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Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, is calling for several pieces of federal legislation that would make it easier for veterans to navigate disability claims.
At a November 8 press conference, Blumenthal discussed eligibility expansions to the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act, and proposed the Restore Veterans Compensation Act, and the Veterans Claims Education Act.
“This Veteran’s Day is a reason to celebrate the service and sacrifice of men and women who raise their right hand and are willing to give all for their country. All too often this country fails our veterans on education, skill training, job opportunities, and often healthcare. Our nation fails to fulfill its promises to our veterans.” Blumenthal said.
Expansions to the PACT Act, which makes all veterans who meet basic service and discharge requirements and who were exposed to toxins like Agent Orange and burn pits, eligible to enroll directly in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare without first applying for VA benefits, were announced earlier this year. Blumenthal stated the VA is moving in the direction of including veterans who served at the K-2 base in Uzbekistan under the act, giving them presumed coverage for illnesses like cancer due to toxic exposure from burn pits.
Blumenthal also proposed the Restore Veterans Compensation Act, saying there is a current issue in law that enables the Department of Defense (DOD) to recover separation pay from veterans who receive disability pay.
“Countless veterans have been forced to repay the separation pay that they received out of their disability benefits. That injustice should be ended.”
The proposed bill would limit the VA’s ability to recoup “separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation inventive benefits” from veterans who “subsequently receive disability compensation.” It would also limit the Secretary of Defense’s ability to recoup that money from retired military pay.
Further, Blumenthal proposed the Veterans Claims Education Act to give information to veterans with disabilities about how to make claims without having to pay a claims chart.
“Countless veterans lose benefits every year because they pay these predators to help them file disability claims. We’re going to end that kind of abuse through this education act.” Blumenthal said.
The bill, which was introduced in 2022 with cosponsor Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, would require the VA to inform all veterans filing a claim that accredited entities are available to assist them. They would also be required to provide a web address for an online search tool for accredited agencies and provide a web address where unaccredited entities could be reported.
“These kinds of measures are what we owe our veterans.” Blumenthal said. “Especially when it comes to disability claims, these measures seek to help veterans get what they deserve.”
