#LetThePeopleDecide Ep. 1009  |  LIVE with Rarchar Tortorello + Mic Meow
Channel: #OTUmedia
Date: 2023-05-18

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In this episode of #LetThePeopleDecide, hosts Rarchar Tortorello and MicMeow speak with Cam Ulloa, a veteran advocate and state director for Oklahoma's VA claims and benefits division. The conversation centers around the PACT act, which extends compensation to veterans who experienced comprehensive toxic exposure. The hosts also discuss presumptive conditions, the importance of maintaining federal VA accreditation, and the benefits offered to veterans in Oklahoma. They encourage veterans to seek help from advocates, obtain medical evidence and paperwork, and stay up to date on changes in legislation and updates. They also emphasize the importance of providing evidence to support claims and state that success is not guaranteed, but advocates aim for a high success rate.

    00:00:00 In this section of the transcript, hosts Rarchar Tortorello and Mic Meow introduce their guest Cam Ulloa, a veteran advocate and state director for Oklahoma's VA claims and benefits division. They discuss the PACT act, which extends the perception of injury and disability to include more disabilities and injuries, allowing clients who were previously denied to have their claims reopened and re-adjudicated. The hosts express their gratitude for the sacrifices made by veterans and their families, and encourage viewers to interact with them on their social media platforms. They also highlight the importance of providing support and recognition to those who have served their country.

    00:05:00 In this section, the hosts and guests discuss The Pact Act, which addresses the comprehensive toxic exposure experienced by veterans, such as from burn pits, and its promise of service-connected compensation. The act covers thousands of people who were previously denied service connection due to exposure during their time in the military. It includes those from the Vietnam era, where exposure to Agent Orange happened and those from Thailand where veterans were transported during the war. The compensation is estimated to cost about 300 billion over the next 10 years. A fact guide sheet for veterans has been created and will be posted on the website to provide more information.

    00:10:00 In this section, Rarchar Tortorello and MicMeow discuss the importance of understanding the Presumptive Conditions and The Pact Act for veterans in the US. The Pact Act extends territories and time frames, connecting more veterans with service-related health issues and allowing them to get service connected more quickly. They also talk about different offices and organizations that veterans can contact to get help and clarify the difference between federal and state VA agencies. Rarchar emphasizes the importance of having someone represent you at a federal appeal hearing since the federal VA will not provide representation.

    00:15:00 In this section, Rarchar Tortorello and MicMeow discuss the best way for veterans to get the help they deserve from the VA. They emphasize the importance of obtaining medical evidence and paperwork, stating that everyone knows somebody who can help connect veterans with the right doctors who can make a difference in their claims. They suggest starting with the VA link in Enid, Oklahoma, which can provide a list of accredited agents, attorneys or service organizations who can help. However, they also caution that it's important to make sure the individual helping with the claim has federal VA accreditation.

    00:20:00 In this section, the conversation revolves around the importance of continuing legal education and maintaining accreditation for lawyers and advocates who serve veterans. It is noted that laws and updates change frequently, and attending monthly seminars is a good way to keep up to date on these changes and interact with peers across the nation. The topic then turns to toxic exposure screening, which is offered as a voluntary basis, but it may help in identifying exposure to substances that the VA may compensate for if such service-connected health problems arose in the future. Advocates state that it is up to each individual to decide whether or not to pursue the exam, but that it can be useful in triggering a record the VA can investigate further. It is emphasized that the VA benefit system is not adversarial and that it is necessary to provide evidence to support claims. Advocates help veterans gather evidence and aim for a high success rate but never guarantee 100 percent success.

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