Greene County veterans affairs director Mike Bierl reminds surviving military veterans and spouses of deceased veterans that the list of conditions qualifying for benefits and/or the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program as well as the qualifying locations of service were updated with the historic PACT Act.
New presumptives (medical conditions presumed to be caused by substances or conditions of military service) include hypertension, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, bladder cancer, Parkinsonism, and hypothyroidism.
Qualifying locations of service now include Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam and American Samoa, as well as the coastal waters off these countries, for those who served from Jan. 9, 1962 to July 31, 1980. Also on the list is Johnston Atoll as well as any ships that had Johnston Atoll as a port of call from Jan. 1, 1972 through Sept. 30, 1977.
Veterans and surviving spouses of veterans who have previously been denied VA benefits for any of these conditions should contact Bierl at 515-386-5673.
Click here for a VA publication with more complete information.
