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PACT ACT - Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxins Act :

New VA Agent Orange 🍊 Benefits Expanded , Etc - more conditions

1.) https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2024/02/09/va-to-ease-benefits-rules-for-vets-exposed-to-agent-orange-in-the-us/

Thousands of veterans exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the United States will for the first time be eligible for fast-track disability benefits under plans unveiled by the Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday.

The move represents another major expansion of toxic exposure benefits for veterans, this time for individuals suffering from illnesses dating back to the Vietnam War era. The changes follow mandates included in the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act — better known as the PACT Act — passed by Congress in August 2022.

Over the last two years, a combination of administration moves and new legislation opened access to disability benefits for millions of veterans who incurred injuries from burn pit smoke, radiation contamination and other military toxic exposure events.

Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal told reporters on Jan. 22 that officials are confident they can handle the influx of new patients now, and so will move ahead with some of those requirements early. The move will make free health care options available to some veterans years sooner than advocates had anticipated.

“It’s a substantial number of veterans who will be eligible for VA health care,” Elnahal said. “But as a reminder, we hired more external folks into the VA health care system last fiscal year than we ever had before.”
Despite the large number of newly eligible veterans, department planners expect about 21,000 to take advantage of the free health care this year. That’s because many of the newly eligible are already using private health care options through work or family.

About 85,000 additional veterans are expected to enroll in VA health care over the next decade as a result of the PACT Act changes. The new eligibility groups include:
• Veterans who “participated in a toxic exposure risk activity” while on active-duty or active-duty training;
• Veterans assigned to a duty station in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the United Arab Emirates after Aug. 2, 1990;
• Veterans assigned to a duty station in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, or Syria after Sept. 11, 2001;
• Veterans deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, or Resolute Support Mission.
Under the law, the VA Secretary has the authority to expand that list to include additional countries or operations in the future.

The new cohort of veterans will be placed in priority group 6, putting them in line for care ahead of individuals with no service-connected disabilities but still behind veterans with severe injuries and illnesses from their time in the military.

Staffing and appointment availability will determine whether the new group of veterans can receive some or all of their health care through VA.

The designation will also drop co-pays for most inpatient care and some outpatient medical visits. Officials said veterans will remain in that priority group unless VA determines they are eligible to be moved up into a more advantageous category.
Details on the changes will be outlined on the department’s website in early March.

2.) The PACT ACT and Presumptive Conditions The PACT ACT and Presumptive Conditions

Understanding The PACT Act In 2023: Presumptive Conditions List

ovide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care.  Toxic exposure screenings do not automatically award Veterans disability benefits, but they can connect servicemembers with critical resources.
What Is The VA Rating For A Presumptive Condition?
It depends.  Some of the conditions on the VA Presumptive List are required to be a certain seriousness within a certain amount of time.  For example, you may come across a requirement that states, “manifest to at least 10% within one year of exposure,” which means that the condition must meet the requirements for a 10% rating under its code within one year of exposure.

You can work with Veteran Ratings to get a clearer picture of what you may be entitled to as you work through your claim process.
How Much Money Can You Get From The PACT Act?
All the new PACT Act benefits are part of the new increase in pay scale that also went into effect in January 2023.  You can be paid a monthly VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC) amount that will depend on the percentage and nature of your disability rating.
For example, a 60% disability rating for burn pit exposure entitles you to over $1,000 a month in disability compensation.  The exact amount you’re entitled to receive, if approved, will vary on a case-by-case basis.
 
Get Clarity On Your VA Disability Benefits