The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (SDDVA) along with the Charles Mix County Veterans Service Office hosted the first “Veterans, See What’s Brewing” event on September 21, 2022 at the Wagner American Legion. The Department took the opportunity to visit with veterans in Charles Mix, Douglas and Gregory counties.

SDDVA Deputy Secretary Aaron Pollard welcomed the veterans in attendance and introduced the panel, which included Field Service Officer Kevin Bowen and Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home Superintendent Chuck Johnson.

Deputy Secretary Pollard provided an overview of who the SDDVA is and what they do. He explained the department is divided into 3 divisions, benefits, State Veterans Home and the State Veterans Cemetery.

Pollard briefly explained the function of the benefits portion of the VA. He advised veterans to visit with their local County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) to start the claims process. The county VSO is the workhorse of the claims process, helping veterans collect evidence and complete the forms to file a fully developed claim. The SDDVA also has a claims office located in the Regional Office at the Sioux Falls VA complex. They also help veterans file claims but are also there to support the CVSO’s with filing and reviewing claims, appeals, education benefits, burial benefits etc.

Veterans Home Superintendent Johnson talked to the veterans about the setting at the State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, which has been in existence since 1889. The home was renovated in 2016 and now includes eight neighborhoods with 12 rooms per neighborhood. Each room includes a kitchen, dining and living area. The home provides independent living and nursing care facilities. To be eligible for admittance your need to be a SD resident and be an honorably discharged veteran. Cost is dependent on your income. To file an application, please contact your local CVSO or the Veterans Home at Hot Springs.

Field Service Officer (FSO) Kevin Bowen briefly outlined the new presumptives in the Honoring our PACT Act. Veterans who served in the Gulf War Era, beginning with Desert Storm to the present date may be eligible for benefits if they have any of the 23 new presumptives included in the legislation. Most of the presumptives are related to breathing issues and cancers which were caused by the toxic chemicals that were released in burn pits.

Veterans who were assigned to a duty station in (including airspace above) certain locations during specific periods of time are covered. Included are service on or after August 2, 1990, in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the United Arab Emirates and on or after September 11, 2001, in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, or an other country determined relevant by VA. Any Veterans deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, or Resolute Support Mission are also eligible.

Gulf War Veterans will also have a one year window beginning Oct 1, 2022 and ending on Oct 1 2023, to enroll in VA Healthcare. Once enrolled, the veteran only needs to visit VA Healthcare at least once every two years to maintain eligibility.

Also included in the PACT Act are three new presumptive for exposure to Agent Orange (AO) from the Vietnam Era. Hypertension, hypothyroidism and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) are now considered to have been caused by exposure to AO. Several new locations have also been added. If you served in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam or American Samoa during specific dates, you are also covered under the AO presumptives. Also added were radiation exposure in the EWOK Atoll and Tulare Air Force Base in Greenland. Veterans were advised to check with their CVSO on specific dates and locations.

Following the overview, the floor was opened for questions from the veterans in attendance. The main issue local veterans are facing is the service provided by the VA clinic located in Wagner. There has not been a receptionist at the clinic for the past several months. A job announcement has been out twice. The last hiring had 3 interviewees but none were selected, leaving the clinic without a receptionist once again. CVSO Jerry Seiner asked the veterans to let him know if they know of anyone who would be interested in applying the next time the position becomes available. He will answer any questions they may have and assist with the application if necessary.

Many of the veterans had questions on the Care in the Community program which allows veterans to seek care outside the VA with the facility or doctor they choose. Veterans reported that they are being told by their provider that the service they require can be provided at the VA so they are not allowing them to seek outside care. Deputy Pollard told them that this is not how the program was intended to be run and that the veterans should insist on seeing who they choose.

Veterans also had comments and questions on the clarification of the information provided on the PACT Act and the Agent Orange presumptives. Their questions were answered but veterans were advised to also visit with their County VSO.

At the close of the meeting, Deputy Pollard thanked everyone for attending and encouraged all veterans to visit with their County Service Officer with any questions they may have. The Department personnel remained after the meeting to discuss any personal issues the veterans had.