HARTFORD — U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Tuesday praised the Department of Veterans Affairs’ announcement that all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards during their service will be able to directly enroll in VA health care starting March 5.

With this new expansion, all veterans who were exposed to toxins, including those who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be able to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins during training or active duty in the United States will also be able to enroll.

“Thanks to the PACT Act, today’s announcement from the VA marks the largest-ever expansion of veteran health care. Starting March 5th, the brave men and women who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals and burn pits during their service can skip the red tape and directly enroll in VA health care. We have a duty of care to those who served our country, and I will always fight to make sure we fulfill that promise to them,” said Murphy.

“This expanded eligibility corrects this historic wrong and ensures no veteran has to fight for benefits they rightly deserve. Our nation’s veterans put their lives on the line to serve our country and it is a matter of simple justice to ensure they have the best health care possible. We fought to pass the PACT Act for years and I couldn’t be happier that the Biden Administration has expanded eligibility to ensure every veteran suffering from the horrific and insidious diseases caused by burn pits and toxic chemicals has access to treatment,” said Blumenthal.

This new expansion of benefits eliminates the phased-in approach laid out in the PACT Act, which means millions of veterans are becoming eligible for health care up to eight years earlier than written into law.

The PACT Act was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022 and delivers relief to post-9/11 veterans exposed to burn pits and will correct the nearly 80 percent rejection rate faced by burn pit veterans seeking claims.

As of February 16, the VA has processed PACT Act claims from 694,750 veterans or surviving families.

For more information about how the PACT Act is helping Veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard. To apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.

 

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