On Aug. 10, 2022, President Biden signed into law a huge expansion in VA health care and benefits. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
If you are a veteran or military member, or the spouse, next-of-kin, survivor, or caregiver of a veteran, you need to know what is in the PACT Act and the information in this article – and file a claim for any benefits that you may be eligible for.
This is Part 1 of a four-part series of articles on the PACT Act. The information in this article and much more is available online about the PACT Act at the following websites:
The VA website for information on Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals and Materials: https://bit.ly/3Rrz3E8. Learn about chemical hazards or other hazardous materials you may have come in contact with during military service. And find out if you can get VA disability compensation for illnesses or conditions related to these exposures.
The VA website for information on The PACT Act and Your VA Benefit: https://bit.ly/3ARbVrn.
The VA websites for How to File a Disability Claim: https://bit.ly/3wYGMRJ and https://bit.ly/3RrzmPi.
The VA website for How to Get Help Filing a Claim: https://bit.ly/3enmCdG.
The VA website for How to File a Supplemental Claim: https://bit.ly/3cT4sQM.
The VA website for How to Apply for VA Health Care: https://bit.ly/3BdTGxN.
The VA website for information on How to File a VA Intent to File (a claim): https://bit.ly/3Rzq8Qk.
The VA website for information on How to Find and Manage a (VA) Accredited Representative (VSO, Attorney, or Claims Agent: https://bit.ly/3RJ6h1r.
The VA website for Veterans Service Officers, Accredited Attorneys, and Accredited Claims Agents Search: https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M.
The VA website for information on VA Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, Survivors, and Family Caregivers: https://bit.ly/3THXKgW.
The SC Department of Veteran Affairs (SCDVA) website for SC County Veterans Affairs Offices: https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL.
The PACT Act and Veterans and Survivors VA benefits
According to the VA PACT Act website, the PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps the Veterans Administration (VA) provide veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve.
The VA website for information on The PACT Act and Your (Veterans and Survivors) VA Benefit, https://bit.ly/3ARbVrn should answer all of your questions about what the PACT Act means to veterans and their loved ones. Veterans can also call the VA at 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711) and press 8 to get answers to their PACT Act questions.
This article and the next three articles and the provided references will answer the following questions:
What is the PACT Act and how will it affect a veteran’s VA benefits and care?
What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?
What burn pit and other toxic exposure conditions are now presumptive?
How does a veteran know if he or she has presumptive exposure to burn pits?
How do I know if I am eligible for free VA health care as a post-9/11 combat Veteran?
What new Agent Orange (Vietnam-era veterans) presumptive conditions will VA add?
What new Agent Orange (Vietnam-era veterans) presumptive locations will VA add?
What new radiation presumptive locations will VA add?
How do I file a disability claim for a new presumptive condition?
Where can I get a copy of the VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits?
What if the VA denied my claim but now considers my condition presumptive?
How does a veteran file a Supplemental Claim?
Should a veteran file an Intent to File Form?
When can a veteran expect the VA to make a decision on their PACT Act claim?
Can veterans’ survivors get compensation payments under the PACT Act?
What should a survivor do if the VA denied a VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claim and the survivor now thinks he or she is now eligible?
What other VA benefits are survivors eligible for?
How to file for VA healthcare?
The PACT Act brings these positive changes
Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras.
Adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures.
Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.
Requires the VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.
Helps the VA improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures.
Do not wait, file your claim now. If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.
You can read the more than 60 past articles on Veterans Benefits by Larry Dandridge at www.yourislandnews.com.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or
843-276-7164.
