by The PACT Act has helped revolutionize the Veterans Affairs benefits coverage, providing foolproof safeguards for concerns that it did not previously address. This allows service personnel with various disabilities to file for claims in these target areas, providing financial relief and peace of mind for all active duty persons. So what are some of the new developments under the PACT Act?
Additional Presumptive-Exposure Conditions for Radiation and Agent Orange
The newest presumptive additions to VA disability claims for Agent Orange include Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance, otherwise known as MGUS. Other conditions include Hypertension or high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancers such as gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and reproductive cancers. Respiratory-related cancers and any type of lymphoma are also covered under the PACT Act of 2022.
New Locations Listed Under Agent Orange and Radiation
Some new locations covered under Agent Orange include areas such as Guam/American Samoa or the territorial waters, Laos, Johnston Atoll, the Royal Thai base in Thailand, and Krek/Mimot in Cambodia.
The new regions targeting radiation impacts include Greenland’s Thule air force base, Enewatak Atoll, and Palomares in Spain.
Eligibility for Veterans in Previously Uncovered Missions
Veterans serving in locations outside the standard combat regions are now eligible for VA benefits. This includes troops stationed in bases and airspaces in Yemen, Somalia, Djibouti, Uzbekistan, and Lebanon. Veterans serving in regions across Afghanistan, Jordan, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and Oman also fall under this group.
Improved Screening for Veterans Exposed To Toxic Substances
Veterans not previously screened for toxic substances will now be eligible for testing for their initial assessment once every five years. The newly introduced tests will cover a few items: exposure to camp lejeune, contaminated water exposure, open burn pits, radiation, and Agent Orange. If you also suspect exposure to other service–related hazards, the VA will provide the necessary procedures for this.
New Conditions Associated With Toxic and Burn Pit Exposures
Some burn pit and toxic exposure conditions included in the PACT Act include intestinal lung disease, obliterative bronchitis, asthma that developed after active duty, and chronic sinusitis. Veterans experiencing COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) will also receive their VA benefits.
Who Are Some Personnel That the PACT Act Serves?
The gaps in previous VA disability claim requirements previously failed to take care of numerous ailing service personnel, with the 2022 PACT Act rectifying this. Some members covered by the changes to the act include:
- Troops enlisted in the Gulf war
- Veterans employed in the post-9/11 combats
- Veterans suffering from toxic exposure in various combat missions
- Veterans employed in the Vietnam missions
Surviving members of the above veterans are also eligible for compensation under the 2022 PACT Act. This allows loved ones to get benefits under three types of benefits. The first is an accrued benefits payment plan that dispenses accrued payments owed to a veteran. The second is a monthly payment plan that covers dependency and indemnity compensation. The last option is a survivor’s pension which takes care of a surviving member’s financial well-being.
Like all VA applications, benefits under the PACT Act will take priority based on the filing timelines. Veterans and surviving family members are encouraged to apply by August 9, 2023, to help fast-track the compensation process.
The above PACT Act developments have been instrumental in caring for previously uncovered conditions, locations, and screening tests, widening the margin for help administered to veterans. The VA advises applicants to consider applying for benefits if any of the above changes are within their scope. The PACT Act changes will not affect any benefit applications that may have been filed before the Act came into effect.
