WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an impressive milestone, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has conferred its 1 millionth disability compensation claim under the PACT Act to our nation’s Veterans and their survivors. Signed into law on August 10, 2022, by President Biden, the PACT Act has since witnessed a dramatic rise in the grant rate for these claims, a whopping 75% increase from the preceding levels. This translates into over $5.7 billion of well-earned benefits delivered into the hands of Veterans and their families.
Enacted to expand the access to healthcare and benefits for Veterans, the PACT Act also introduced the concept of “presumptive” service connection, covering hundreds of conditions associated with burn pits, agent orange, and other hazards faced during active duty. This provision provides a significant relief to Veterans, reducing the burden of proof in benefit claims and ensuring faster access to deserved payouts. Consequently, the average service connection rate with these granted claims is 70%, leading to Veterans receiving over $20,000 in annual earned benefits payments from the VA.
President Biden’s administration has firmly embedded the support of Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors in its Unity Agenda for the nation. The president himself has expressed a profound belief in the nation’s sacred responsibility to cater to these brave individuals’ needs. A simple visit to VA.gov/PACT opens the door for Veterans to access the care and benefits they have rightfully earned.
The Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other hazards while serving the country have found a strong advocate in VA Secretary Denis McDonough. McDonough underscores the importance of a granted claim, highlighting how these payments, along with no-cost VA health care, can significantly transform a Veteran’s life. Building on the momentum of granting 1 million PACT Act-related claims, the VA aims to ensure every Veteran and every survivor receive the VA health care and benefits they rightfully merit.
The PACT Act’s positive impact on VA’s operations is undeniably visible. A record-breaking 400,000 more Veterans have enrolled in VA health care in the past year, marking a 30% increase. The VA has also screened over 5.4 million Veterans for toxic exposures, a crucial step in identifying, comprehending, and treating potential life-threatening conditions. Of these, 44% reported at least one likely exposure.
Thanks to the VA’s most extensive outreach campaign in history, benefit claim applications have hit an all-time high, with over 2,433,729 applications received in 2023, a staggering 39% increase over the previous year. The trend shows no signs of abating, with another record-breaking year predicted for 2024.
The PACT Act’s March directive, spearheaded by President Biden, has revolutionized VA’s approach to Veteran care. Now, all Veterans meeting the eligibility criteria and exposed to toxins and other hazards during their service are eligible for VA health care. This inclusion represents an accelerated implementation of the PACT Act, opening the gateway for millions of Veterans to enroll in VA health care up to eight years earlier than initially planned.
The 1 million granted claims under the PACT Act include those from more than 888,000 Veterans and survivors who filed for a PACT Act condition. To date, the VA has received 1.65 million PACT Act-related claims and completed more than 1.32 million since August 2022. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the promise of the PACT Act and the commitment of the VA to our Veterans, their families, and their survivors.
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