PACT Act - What Veterans Need to Know
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. This new law empowers VA to provide generations of Veterans – and their survivors – with the care and benefits they have earned.
Key Components of the PACT Act include:
- Expands VA health care eligibility for toxic-exposed Veterans and extends enhanced eligibility for Vietnam era, Gulf War era, and Post-9/11 combat Veterans
- Adds more than 20 burn pit and toxic-exposure-related conditions to VA’s service presumption list
- Improves VA’s decision-making process for determining what medical conditions will be considered for presumptive status
- Every enrolled Veteran will receive an initial toxic exposure screening and a follow-up screening at least every 5 years. Veterans who are not enrolled, but who meet eligibility requirements, will have an opportunity to enroll and receive the screening
- VA health care and claims processors will receive toxic exposure-related education and training
- Requires research studies on mortality of Veterans who served in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War, Post-9/11 Veteran health trends, and Veteran cancer rates
- Helps VA build a stronger, more skilled workforce to meet the growing demand for benefits and services
- Authorizes funding for 31 VA new facilities across the country
For more information on the PACT Act and your VA benefits, click here.
To learn more about improvements to the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, click here.