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PACT Act Resources: What to know

By David Hodge, Public Affairs Officer

The PACT Act is a historic new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. The law empowers VA to provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

The PACT Act And Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs

  • Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam era, Gulf War era, and Post-9/11 combat Veterans
  • Adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures
  • Adds more presumptive locations for Agent Orange and radiation exposure
  • Provides toxic exposure screenings to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
  • Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures

VA will execute a comprehensive Veteran outreach plan to make sure that every Veteran and survivor gets the care they need and the benefits they deserve. For now, here are the most important things for Veterans to know:

  1. We at VA want Veterans and survivors to apply now for their PACT Act benefits.
  2. Because these conditions have already taken a serious toll on so many Veterans and their families, we are considering all conditions established in the PACT Act to be presumptive on August 10, the date the bill was signed into law.
  3. We will begin processing those presumptive benefits for Veterans and survivors on the earliest date possible, which is January 1st.
  4. Any Veteran or survivor can learn more about the PACT Act by visiting VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411. 

Additional resources can be found here: The PACT Act And Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs