New VA Health Eligibility Under the PACT Act

Veterans must first meet the minimum active-duty service and discharge requirements to qualify for VA health care under PACT Act authorities.

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:

This is not a comprehensive list, and there’s no timeline. Veterans can view additional military exposure categories on VA’s Public Health website at 

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/.

Veterans who served in the following locations and time periods are also eligible to enroll in VA health care effective on enactment (August 10, 2022):

Health Eligibility CenterPO Box 5207Janesville, WI 53547-5207

If you previously applied and were not found eligible for VA health care (due     to income, lack of service-connection or other factors), you may now be eligible. But it won’t happen

automatically. You must reapply or call for     a reassessment.

What: A brief screening averaging 5–10 minutes to identify and document any potential exposures to toxins during military service. 

Where: At VA medical centers/clinics, including virtual encounters.

Why: To support the long-term health plan of the Veteran—ensuring they receive informed, whole-health care—and connect them with follow-up resources as requested.

The PACT Act establishes presumptions of service connection for more than 20 presumptive disease categories related to toxic exposures.

VA will contact Veterans when a presumption of service connection is established or changed. Veterans can learn more at www.va.gov/PACT.  

However, Veterans who were previously denied a toxic-exposure-related claim are encouraged to file a supplemental claim using VA Form 20-0995, Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim.

Most claims that were previously denied will not be automatically reviewed under the PACT Act.  Survivors who were previously denied dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), related to

any of the new presumptive conditions, are likewise encouraged to re-file a claim.

Veterans who have not previously filed a claim and are diagnosed with one of the new presumptive conditions and meet eligibility requirements should submit a new claim on VA Form 21-526EZ,

Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits. Survivors who have not previously filed a claim and meet eligibility requirements should submit a new claim on VA

Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits.

Veterans should be prepared to submit any supportive medical and lay evidence along with their claims.

Apply for VA health care:Apply For Health Care | Veterans Affairs (va.gov)

Submit a VBA claim:File for disability compensation with VA Form 21-526EZ

Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry:Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (va.gov)

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