CONCHO, Okla. — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma will host a large-scale outreach event aimed at helping Veterans and their families access benefits and health care services available through the PACT Act.
The event, titled “Your Service. Our Mission: Bringing VA Benefits Home,” is scheduled for July 24, 2026, and will focus on identifying Veterans and surviving spouses across Oklahoma who may have presumptive disabilities and could be eligible for VA disability compensation, pension claims, or health care benefits.
Officials said the event is designed to bring a wide range of resources directly to Veterans and their families, offering assistance with claims, health care enrollment, screenings, and other support services in a single location. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided to participants throughout the day.
Veteran Service Officers will be available to help attendees complete VA disability claim paperwork and navigate the claims process. Organizers also plan to offer onsite Compensation and Pension exams in select cases. While not every claim can be accommodated with an examination during the event, VA officials said they will provide the service whenever possible.
In addition to claims assistance, VA staff will conduct toxic exposure screenings and provide replacements for expired VA identification cards. These services are intended to help Veterans gain quicker access to benefits and health care resources while addressing potential health concerns linked to military service.
Several federal, state, tribal, and nonprofit organizations are expected to participate. Representatives from the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Muskogee VA Regional Office, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, local Vet Centers, Tribal and Indian Health Service programs, Tribal Veteran Service Officers, and nonprofit partners will be available to answer questions and provide guidance on available programs.
VA health care representatives will also be on site to assist Veterans with enrollment in the VA health care system and help determine eligibility for various services and benefits.
A major focus of the event is educating Veterans about presumptive disabilities. Under VA guidelines, a presumptive disability is a condition that the agency presumes is connected to military service, even if symptoms develop or are diagnosed after a service member has been discharged. Veterans with qualifying conditions may be eligible for compensation and additional support through VA programs.
Organizers are also encouraging spouses and widows of Veterans to attend. Surviving spouses may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation if a Veteran passed away from a presumptive service-connected condition. Event officials say many families may be unaware of benefits available to them and hope the outreach effort will help close that information gap.
The event is being held as part of ongoing efforts to increase awareness of opportunities created by the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022. The law expanded access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances during military service.
The PACT Act is considered one of the most significant expansions of Veteran benefits in recent years, extending support to generations of Veterans and their survivors who may have been affected by toxic exposure during their service.
By bringing together government agencies, tribal organizations, health care providers, and community partners, organizers hope to make it easier for Veterans and their families to access the care and benefits they have earned. The event is expected to provide direct assistance while helping attendees better understand the resources available to them.
All Veterans, their spouses, and surviving spouses of Veterans are invited to attend the event, which will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the R.E.S.P.E.C.T Gymnasium, located at 220 East Black Kettle Blvd. in Concho, Oklahoma.
