Advocates are urging veterans who were exposed to toxins during military service to apply for expanded health and disability benefits through the PACT Act, which may grant them retrospective benefits if they apply by Monday, Aug. 14 — a new one extended deadline announced this week by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Officials say the PACT Act application website was experiencing technical issues as thousands of people applied in the final hours before the original Aug. 9 deadline.
“Due to the high volume, some veterans have received error messages when submitting their intent to file PACT Act claims. If you received any of these messages, don’t worry! We have logged your intention to apply and saved your benefit effective date,” read a message on the VA website.
President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan law into law on August 10, 2022; It aims to help around five million veterans across the country, including veterans of conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, the Gulf War and the Cold War.
National VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said these veterans may be exposed to dangerous toxins.
“Primarily for anyone who might have come into contact with toxic substances as a result of their service, things like Agent Orange, things like fire pits or other toxic substances,” he said, “whether in Afghanistan, Iraq or other places and Central Command. ” . So this is crucial.”
Airborne toxins are closely linked to many serious health conditions, including respiratory diseases and cancer. And for the first time, the law added a presumptive benefit entitlement for nearly two dozen health conditions, including several other types of cancer.
The presumption means that the VA will now automatically accept a veteran’s service at certain locations that caused a health condition. The full listing of exposures and suspected PACT Act conditions is available on the VA website.
Survivors of veterans are also eligible to apply through the PACT Act.
Hayes said it’s important that everyone get involved as soon as possible, even if they don’t have all the required documents.
“A “submission intent — that basically keeps your spot in check,” he said. “And then you’re still entitled to retrospective benefits.”
Although there is no deadline to apply for non-retroactive PACT Act benefits, applying by the new deadline means that living veterans or the surviving family members of the deceased could also be reimbursed for healthcare expenses dating back to last August.
For more information on the PACT Act and how to apply, visit the VA Application Portal.
