PACT ACT 2022

The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. The PACT Act expamds health care and benefits to generations of Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazardous materials during their military service. VA is ready to deliver for these Veterans, and we encourage affected Veterans and eligible dependents to submit claims.

The Pact Act is quite extensive; however, the VA wanted to provide a few highlights:

• Expands and extends eligibility for VA healthcare for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veteran's of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-911 eras

• Adds two more Agent Orange presumptive conditions

  • High blood pressure (also called hypertension)

  • Monoclonal gammopathy of underdetermined significance (MGUS)

• Adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures

  • Presumptive cancers

    • 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

    • Pancreatic cancer

    • Reproductive cancer of any type

    • Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type

  • Presumptive Illnesses

    • Asthma that was diagnosed after service

    • Chronic bronchiti

    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

    • Chronic rhinitis

    • Chronic sinusitis

    • Constructive bronchitis or obliterative bronchiolitis

    • Emphysema

    • Granulomatous disease

    • Interstitial lung disease (ILD)

    • Pleuritis

    • Pulmonary fibrosis

    • Pleuritis

    • Sarcoidosis

• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange

• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for radiation

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/