Newsbytes April 18, 2025
In this Issue:
Costly Challenges from PACT Act Claims Errors
Bolster Sea Services Recruitment
Navy Families Sues Privatized Housing Company
FRA Midyear Board Meeting
Costly Challenges from PACT Act Claims Errors
A Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) report, released on April 15, 2025, titled "The PACT Act Has Complicated Determining When Veterans’ Benefits Payments Should Take Effect" (VAOIG-24-00844-54), reveals significant challenges in processing disability benefits under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The report details how the PACT Act’s expanded eligibility for toxic exposure-related claims has led to inconsistent effective date assignments, causing delayed or reduced payments for veterans. These issues stem from complex legal interpretations and inadequate guidance for Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) staff.
Enacted in August 2022, the PACT Act broadened VA healthcare and disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, such as burn pits, during service. The OIG reviewed 240 disability claims, finding errors in 24% of cases, with VBA staff misapplying effective dates due to unclear guidelines on retroactive provisions and varying interpretations of “application submission.” For instance, some veterans who filed claims before the law’s enactment received earlier effective dates, while others faced delays or underpayments. These errors can significantly impact financial support for conditions like cancers or respiratory illnesses.
Veterans should know that these processing errors may affect their disability compensation, particularly for PACT Act-related claims. Incorrect effective dates could result in reduced back pay or delayed monthly payments. To ensure accuracy, veterans should carefully review their VA decision letters, which detail the effective date and payment calculations. If errors are suspected, veterans must act within one year of the decision date to appeal or request a review, as this deadline is critical for correcting mistakes and securing proper compensation.
The OIG issued three key recommendations to address these issues:
- Clarify legal interpretations of effective dates to ensure consistent application across claims.
- Issue detailed guidance to VBA staff on processing PACT Act-related claims.
- Provide targeted training for VBA staff to improve accuracy in handling PACT Act claims.
The VBA has agreed to these recommendations and is revising its M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual while enhancing staff training, with updates expected by spring 2025. The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) will monitor the situation to ensure the VA rectifies these issues, advocating for veterans to receive timely and accurate benefits. Veterans should remain proactive, as processing challenges may continue during the implementation period.
To seek recourse, veterans who believe their PACT Act-related benefits were miscalculated or delayed can contact the VA by calling 1-800-827-1000 to request a claim review or file an appeal online at www.va.gov. They can also work with Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) through Veteran Service Organizations. FRA Members can contact headquarters or their branch designated VSO if one is available or contact their local VA regional office for support. The VA OIG Hotline is available at 1-800-488-8244 or via www.vaoig.gov for reporting concerns. Veterans are encouraged to act swiftly to address discrepancies and secure the full benefits they are entitled to for their service-related health conditions.
Bolster Sea Services Recruitment!
The Department of Defense announced on April 9, 2025, that the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force met their 2024 recruiting goals, with the Navy securing 36,600 new contracts and the Marine Corps achieving 28,144. Despite this success, challenges persist, as the Navy met its targets by accepting nearly half of its recruits with below-average aptitude exam scores, highlighting the need for sustained recruitment efforts. The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), rooted in its preamble to support the sea services, calls on its members to actively engage in recruitment initiatives for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to ensure a robust and qualified force.
FRA members are uniquely positioned to strengthen recruitment, leveraging their experience and community ties to inspire the next generation of sea service members. The FRA appreciates the tireless efforts of recruiters in the field, who navigated a competitive job market to meet 2024 goals, with the Army enlisting 55,000 recruits and rebuilding its delayed entry pool to 24% of its total. However, the FRA will monitor recruitment processes to ensure only qualified candidates are selected, maintaining the high standards essential for mission readiness. Members can support this by mentoring potential recruits, sharing service stories, and connecting with local recruiting stations.
The urgency of FRA involvement is driven by ongoing recruitment challenges, including a Navy that struggled to meet 2023 goals. The FRA’s commitment aligns with its advocacy for quality-of-life improvements, such as better housing and healthcare, which enhance retention and make sea service careers appealing. By participating in programs like the Employment Navigator and Partnership Program, FRA members can guide transitioning service members and highlight career opportunities, indirectly supporting recruitment. Active engagement ensures the sea services attract dedicated individuals ready to uphold their legacy.
To contribute, FRA members should contact their local Navy or Marine Corps recruiting offices, accessible via www.navy.com or www.marines.com, to offer mentorship or host community outreach events. The FRA will continue to collaborate with sea service leaders to advocate for policies that support recruiters and attract high-caliber candidates.
By actively supporting sea services recruitment, FRA members uphold their preamble’s mission, ensuring the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard remain strong and ready for future challenges.
Navy Families Sues Privatized Housing Company
On March 27, 2025, 56 families, including 44 military and 12 civilian households, filed a lawsuit in Monroe County Circuit Court, Florida, against Balfour Beatty Communities, alleging hazardous conditions in privatized housing at Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West. The 192 plaintiffs, including many children, report mold, collapsing ceilings, pest infestations, lead paint, asbestos, and electrical issues, causing health problems like asthma, rashes, and the “Sigsbee cough.” The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) places the welfare of troops and their families as a top priority and is dedicated to preventing such housing failures through relentless advocacy and oversight.
The lawsuit accuses Balfour Beatty, which manages 43,000 homes across 55 installations, including 700 at NAS Key West, of concealing defects and falsifying repairs, leading to severe physical, emotional, and financial harm. The Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA’s Tenant Bill of Rights, enacted to address such crises, grants tenants access to maintenance records, dispute resolution, and rent withholding, while mandating inspections and allocating $301.8 million for oversight personnel. This empowers families to seek justice, though a 2023 GAO report notes some companies, including Balfour Beatty, have not fully implemented all 18 rights.
The FRA is committed to ensuring these issues are resolved, working with Congress and the military services to enforce stringent oversight of privatized housing. Balfour Beatty’s 2021 guilty plea for fraud, resulting in $65.4 million in fines and restitution plus $35.2 million for a civil settlement, highlights the need for accountability. The FRA will closely monitor the NAS Key West lawsuit, advocating for standardized inspections, robust tenant advocate training, and full compliance with the Tenant Bill of Rights to safeguard service members’ living conditions.
Plaintiffs like Virginia Guess, whose children developed respiratory issues in a mold-infested home, and Lyric Seaton, who alleged Balfour Beatty instructed employees to deceive Navy inspectors, reveal systemic negligence. Families like the Moodys incurred $5,000 in moving costs to escape unsafe homes. The FRA demands reforms to prevent such failures, ensuring troops and their families live in safe, healthy environments through enhanced contractor accountability and funding for maintenance.
Military families facing housing issues should contact their installation’s housing office or tenant advocate, as outlined in the Tenant Bill of Rights. For concerns about fraud, waste, or mismanagement, they should reach the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) Hotline at 1-800-424-9098 or www.dodig.mil.
FRA Midyear Board Meeting
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) will host its National Board of Directors Midyear Meeting at the Residence Inn, 1456 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA, from April 30 to May 2, 2025. The event combines legislative recognition, veteran outreach, and strategic planning.
Key Events:
April 30, 10:30 AM: Rep. John Garamendi receives the FRA Pinnacle Award on Capitol Hill for championing an FRA-sponsored bill.
May 1, 10:00 AM: FRA board members visit a VA hospital’s inpatient psych recreational therapy group, engaging veterans in card games, conversations and with food.
May 2, 8:30 AM: NBOD meeting convenes after a complimentary hotel breakfast (7:30 AM).
The FRA continues its mission to honor leaders and support veterans.