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The Executive Director of the Birmingham VA Health Care System, Dr. Oladipo Kukoyi writes an open letter to Alabama veterans, encouraging them to enroll in the VA system.

This letter comes after President Joe Biden signed a bill into law earlier this month, expanding health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

The White House described the PACT Act as the most significant expansion of veteran health care in 30 years.

Here's Dr. Kukoyi's letter:

Oladipo “Ladi� Kukoyi, MD, MS, VHA-CM

Birmingham VA Health Care System Executive Director

I write this letter with the hope of reaching as many Northern and Central Alabama Veterans and their family members as possible. New, ground-breaking legislation now allows us to better care for those Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.

The PACT Act is a historic new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans – and their survivors. It recognizes toxic exposure as a "cost of war" by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed Veterans. This new law extends eligibility for VA health care to Veterans with toxic exposures of the Vietnam era, Gulf War era, and post-9/11 era.

Veterans will now be eligible for benefits for more than 20 burn pit or toxic-exposure-related conditions. The law solidifies VA's new process for establishing presumptive service-connected conditions, which puts one goal above all else: getting Veterans and their survivor’s timely access to the benefits they have earned and deserve.

To put it briefly, the legislation expands eligibility for health care to Veterans not enrolled in VA care and possibly increases health care benefits for impacted Veterans already receiving care.

I know research shows how diseases related to these exposures have impacted Veterans lives and their families. We are honored and stand ready to meet the needs of these Veterans now and in the future.

We encourage all Veterans who believe they may be eligible for VA health care and benefits to visit or call 1-800-My-VA-411 (800-698-2411) to learn more. Veterans in Northern and Central Alabama may call 205-933-8101, ext. 332491 or ext. 334724.

We know you have a choice and thank you for choosing the Birmingham VA Health Care System. Please take the first step in getting the VA health care you have earned and deserve.

Thank you for your service.

Click here for our continued coverage of the PACT Act.