PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Early expansion of VA health benefits is a major victory for Pennsylvania veterans who often have to deal with life-altering situations after deployment.
“I didn't think much of it at the time, but when I came back, everything came back to me and I knew I had to take it seriously,” Stonecipher said.
Stonecipher was an 18-year-old freshman at Marshall University when he enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard. He served in the National Guard for many years.
Stonesifer served as an Army paralegal in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 2021. Before she was assigned, she used to run every day.
“They always told us that even if there was no injury there would be an impact. But I honestly didn't really believe it. I'm healthy and in good shape. , and I felt good,” Stonecipher said.
When Stonecypher returned home, he realized something was wrong.
“Just walking half a block uphill is exhausting,” he said. “For me, it's much harder to keep walking, even like trying to keep up with a toddler. She's running all over me.”
Respiratory problems make it difficult to breathe every day. He said the veterans helped him quickly set up an appointment for this month. He is being followed up for asthma testing.
“I started feeling dizzy and light-headed. I started coughing, started sweating and my face turned red. I also felt chronically fatigued. I fell asleep all the time,” says Stone. Seifer said.
For him, balancing work with being a husband and father is a daily struggle. Memories of the terrible sandstorm in Kuwait linger in the back of his mind.
“One of the big things that has affected me a lot is my breathing, especially after returning home. One of the big things that they are blaming is the air pollution in Kuwait, caused by all kinds of pollutants from animal feces to hard stuff. “That leads to something else in the dessert, because we're going to be breathing it in for a few days,” Stonecipher said.
All veterans who were exposed to toxins or other hazards during their military service are now eligible to enroll in VA health care. It took effect Tuesday under the PACT Act, nearly eight years earlier than originally planned.
“What it does is it just makes it much easier to file a veteran's compensation claim,” Stonecipher said.
He said early enactment would also help veterans receive benefits sooner, which is important not only for veterans of their own generation.
“Everybody ended up allowing the last few thousand veterans of World War II, so that's one thing I was glad they pushed. Of course, those gentlemen are dying every day, and of course all the gentlemen in Vietnam, too. Pushing that up will give them significant Veterans Affairs coverage in those five years. '' Stonecipher said.
He loved what he was doing for our country, but he didn't know that what he breathed into his lungs would make it difficult for him to catch his breath today.
Stonecypher attends Duquesne University School of Law. With every breath he takes, he moves forward with the VA on his side. She said the Veterans Administration is already offering expedited appointments and virtual therapy for mental health.
“We're hopeful that we'll see a trend toward increased access and expanded health care coverage for veterans, particularly with respect to military service-related disabilities,” Stonecipher said. “There's always the possibility that some service members, some people, will fall by the wayside. By expanding coverage and hopefully getting more people to use the VA, we can help more veterans. “Be careful,” he said.
