Veterans News: Those exposed to toxins and hazards will be eligible for healthcare

VA announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military while at home or abroad will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024.

 This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll.

This is a critical step forward because Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans. 

 VA encourages all eligible Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411

(1-800-698-2411 option 8) to learn more and apply for VA health care beginning March 5.

 “If you’re a Veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, we want you to come to us for the health care you deserve,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for Veterans – and once you’re in, you have access for life. So don’t wait, enroll starting March 5th.”

 “Beginning March 5, we’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. 

 “With this expansion, VA can care for all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11.”

 “We can also care for Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more. We want to bring all of these Veterans to VA for the care they’ve earned and deserve.”

 This expansion of care covers Vietnam Veterans, Gulf War Veterans, Iraq War Veterans, Afghanistan War Veterans, Veterans who deployed in support of contingency operations for the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Resolute Support Mission), and more.

If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981

You must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless any of the descriptions below are true for you.

 This minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are true:

• You were discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, or

• You were discharged for a hardship or “early out,” or

• You served prior to September 7, 1980

 Your Discharge Status may also effect your eligibility for VA Health Care.

This expansion also covers many Veterans who never deployed as a part of a conflict but were exposed to toxins or hazards while serving in the U.S.

Specifically, under this expansion of care, any Veteran who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) — at home or abroad – is eligible for VA health care. VA has determined that Veterans who were exposed to one or more of the following hazards or conditions during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training participated in a TERA:

•  Air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust, particulates, oil well fires, sulfur fires);

•  Chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, contaminated water);

•  Occupational hazards (asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent resistant coating, firefighting foams);

• Radiation (nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and detonation, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, X-rays, radiation from military occupational exposure);

• Warfare agents (nerve agents, chemical and biological weapons); and more.

 VA will use all available information to determine if Veterans participated in a TERA, including military records and service connection.

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 option 8  (1-800-698-2411 option 8)

. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.

 Please do not contact the Davidson County Veteran Service office about this issue if you no longer live or work in Davidson County, N.C.