Janice R. Andrews
The vast toxic exposure laws that were passed into law 22 months ago have approved more than 1 million claims, according to Veterans Affairs (VA) officials, marking a significant accomplishment. President Joe Biden will publicly acknowledge this accomplishment later today in New Hampshire. It represents a major advancement in the support of veterans impacted by wartime poisons.
The claims, which cover injuries from exposures to things like chemical defoliants and fire pit smoke, are a component of the increased benefits under the 2022 PACT Act. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough praised President Obama for his aggressive enforcement of the law, which has expedited the distribution of benefits to a significant number of veterans and their families.
McDonough emphasized the concrete, transformative effects for veterans and survivors, saying, “He pushed us to implement that new law quickly and to its fullest extent, including expanding VA care to new groups of vets years earlier than envisioned [in the statute].”
Nearly 890,000 veterans and survivors have received approximately $5.7 billion in payments from the VA thus far, all linked to the PACT Act. In the last two years, the department has also conducted over 5.4 million hazardous exposure screenings with the goal of early detection and management of any potential health issues associated to service use.
Notwithstanding these developments, a few advocates have expressed worry about challenges in submitting claims for particular ailments such as hypertension and constrictive bronchiolitis. In order to guarantee just compensation, VA officials have promised to resolve these concerns.
The agency continues to prioritize educating the public on the benefits of the new PACT Act. They want to keep up their outreach initiatives to make sure that every qualified veteran is aware of the resources available and how to apply for them.
According to estimates, this act may make up to 20% of American veterans eligible for health care or disability compensation. The health problems facing veterans, especially those resulting from exposure to burn pit smoke in Iraq and Afghanistan, are anticipated to be a major focal point of President Biden’s reelection campaign.
