Act. I inquired about a CAT scan for my lungs at the PACT Act interview. Was told, that because I don't smoke, the VA won't do a CAT scan. Other than the previously mentioned respiratory stuff, I must be Superman, as I appear to have metabolized everything he Mideast and Alabama could throw at me. My original question remains: what kind of testing is the VA proposing to use to determine exposures? My thoughts on that question are the VA doesn't have any testing protocols developed which is why the bulk of PACT Act funding is going to research universities and leases for additional research facilities.

The Pact Act establishes the presumptive of exposure to toxic chemicals for everyone that served in one of the locations covered under the Pact Act. If sometime in your life you get diagnosed with one of the covered medical conditions the VA will presume it was caused by your exposure. Unless there is evidence the illness was caused by something else.

I'm sorry I cant answer your healthcare questions, I mostly work on the Benefits side of the VA.

My desk number is [login to see] , I think it may be easier to discuss your questions over the phone. I want to make sure im getting you the right answers.

SFC Dupree, the upcoming MT Veterans Experience Action Center (VEAC) provides direct, individual, comprehensive appointment services. Please find registration information here: https://www.va.gov/initiatives/veterans-experience-action-centers/

Seems to be working.

Trey, I just copied and pasted Deb's question and all above.

Could not find my post with an answer. Melissa c has commented but no help. I am trying to get reimbursed by ft Harrison Mt for meds for deceased husband

I just reached out to Justine, she may be calling you, Deb. Otherwise, Payment Operations phone number is [login to see]

Thank you Patricia, I have called that phone number quite a few times.. no one answers. If I don’t hear from Justine I will try calling her next week. I was my husbands full time caregiver and VA paid me last 2 years to take care of him.bob never gave up and neither do I. I always said I loved my career with the airlines but taking care of him was my best job and now I realize it wasn’t a job it was a labor of love. Together for 40years.he was 26yrs old flew in Cuban missile crisis received DFC buried at ft snelling mn residing in heaven now

I just spoke with the Rally Point folks, this is just Q&A here in this post.

Hi Patricia- This only Question and Answer no audio! Please feel free to answer any questions you may have.