In an effort to help veterans maximize their health care benefits, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and the Middle Tennessee State University Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center will host the Murfreesboro PACT Act Summer VetFest from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at the Miller Education Center on 503 E. Bell St.

The event is free and open to all veterans, student-veterans and their families.

VA encourages all Veterans to file their PACT Act-related claims by Wednesday, Aug. 9, to backdate their benefits as early as Aug. 10, 2022, the day the PACT Act was signed into law. 

Veterans will have an opportunity to enroll in VA health care, file a PACT Act-related claim and get screened for toxic exposures. Programs and services from VA, MTSU and the community will be available to help connect and educate Veterans with local resources.  

Free parking is located catty corner from the event venue on the corner of East Bell Street and North Highland Avenue. The event is located on the second floor inside the event center. For more information and details, visit the TVHS website. 

The PACT Act is a new law that expands health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. Since the passing of the law, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System has screened more than 65,000 veterans for toxic exposures and 28,253 have reported at least one exposure. 

The Daniels Center is the largest and most comprehensive veterans center on any Tennessee higher education campus. The 3,200-square-foot center provides both the 1,100 average military-connected student population enrolled on campus and military-connected nonstudents a one-stop-shop to meet a variety of academic, career and social needs.

“We are so pleased to team up again with VA, this time to implement the important legislation available through the PACT Act,” said Hilary Miller, center director. “By coming to this event, a service member can enroll in VA (if not already a member), get screened for toxic exposure and even submit their intent-to-file paperwork. All on-site. All at one time.

“As always, the Daniels Center helps all veterans and their families. A service member does not have to be an MTSU student to be assisted by MTSU’s Daniels Center.”

VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System is an integrated tertiary health care system comprised of two hospitals, the Alvin C. York campus in Murfreesboro and the Nashville, Tennessee, campus, as well as 19 community-based outpatient clinics located in Tennessee and Kentucky.

TVHS provides ambulatory care, primary care and secondary care in acute medicine and surgery, specialized tertiary care, transplant services, spinal cord injury outpatient care and a full range of extended care and mental health services.

— Hannah McDuffie, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare (Hannah.McDuffie@va.gov)