The following is an updated version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.

As veteran voters and other voters cast their ballots in this year’s presidential election, we take a look at the support and resources available to Bronx veterans. On Oct. 29, officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) said that the department delivered more care and benefits to more New York veterans, survivors, and their families than ever before in 2024.

 

“Veterans deserve the very best from VA and our nation, and we will never settle for anything less,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “We’re honored that more Veterans are getting their earned health care and benefits from VA than ever before, but make no mistake, there is still work to do,” adding in part that the VA would continue to work to earn the trust of all those it served.

 

VA officials said this year the VA delivered over 3.7 million health care appointments to NY veterans, and that 10,197 New York veterans enrolled in VA health care. They said 146,376 NY veterans received compensation, and 5,215 received pension benefits this year, representing an estimated $3.5 billion and $70 million in earned benefits, respectively.

 

They said the VA processed 58,789 disability benefit claims for NY veterans, with an overall grant rate of 62.9%, provided no-cost emergency health care this year to more than 1,190 NY veterans in acute suicidal crises, and 4,025 NY survivors received pension benefits this year, representing an estimated $39.2 million in earned benefits.

 

VA officials said 14,365 NY spouses and dependents received Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, representing an estimated $291.5 million in earned benefits, and the VA also interred 4,349 veterans in the VA’s national cemeteries in New York in 2024. They said 14,797 NY women veterans received compensation, representing an estimated $383.5 million in earned benefits, 1,159 NY women veterans enrolled in VA health care, and the VA now has more women veterans enrolled in its health care system than ever before.

 

At the Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) veterans affairs committee meeting held in Bedford Park’s Tracey Towers on Oct. 16, the main agenda topic was a presentation by Coco Culhane, founder and executive director of the Veteran Advocacy Project, who discussed the resources available to NYC veterans. Four board members and four others, some of whom are veterans, attended the meeting.

 

The Veteran Advocacy Project provides free legal services to low-income veterans and their families, with a focus on those living with post-traumatic stress, brain injury, and substance dependency. It aims to assist them with access to housing, health care, and income.

 

Resources discussed included protections for veterans under the “Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act,” also known as the PACT Act, a federal law passed in August 2022, which expanded the VA’s healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during prior deployments.

 

Culhane explained that under the law, there is a list of 23 presumptive conditions resulting from things like burn pit or Agent Orange exposure. She said that if a veteran served in a specific location within a specific timeframe, they do not have to prove their condition was caused by their military service — that link is presumed for a disability compensation claim.

 

Agent Orange is a herbicide used by the U.S. Military to control vegetation and was sprayed along with other tactical herbicides, during the Vietnam War. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange include those who served in Vietnam, the Korean Demilitarized Zone, and Thai Air Force bases, and others who flew on or worked on the C-123 aircraft. According to the VA, these deployments caused potential lifelong complications for veterans.

 

One veteran asked if a civilian doctor could attest that a veteran had been diagnosed with the designated symptoms and Culhane said yes, but that the VA would likely still carry out a compensation and pension (C&P) exam as part of the claim process.

 

In noting that the PACT Act is a large piece of legislation and contains many types of relief for veterans, Culhane also spoke about the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which allowed those exposed to contaminated water at the Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to file a claim with the U.S. Department of the Navy.

 

She said anyone who spent at least 30 days on the base from Aug. 1, 1953, to Dec. 31, 1987, and developed health problems had the opportunity to file a compensation claim within a two-year window that closed in August 2024.

 

Culhane said that while veterans and their family members can no longer file a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, disability compensation claims are separate from such lawsuits, and can still be filed with the VA.

Meeting attendees responded to board member Tobie Buford’s question about why the benefit was only available for two years and it was clarified that the two-year period was only for lawsuits, not benefits. Still, several veterans expressed frustration, including Jeff Malone, a resident, who said, “They’re waiting for all of us to die. They want for all these people to die so that the payout for the claims is less.”

 

When it comes to lawyers’ fees charged to veterans for the pursuit of claims, Culhane said there were caps for such fees which had been announced, and that veterans should be careful because some lawyers were charging much more than the announced fee caps.

 

Congressional Bill S.5130 – The Protect Camp Lejeune Victims Ensnared by Trial-lawyer’s Scams Act or the Protect Camp Lejeune VETS Act was introduced to Congress a few years ago but has not yet passed. If passed, it would limit attorney’s fees charged on claims involving eligible veterans.

 

Another topic discussed was discharges from the military. Discharge upgrades are obtained through the U.S. Department of Defense. Culhane said one type of review board has a three-year statute of limitation from the discovery of the discharge error or injustice and said under the law, this can be waived “in the interest of justice.”

 

It was discussed that some lawyers may turn a veteran way if it has been more than three years, as some lawyers may not know the time limit is waivable. Culhane said any decisions taken on the waiver of the statute of limitations is part of the upgrade application and is not a separate process.

 

Culhane also said that certain discharge narrative reasons automatically get a discharge review. These may include “less than honorable” discharge narratives which may refer to homosexual activity, homosexual conduct, or a homosexual declaration. She noted that the discharge upgrade application process is distinct from veterans’ benefits and involve two separate agencies.

 

The board and residents agreed that, in general, veterans’ benefits were not well advertised, and veterans typically learn more from each other.

 

After the meeting, committee chair Chad Royer said, “I think on the City level, the City has the greatest opportunity to increase its budgets to help the veterans who live, work, and play here, and the veteran organizations that do business here. Over the course of four to five years, they have not added the necessary increases in their budgets.”

 

Board members later explained that Bronx CB7’s budget requests would be discussed at the CB7 general board meeting later in October. After the meeting, Malone had some suggestions for the board’s budget requests regarding infrastructure. “On Grand Concourse, I know there’s a couple of bumps. If you catch the 9 bus across the Grand Concourse, it’s a little bouncy through there and there’s actually a pothole on Grand Concourse; it’s the ramp up from Valentine going westbound,” he said.

 

The board also discussed upcoming events such as the CB7 Veterans’ Day Commemoration on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m., on Mosholu Parkway between Marion Avenue and Hull Avenue in Bedford Park. A 5-day breathing workshop series is also taking place online from Nov. 6 to Nov. 10 from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and from Nov. 13 to Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those interested can contact Project Welcome Home Troops board chair Leslye Moore at leslye.moore@pwht.org.

 

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance were also hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at Memorial Grove in Van Cortlandt Park on Sunday, Nov. 3, at noon.

 

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.