The PACT ACT Explained: Toxic Exposure Veterans' Benefits

The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act is a piece of legislation that will provide improved benefits and health care to veterans suffering from toxic exposure, including Agent Orange and burn pits, as well as expand exposure-related research, resources, and training. The bill, when passed, would do the following:

- Expand VA health care eligibility to post-9/11 combat veterans, which is estimated to include more than 5 million toxic-exposed veterans
- Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure
- Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions
- Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure to include Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll
- Expand presumptions for radiation-exposed veterans at certain locations between certain years.
- Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure
- Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans
- Invest in VA claims processing, VA’s workforce, and VA health care facilities

0:00 Introduction
0:35 Overview of the PACT Act
2:22 Expand VA Healthcare for Toxic Exposure Veterans
3:55 Add 23 Presumptive Conditions Related to Toxic Exposure and Burn Pits
6:35 How Will VA Effective Dates Work?
8:47 Expand Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions and Locations List: Thailand, Loas, Cambodia, Guam, etc.
13:18 Creating a Framework for Adding Future Presumptive Conditions
16:03 Expanding Toxic Exposure Research: Gulf War Illness, MUCMI, TBIs, Fort McClellan, etc.
18:16 Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawsuit
19:58 Chronic Conditions Among Gulf War Veterans
21:49 Improving VA Resources and Training (e.g., Automatic VA Claims Processing)
24:08 Closing Thoughts

[CCK_Law]

Be sure to check the description, where we offer much more information about the topics today.

[walterdewalt]

I'm a Vietnam vet station in the Philippines Clark Air Force Base exposure was contaminated water...which was hidden I'm been diagnosed with leukemia...I've a law firm out of GA filing my appeals....

[sgtjarrodrayner]

I don’t understand why it’s just burn pits. The baby powder dirt in Ramadi was so fine it covered ev-ery-thing!
I burned shiters in Iraq, but that moon dust we were sucking in all day had to be horrible for us too.
I think I’m going to go get a glass of water now.

[TripleBRanch]

Maybe rather than hiring 87 THOUSAND MORE IRS agents to take away MORE of OUR money, they could use those funds to hire 87k more VA claims processors so Veterans don’t have to wait even longer for benefits that are LONG OVERDUE! Oct 2025?! Really?!

[patrickeakin]

I am not a part of Chisholm and Chisholm and Kilpatrick I have a veteran service officer and I am wondering about the Veterans of Fort McClellan and what is going on really with them. I am now starting my 4th year on my VA claim for agent orange exposure at Fort McClellan for my type 2 diabetes.

[midnightsghost]

And yet an extensive exposure to many differing chemical and radioactive isotopes by Veterans while serving at Ft McClellan, Alabama. Hundreds of Thousands of Military Personnel exposed by the Chemical Corps in their experimentation in training grounds of the Chemical, Military Police Corps as well as the Women's Auxiliary Corps (WAC). My son's all have digestive problems being born after my service at Ft McClellan.

[KE-vmtp]

What about sailors who served on aircraft carriers during the war in the gulf and surrounding waters..especially flight deck personnel..

[rodvikvr]

Is there a window or statue of limitations on diagnosis of these presumptive conditions such as sinusitis?

[GAvetlyfe]

Was migraine headaches added as a condition...one of my job duties as a contractor for KBR was burn pit operations...i experience breathing issues occassionally...i have alot of medication to include shpts monthly

[vitodiamico]

What's unfortunate is this bill or ruling is discriminatory towards service members who although never served in the proposed regions, many vets were exposed to burn pits while in field exercises while in conus. In the 80s these burn pits run amok without guidance.

[MrBluespyz]

I see the PACT ACT excludes the previously included waterways of the Gulf War? I.E. Persian Gulf, Red Sea, & Arabian Sea. Strange that they would do that, based on the fact that these waterways are apart of the SW Asia Theatre of operations during Desert Storm....?? Am I correct in seeing they have basically "divested" the Naval Sea service from this act?

[championsuccesser]

What if you already have 100 percent, but you have more one form or location of exposure ? How does that effect my compensation?

[chicagotj]

Since these ailments has/have been Proved, why not eliminate/delete the word Presumptive from filing claims altogether? Not by the veterans per say, but by the V.A. altogether. The veterans will still suffer a defeatist mindset but experience Stress and PTSD in the claims process. Trying to gain the courage to file a claim is like trying to meet someone that you like. I have grown Weary trying to file a claim then get REJECTED.

[andrewtoombs]

Try the 300% Deet used in 2004 Balad Iraq, Prior and afterwards. Do a Roster investigation into the KBR materials.

[larrypollard]

What about agent orange for people that served from 1977 thru 1985

[billbarrett]

I have COPD (never used tobacco of any kind) and served aboard an aircraft carrier during the Desert Storm and Desert Sheild. Would my condition be covered?

[ag]

Parris Island is a Superfund site - meaning it was marked by the EPA as an area with contamination/ toxins. Clean up began in 1994 - but what years was the contamination? What were the chemicals involved?

[jeffhansen]

Effective dates…the senate amendment clearly states the the Secretary SHALL not deny a claim filed before the effective date. It also clearly states that previously denied claims that would have been adjudicated differently had this bill been law at the time be reevaluated…hence retroactive pay. Those are big misses from this video.

[openedscrolls]

I was a firefighter and exposed to AFFF almost daily for almost 4 years. Since my service I've had medical, namely immune system, skin burning sensation, and non-melanoma skin cancer near exposed areas, areas where my skin came in contact /wetted by AFFF. Does the VA consider AFFF /POFs a toxic exposure event? VA doctors have run tests to no avail, they don't why I have these conditions. Thank you.

[charlesrabycr]

Already had c&p exam for sinusitis under presumptive. Within the 1st 5 minutes the general practitioner said we live in ohio. Inherently we have upper respiratory problems. I lost my claim do the fact I never had a diagnosis of sinusitis but it was mention multiple times in my medical records. As well as less than likely by examiner.