A Primer on the PACT Act (Part 1)

The First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was passed on Aug. 10, 2022. But two years later, many veterans still aren’t aware of how it may affect their potential benefits. 

The PACT Act expands VA healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, toxic exposure risk activity and other toxic substances. It includes more than 20 serious medical conditions presumed to arise from toxic exposures that may qualify for VA benefits:

• Cancers of the brain, head and neck; respiratory, reproductive, lymphatic  and gastrointestinal systems; the kidney and pancreas; and glioblastoma, lymphoma and melanoma

• Respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis, emphysema, granulomatous disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), pleuritis, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

These apply to covered veterans who had active military, naval, air or space service while assigned to a duty station in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or the UAE on or after Aug. 2, 1990; and those serving at stations in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan or Yemen on or after Sep. 11, 2001.

For veterans of earlier conflicts, Agent Orange exposure timeframes have also expanded.

If you know or suspect that a diagnosis could be related to toxic exposures, contact a VSO. Find a VVA Veteran Service Officer to assist with a claim in states that have a benefits program here, or search for a VSO from another organization through the VA’s website in states where we do not. Enter your ZIP code or city and state, and you’ll see which VSOs serve your area.