The bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act, signed into law in August 2022, delivers the benefits and care that toxic-exposed veterans deserve. If you believe you may qualify for programs under this new law, please see the resources below:
Any veteran or survivor can learn more about the PACT Act by visiting at www.VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411. All veterans and survivors can apply for their benefits now. VA will begin processing PACT Act benefits for veterans and survivors on the earliest date possible, which is January 1st. Additionally, veterans can file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation or apply for VA health care now.
PACT Act Resource Fair
My office will be hosting a PACT Act Resource Fair on Saturday, August 5th, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling. Veterans and veteran families are invited to come learn more about how they could benefit from this bipartisan legislation.
The event will feature presentations on what the PACT Act is and how veterans and survivors can qualify for benefits and care from the legislation and the processes required to enroll. Presenters will include:
-- Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton
-- Anthony Barnes, VA-10 Academy Coordinator
-- Daniel Gade, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
-- Michael Heimall, Director of the DC VA Medical Center
-- Representatives from the Veterans Benefits Administration
Following the brief presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the veterans benefits organizations to get evaluated for benefits by local VA Medical Center and Benefit Center staff on site. Anyone planning to attend the PACT Act Resource Fair is asked to RSVP here.
*RSVP is NOT required, but encouraged to ensure we have proper seating arrangements
What’s the PACT Act and how will it affect my VA benefits and care?
The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
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 more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits 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
If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.
What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?
To get a VA disability rating, your disability must connect to your military service. For many health conditions, you need to prove that your service caused your condition.
But for some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these “presumptive conditions.”
We consider a condition presumptive when it's established by law or regulation.
If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.
Additional FAQs and eligibility requirements can be found here.
