All sick veterans who were exposed to toxins and biohazards will now be eligible for treatment for their illnesses and chronic conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that enrollment expansion was scheduled to begin March 5. The change allows these veterans to enroll directly in VA health care beginning on that date.
The change generally is expected to reach those who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Global War on Terror. But it also applies to all veterans – including those who never deployed – who were exposed to poisons and toxins during training and active duty.
Such eligibility was supposed to be phased in under provisions of the PACT Act, which initially offered treatment for veterans who became sick because they came in direct or indirect contact with dangerous substances that were emitted from burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other poisons.
The list of potential hazards also includes: air pollutants from sand, dust and particulates; oil well fires; sulfur fires; chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, and contaminated water; occupational hazards such as asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent-resistant coating, and firefighting foams; radiation from nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and detonation; radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources; X-rays, military occupation exposure; warfare agents to include nerve, chemical and biological weapons; and more. VA will examine veterans’ military records to determine if and when they participated in any toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).
President Biden ordered the latest expansion, granting immediate eligibility for treatment, a full eight years ahead of the time frame as stipulated in the PACT Act. Evidence showing that veterans who were enrolled in VA health care saw greater improvements to their conditions and were generally much more satisfied with their treatment than their counterparts who were not. Treatment through VA also proved to be much more affordable than care offered elsewhere.
Veterans will not have to apply for VA disability compensation in order to get care, the VA said, adding that it plans to reach out to veterans through advertising, emails and letters, to increase awareness to as many as possible who would qualify.
For more information about how the PACT Act is helping Veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard. To apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.
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