CRANBERRY TWP — Veterans had their voices heard Wednesday evening at a town hall meeting held at the VA Butler Healthcare Outpatient Clinic off Freedom Road.

David Cord, director of VA Butler Healthcare, and Pat Arnold, assistant director of the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Regional Office, gave updates, answered questions and heard concerns from about 12 veterans who attended the meeting.

Cord said the new VA Butler Healthcare facility in Butler is about 12 weeks away from opening. Opening day is planned for Sept. 5.

“We're pretty excited about that,” he said. “It'll be a busy summer.”

Arnold said the average claim time has decreased to 106 days, he said, in part thanks to a move to paperless records. Arnold said 99.5 percent of their office is paperless.

The town hall meetings are held monthly at different VA Butler Healthcare facilities.

One veteran, Carl Curtis, of the 26th District of the American Legion, asked if there had been any training with care providers specifically on issues possibly stemming from the Gulf War, like from exposure to pyridostigmine bromide used as an anti-nerve agent pill. The Gulf War tends to be forgotten about, Curtis said.

Cord said about two-thirds of his staff is non-military, so he has started to do trainings with them in regards to military and veteran culture, as well as how different generations of veterans may differ. He also welcomed additional training on specific issues that could be provided.

When asked how the care was at the outpatient clinic in Cranberry, most veterans said it was good. Some said they'd seen people traveling from across the city of Pittsburgh and other areas coming to the clinic because of the quality of care.

“We're spoiled,” said Rex Brown, Cranberry VFW Post 879 quarter master.

“You're not spoiled. It's what you deserve,” Cord replied.