VFW speaker discusses health issues, suicide at state convention in Alexandria
The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Auxiliary of the Department of Louisiana held its 92nd annual state convention over the weekend in downtown Alexandria.
VFW National Representative and past National Commander-In-Chief William Thien of Georgetown, Ind., talked about topics facing veterans, such as service-related health issues, suicide, concerns about higher education costs and lawyers looking to take advantage of veterans with regards to the PACT Act.
He said that the VFW and other veterans’ organizations go to Washington, D.C., every year to talk to the Joint Veterans Affairs Committee about veteran-related matters like these and hold them accountable.
The PACT Act refers to the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances in a battlefield environment, according to pactactinfo.org.
"You know the PACT Act just got passed,” Thein said. "Vietnam veterans went 25 to 30 years with the government not talking about Agent Orange. So we weren't going to allow this next generation of veterans to wait 25 to 30 years in order to be compensated for burn pit injuries and illnesses. The days of waiting for the government to act on something are over.”
Since the PACT Act passed, claims are up exponentially, he said. Veterans can contact a VFW veteran services officer to ensure that they submit the proper paperwork, and they’ll adjudicate those claims.
“Sometimes claims are turned down, and then they have to appeal it and go back through the process again,” he said. “In general, veterans occasionally filed for claims and they're denied the first time around, so that's why we continue to appeal claims and try to get what they’ve earned.”
The VFW can also help widows or family members with claims.
"It’s important that we take care of families and also not just the veteran,” Thien said.
For veterans who have suicidal thoughts, he urged them to call the suicide hotline at 988 and dial 1, text 838255 or contact the VA, a VA hospital or clinic. They can visit the Alexandria VA website to find help or call (318) 466-2455. More than 18 veterans a day commit suicide. He said it used to be 22 a day, but word is getting out that help is available.
“It’s a good thing that we have over 6,000 VFW posts, because a veteran that’s having those dark thoughts could come and talk to other veterans who have been through similar issues,” he said.
The VFW also is looking into colleges and universities that might be overcharging veterans, he said. The GI Bill pays higher education tuition for veterans, and in some circumstances their families.
They also are concerned with lawyers being involved in the PACT Act. Some of the lawyers take a percentage of the claims that they file on behalf of a client who is a veteran.
“We don’t like that,” Thien said.
The veteran service officer helps veterans with the same kinds of claims and gets zero money for doing it. He used the Camp Lejeune water issue, featured in commercials from law firms that say they can help veterans file claims.
“The health issues, the benefits issues, those are the things that we work on all the time," he said. "But these health issues have to be done immediately. We can't wait for Congress to act on those. We have push them into it. That's why we ask our members and family members and anybody to call the legislators, which is what we do, and it does make a difference.”
He also wants younger veterans to consider joining the VFW if they haven’t done so. The VFW works on quality of life issues for all veterans.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: VFW speaker discusses health, suicide at state convention in Alexandria
