PACT Act becomes law, expands benefits for eligible Davidson County vets
On Wednesday, August 10, President Joe Biden signed into law the PACT Act making thousands of Davidson County veterans eligible for expanded benefits. It’s the largest expansion of healthcare benefits for veterans, exposed to toxins, in more than 30 years.
Ricky Johnson, director of Veterans Services for Davidson County, contacted Davidson Local to share details of the highly touted changes.
What is the PACT ACT 2022?
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3967
The PACT Act is sweeping legislation centering around veterans who have been exposed to toxic chemicals.
What changes have been made?
The PACT Act is quite expansive, here are some of the highlights:
The bill adds two more Agent Orange presumptive conditions
High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
It also 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
Chronic Asthma that was diagnosed after service
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic rhinitis
Chronic sinusitis
Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
Emphysema
Granulomatous disease
Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
Pleuritis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Sarcoidosis
The PACT ACT will also add more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange
Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976
Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969
Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969
Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 30, 1980
Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977
Finally the bill adds more presumptive-exposure locations for radiation exposure
Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll, from January 1, 1977, through December 31, 1980
Cleanup of the Air Force B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons off the coast of Palomares, Spain, from January 17, 1966, through March 31, 1967
Response to the fire onboard an Air Force B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons near Thule Air Force Base in Greenland from January 21, 1968, to September 25, 1968
2. Are all veterans eligible to receive the benefits associated with these changes? If not, which veterans are?
The act expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras. The bill will also impact the surviving spouses of any veteran who may have passed away from any of the new presumptive conditions.
3. How long have these changes been in the works?
Various bills that have been written over the last decide have been combined to create the PACT ACT.
4. Please share how this new legislation will benefit veterans?
The PACT Act will benefit approximately 3.5 million veterans who currently do not have access to VA care and do not have their toxic-exposure related illness recognized by the VA. The bill will also be beneficial of the spouse of a veteran who passed away from an illness which is considered in this act.
While this bill does a lot for burn pit-exposed veterans, this is a multi-generational bill helping veterans dating back decades, including those exposed to Agent Orange and other toxins.
5. Do veterans automatically receive these new benefits or is there a process involved?
No, the VA will NOT automatically research and process claims.
6. Please share any other pertinent information regarding the PACT ACT 2022.
You can contact our office by email or phone if a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran has additional questions. Email us at PACT-ACT@DavidsonCountyNC.gov or call (336) 242-ACT3 (2283). Emails are preferred..
