by Rodney Harris, Senior Health and Benefits Specialist
The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that VA will assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps VA provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
The PACT Act will bring these 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 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures
•Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
•Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
•Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures VA has added more than 20 burn pit and other toxic exposure presumptive conditions based on the PACT Act. This change expands benefits for Gulf War era and post- 9/11 Veterans.
These cancers are now presumptive:
•Brain cancer
•Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
•Glioblastoma
•Head cancer of any type
•Kidney cancer
•Lymphatic cancer of any type
•Lymphoma of any type
•Melanoma
•Neck cancer of any type
•Pancreatic cancer
•Reproductive cancer of any type
•Respiratory (breathing-related cancer of any type
These illnesses are now presumptive:
•Asthma that was diagnosed after service
•Chronic bronchitis
•Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
•Chronic rhinitis
•Chronic sinusitis
•Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
•Emphysema
•Granulomatous disease
•Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
•Pleuritis
•Pulmonary fibrosis
•Sarcoidosis
Based on the PACT Act, VA has added 2 new Agent Orange presumptive conditions:
•High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
•Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
Toxic exposure screenings are available at VA health facilities across the country. Every Veteran enrolled in VA health care will receive an initial screening and a follow-up screening at least once every 5 years. Veterans who are not enrolled and who meet eligibility requirements will have an opportunity to enroll and receive the screening.
The screening will ask you if you think you were exposed to any of these hazards while serving:
•Open burn pits and other airborne hazards
•Gulf War-related exposures
•Agent Orange
•Radiation
•Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure
•Other exposures
VA will then give you information about any benefits, registry exams, and clinical resources you may need. Ask about the screening at your next VA health care appointment. If you don’t have an upcoming appointment, or if you want to get the screening sooner, contact your local VA health facility. Ask to get screened by the toxic exposure screening navigator. Ask your local PVA service officer for assistance in filing any new claims with VA. PVA NSOs will work with you to get the benefits you are entitled to due to your exposure.
For further information go to:
https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-vabenefits/utm_source=bing&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=ar_pact_fy22_veterans