“The VA is committed to protecting veterans and their families from scammers who are trying to steal those hard-earned benefits,” Amerson said. “We have these two main goals with this partnership. The first is to develop — with the VA — and conduct training either in person or online. ... Second, we really want to encourage veterans and families to report cybercrime ... it's so important to report because that's what helps allocate resources.”

“We believe, as of January, some of the claims will start being adjudicated,” Schwartfigure said. “The VA’s hiring several hundred new employees in order to combat the increase in the claims. Already, they’re seeing a heavy increase.”

The significance of the CJLA is twofold. First, this is a monumental win for those seeking restitution for disabilities and diseases caused by wrongful exposure at Camp Lejeune and beyond. It is particularly helpful for those suffering latent diseases – or diseases that onset at a later date.

The screening takes around five to 10 minutes and begins by asking Veterans if they believe they experienced any toxic exposures while serving in the armed forces. Veterans who answer “yes” will then be asked about specific exposures, including open burn pits/airborne hazards, Gulf War-related exposures, Agent Orange, radiation, Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure and other exposures.

“When it comes to benefits vets have earned and deserve, we’re processing their claims faster than ever before,” McDonough said during the NPC Headliners Luncheon Monday. “[VA is] making sure we’re delivering for vets on time, every time, through initiatives like claims automation—cutting claims processing time for certain conditions from several months, to several days.”

With the passage of the PACT Act, more than 20 medical conditions are considered presumptive conditions. These conditions include many different types of cancer — such as brain, gastrointestinal, kidney and melanoma — as well as conditions like chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic rhinitis.

“We’ll bring generations of new vets into VA health care and increase the health care benefits of many more, and this will result in better health outcomes across the board,” said McDonough.

“We’ll deliver benefits to more survivors of vets who passes away from toxic exposures, and we’ll invest in our workforce and our infrastructure to deliver those additional services, modernizing 31 healthcare facilities. This is a great thing.”

"I'm proud to announce for the first time today, on National Cancer Awareness Day, that we're expediting benefits delivery for veterans with cancer conditions covered in this law," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said during a speech at the National Press Club.

"Our office is the hub for county, state and federal benefits, and Diane and Tammie do tremendous work helping veterans," DiGiacomo said. "They do a lot of research to try to get them the claim they should get, and more importantly, the maximum amount of percentage (of affliction) for that illness."

The latest scam targeting veterans involves offering help getting benefits (for a fee) from the “Camp Lejeune Settlement.” The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, part of the PACT Act that became law in August, allows vets and their survivors to pursue compensation if they developed serious illnesses from water contamination at Camp Lejeune. You don’t need to pay someone to help you receive benefits.

“We are concerned about the significant attorney advertising targeting veterans and veteran families because of the law that passed this summer,” said Hamilton County Commissioner and Carmel attorney Christine Altman. “Personal injury attorneys typically charge up to 40 percent of the recovery received. That’s money that could be going to the recovery of those suffering from serious illness instead.”

Other types of compensation that you can seek include pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Pain and suffering refer to the physical and emotional toll your injury has taken on your quality of life. Loss of enjoyment of life is a similar type of award often awarded to people who suffer permanent injuries that cause them to be confined to a wheelchair or bed.

Your Northern Arizona VA Health Care System is reminding and encouraging local Veterans who served during the Vietnam Era, the Gulf War, or in post-9/11 conflicts to inquire about additional benefits or care through the PACT Act, a historic new law that will help VA deliver care to millions of Veterans affected by burn pits and other toxic exposures.

“They were talking about ATSDR, the public health assessment, that they wanted to do more studies on the children that were exposed at Camp Lejeune in utero. And they primarily wanted to do studies on those kids for birth defects and childhood cancers, and they said primarily leukemia,” he said, “I had a plate of spaghetti in my hand and when they said that I dropped it on my living room floor.”

On Saturday, dozens of marine veterans and their families gathered at the American Legion in Wilmington to hear Partain and others speak about the toxins present in Camp Lejeune’s water for decades, causing a range of health conditions in those who consumed it, most notably leukemia and other types of cancer.

More so, the agency is urging more veterans to submit claims quickly. Joshua Jacobs, the VA’s senior adviser for policy and acting Veterans Benefits Administration undersecretary, said veterans should submit their claims before August so their benefits begin from the day the PACT Act became law and they will receive back pay.

“There seems to be a lot of confusion because the VA already service-connects veterans with illnesses related to the contaminated Camp LeJeune water,” said Michael A. Iwanicki, superintendent of the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission. “The PACT Act is actually for the civilian workers and families living and working on the base. This could present a problem for a veteran who may already be receiving benefits from the Veterans Benefits Administration. Should a veteran who is in receipt of VA Disability for illness from his service in Camp LeJeune and later receive an award from the legal action, the VA will recoup the monies awarded including the attorney’s fees.”

“I would really suggest to them to find an accredited service officer through the State of Michigan, whether it be the county, the veteran service organizations, DAV [Disabled American Veterans], the American Legion, the VFW [Veterans of Foreign Wars], talk to somebody about that,” he said.

He said the new Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows veterans to file a class action lawsuit against the federal government, but that may be impacted by any service-connected disability payments the veteran already received. He said it’s important for a veteran to look at all their options before making a decision.

The government has acknowledged chemicals in Camp Lejeune’s water from 1953 to 1987 are responsible for causing cancer, Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses. A law signed by President Joe Biden this summer gaves those who have gotten sick the right to sue the government, unleashing the gold rush by personal injury lawyers.