Cortez Masto Joins Legislation to Make it Easier for Veterans to Receive VA Benefits if Records Were Lost by the Government

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined legislation led by Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to ensure veterans whose military records were lost by the government, through no fault of their own, can still receive their earned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. The Fred Hamilton Veterans' Lost Records Act would allow the VA to grant disability compensation claims to veterans using other documentation in place of military treatment records.

"No veteran should miss out on support and resources because of medical records lost by the government," said Senator Cortez Masto. "That's why I'm proud to support this legislation to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs uses all available resources to confirm veterans' eligibility for their hard-earned benefits. I'll continue working to make sure veterans in Nevada and across the country receive the resources and care they need."

"The Nevada VFW fully supports the Fred Hamilton Veterans' Lost Records Act, and applauds Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for their bill co-sponsorship," said Daniel Sanders, Veterans of Foreign Wars' Department of Nevada Legislative Representative. "Enabling the Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize all available resources to verify benefit eligibility ensures that veterans are able to receive the benefits and support that they earned, and need, after proudly serving our nation."

Fred Hamilton is an Air Force veteran from Columbia Falls, Montana who was exposed to toxins during his military service in Vietnam and other countries. Like countless others, Fred's military treatment records were lost through no fault of his own after being transmitted from DoD to VA when he retired from military service. Without military treatment records, Fred is unable to prove his health conditions are service-connected and has been denied benefits to which he is entitled. The PACT Act enabled VA to grant part of Fred's claim that was previously denied, but he is still waiting on benefits for other health conditions he cannot prove are service-connected without the records VA lost.

The full bill text is available HERE.

Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for our service members and their families, as well as our veterans. She secured the expansion of the Fallon Range Training Complex through the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). She passed her Brian Neuman Act to remove roadblocks for disabled veterans accessing their benefits. She also passed the PACT Act to ensure veterans suffering from toxic exposure in the line of duty get the medical care they need and worked across the aisle to get legislation helping veterans exposed to Agent Orange and expanding benefits for women veterans signed into law.

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