PACT Act Overview:
- The PACT Act finally does right by toxic-exposed veterans and their families after decades of veterans exposed to toxins have fought the government for the VA health care and benefits they earned.
- This law pays the cost of war and finally delivers health care and benefits to all generations of veterans and their survivors.
- The PACT Act is for every era of veteran exposed to toxic substances in the military, from Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange, to veterans exposed to burn pits in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and many other conflicts in between.
- The PACT Act expanded eligibility for VA care and benefits.
- So even if you were previously denied a toxic exposure claim, you should talk with a Veterans Service Officer to help you decide whether to either add the fact that PACT Act in now law as New Evidence to preserve your original filing date (or it that is not possible) file a supplemental or new claim because VA may now grant your claim thanks to the PACT Act.
PACT Act Implementation Numbers:
- In Montana alone, more than 6,000 PACT Act-related claims have been filed by veterans and survivors since August 2022.
- Nationwide, more than a 1.3 million claims for PACT-Act benefits have been filed by toxic-exposed veterans and their survivors.
PACT Act Impact Top Lines:
- Expanded VA health care eligibility for Post-9/11 combat veterans, including millions of toxic-exposed veterans;
- Created a framework for the establishing additional benefits related to toxic exposure,
- Added 23 toxic exposure-related conditions, including hypertension; and expands presumptions for Agent Orange exposure in places like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam and American Samoa;
- Strengthened federal research on toxic exposure and improved VA’s ability to treat toxic-exposed veterans;
- Invested in VA IT and claims processing; bolstered VA’s ability to recruit personnel; and funded new VA health care facilities.