Looking Back and Moving Forward

Cpl Jim Marszalek — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:31:04 -0400

It’s astonishing to believe we marked the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq this year. As a young Marine-turned-benefits advocate who was only a couple of years into my career with DAV (Disabled American Veterans), I remember the first wave of injured Iraq War veterans who came to the office in San Diego seeking assistance.

Since that time, it’s been my privilege to provide service and guidance to these men and women while working shoulder to shoulder with them on DAV’s team.

While we rightly reflect and honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served in Iraq, far too many Americans returned home unaware of the invisible damage inflicted on their bodies and minds. Diseases and illnesses—cancers, respiratory conditions, skin ailments, or conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries—now affect their everyday lives.

Today, we know more about the effects of service-related traumas, adverse health effects from toxic exposures and ramifications from blast injuries than we did two decades ago. DAV continues to lead the way in advocating for the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide the high-quality health care and benefits veterans need and have earned to ensure they are taken care of.

Last August, thanks to the groundbreaking advocacy efforts of DAV, the Honoring our PACT Act was signed into law. Among its many impactful provisions, the PACT Act will reduce bureaucratic obstacles for an estimated 3.5 million veterans who seek VA benefits due to burn pit exposures during the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hostile locations.

The law adds nearly two dozen presumptive conditions related to burn pit exposure, meaning veterans who served in overseas locations with active burn pits no longer have to prove their exposure or establish direct service connection if diagnosed with ailments listed in the law that are known to cause such conditions.

In just the first four months, the VA received nearly 186,000 new disability claims related to the PACT Act, an indication of the potential impact of the measure and the work ahead for the department.

Since our earliest days, DAV’s main goal has been to help establish and provide services for all ill and injured veterans, their families and their survivors. Our national service officers are experts in providing the latest information on veterans benefits, including the most recent updates from the PACT Act. DAV departments and chapters have volunteer service officers ready to provide assistance as well.

DAV benefits advocates at all levels provide best-in-class service, free of charge, and are ready to help file a VA disability claim. They will also be there through the entire process, because no one should have to navigate the VA bureaucracy alone.

DAV remains committed to fighting for veterans of all eras. This includes those who are now being honored for their heroism two decades ago and those who will fight in wars yet to come.

For more information on how to contact your local DAV service office, please visit https://bit.ly/3CjZHIT.

DAV Local Offices - Veterans Service Officers - NSOs - DAV.org

All services provided by DAV NSOs are free of charge. Your Local DAV National Service Officer (NSO) will help you file a claim. - DAV.org

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2023 3:40 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:40:28 -0400

All my vehicles have their support our troops license plate here in alberta, Canada. I'm sure some states have something similar but this is available from one province in Canada just north of Montana.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 9 at 2023 4:12 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 16:12:35 -0400

Good afternoon Cpl Jim Marszalek. Excellent post. Thanks for sharing this Brother Jim. I still recall that day as I active duty Navy stationed in CA.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2023 11:48 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:48:19 -0400

Qui n’avance pas, recule

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Jun 11 at 2023 10:44 AM

SSgt Richard Kensinger — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:44:28 -0400

I consider war to be a profound expression of insanity. Combatants will remain haunted by the ghosts of comrades killed and by those of the enemies they killed. I conduct extensive clinical research on this topic.

Rich

Response by 1SG Dave Brown made Jul 5 at 2023 8:26 PM

1SG Dave Brown — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:26:34 -0400

I chose American Legion as my advocate and gave them Power of Attorney and got ZERO help. None. Never the least bit of interest or help. I will die before this paperwork drill with the VA, now going on over 3 years, achieves anything, as it should. I have no more faith in this country, nor particularly in the VA "system" and VSO's. Screw "thank you for your service." It don't mean squat to me anymore, after this kind of treatment.

Response by Sgt Melinda Pamphrey made Jul 6 at 2023 9:20 AM

Sgt Melinda Pamphrey — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:20:15 -0400

Unfortunately I feel the DAV dropped the ball in helping me. So did the American Legion. DAV told me to get a letter from my doctor supporting my claims. They apparently did not look at my record or they would have known my only doctor was at the V.A. and therefore unable to assist me. Yet, when the V.A. finally awarded me 100% and IU they took the credit for it. The Legion should have helped secure a 100% rating when I was psuhed out of the service due to disabilities "so severe they interfered" with me ability to perform the duties of my rank and position. Since they didn't do this and I was called a "pain in the ass" by the VSO, I switched to DAV who also did nothing to help me get the 100% I felt I deserved based on the reason for separating me. I still want my 100% rating retro-active to date of discharge but due to my gender I don't qualify I guess.

Response by SSgt Robert Simonds made Jul 7 at 2023 12:14 PM

SSgt Robert Simonds — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:14:36 -0400

When is the va going to help all those that had records burnets and no longer have military records?

Response by Althea Lin made Jul 30 at 2023 11:14 PM

Althea Lin — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 23:14:21 -0400

Worthy of admiration.

Response by 1SG Dave Brown made Aug 11 at 2023 9:29 PM

1SG Dave Brown — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 21:29:46 -0400

The VA needs to STOP rejecting 70% of new claims. That should be illegal, by Congress. The current VA FIGHTS veterans!