Veterans encouraged to file PACT Act-related claims before Aug. 14

North Las Vegas, Nev.-  VA encourages all eligible Veterans and survivors to file a claim — or submit their intent to file a claim — for PACT Act-related benefits now. Most Veterans who do so by August 9, 2023 may have their PACT Act related claims, if granted, backdated to Aug. 10, 2022, the day that President Biden signed the bill into law.  

"There are millions of Veterans and survivors across America who are eligible for new health care and benefits, and we will not rest until every one of them gets what they’ve earned,” said Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “That’s what this is all about: educating Veterans, their families, and survivors – and encouraging them to apply today.”

Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, VA has delivered more than $1.4 billion dollars in PACT Act benefits to Veterans. Additionally, more than 660,000 Veterans have applied for PACT Act-related benefits, more than 3.7 million Veterans have received the new toxic exposure screenings, and more than 287,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care (this is 40,000 more enrollments than during the same timeframe last year, and it includes 94,000 enrollees from the PACT Act target population)

Thus far, over 48,000 VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Veterans have been screened for toxic exposure since the law went into effect on August 10, 2022.

Over the last year, VASNHS and VBA’s Reno Office have been promoting PACT Act and educating Veterans about their benefits if they qualify. More than 400 Veterans attended the Summer VetFest Town Hall at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center July 29, where VHA, VBA, Nevada Department of Veterans Services, and members of Nevada’s Congressional delegation addressed questions about the PACT Act. VASNHS hosted this event is a part of a nationwide VA Summer VetFest campaign in July, when VA hosted more than 50 Summer VetFest events across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico.

The PACT Act Summer VetFest is just one component of VA’s nationwide PACT Act Veteran outreach campaign, which is the largest coordinated outreach campaign in VA history. The campaign has one goal: ensuring that every eligible Veteran and survivor gets the PACT Act-related health care and benefits they have earned.

John Archiquette, Public Affairs Specialist

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