Even though the deadline to receive retroactive benefits from the Honoring Our PACT Act has passed, veterans and survivors are still eligible to submit a VA disability claim related to the landmark legislation.
Visit this official VFW site for more information and to determine eligibility.
The PACT Act is estimated to affect about 500,000 Vietnam War veterans with hypertension related to Agent Orange exposure, as well as thousands of additional veterans in more recent operations including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, Operation New Dawn, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The PACT Act covers more than 20 conditions and cancers that are presumed to have been caused by toxic exposure. They are:
- 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 of any type
- pancreatic cancer
- reproductive cancer of any type
- respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
- asthma that was diagnosed after service
- chronic bronchitis
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- chronic rhinitis
- chronic sinusitis
- constructive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
- emphysema
- granulomatous disease
- interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- pleuritis
- pulmonary fibrosis
- sarcoidosis
You can use this questionnaire from the site linked above to determine your eligibility. If you’d like assistance filing a claim with the VA, be sure to contact your County Veteran Service Officer or another VA-accredited service officer (such as from a local VFW or American Legion post) to avoid being taken advantage of by the various claim sharks out there.
Local Service Officers:
