All Things PACT Act 101

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson

Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 is a law that expanded VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

The PACT Act and your VA benefits

The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve. And starting March 5, 2024, we’re expanding VA health care to millions of Veterans—years earlier than called for by the PACT Act. 

2022 PACT ACT: UNDERSTANDING

HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS

The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

Exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials

Learn about chemical hazards or other hazardous materials you may have come in contact with during military service. And find out if you can get VA disability compensation for illnesses or conditions related to these exposures. We call these presumptive conditions.

Veterans Asbestos Exposure

If you have a health condition caused by contact with asbestos during your service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Compensation provides tax-free monthly payments. Keep reading to find out if you may be eligible.

Gulf War Illnesses linked to SW Asia

VA disability compensation provides tax-free monthly payments. If you have an illness or other health condition that’s connected to your service as a Gulf War Veteran from 1990 to now, you may be eligible. This includes service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and certain other areas. Read this page to learn more.

Gulf War Illnesses linked to Afghanistan

VA disability compensation provides tax-free monthly payments. If you have an illness or other health condition that’s connected to your service as a Gulf War Veteran from 1990 to now, you may be eligible. This includes service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and certain other areas. Read this page to learn more.

VA Disability Compensation

VA disability compensation (pay) offers a monthly tax-free payment to Veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military and to Veterans whose service made an existing condition worse. 

How to File a VA Disability Claim

Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation or increased disability compensation.

VA Form 21-526EZ (Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits).

Signing in to VA.gov

Get answers to your questions about signing in to VA.gov to manage your benefits and services online. 

Direct Deposit for your VA benefit payments

Learn about getting your VA benefit payments through direct deposit. If you don’t already have a bank account, the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP) can connect you with a bank that will work with you to set up an account. If you already have one, find out how to change your direct deposit information.

Managing your VA.gov profile

Your VA.gov profile has your contact, personal, and military information. Keep reading to find out how to keep your profile up to date.

If you need help filing a claim or appeal, you may want to work with an accredited attorney, a claims agent, or a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). We trust these professionals because they’re trained and certified in the VA claims and appeals processes. They can help you with VA-related needs.

VSOs work on behalf of Veterans and service members—as well as their dependents and survivors. Find out more about accredited representatives and how they can help you.Accredited representatives and VSOs need to meet these requirements:

• Pass an exam
• Pass a background check
• Take continuing-education courses to make sure they’re providing the most up-to-date information

What does an accredited representative or a VSO do?

Accredited representatives and VSOs can help you understand and apply for VA benefits, like these:

• Financial support (monthly payments)
• Education
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
• Home loans
• Life insurance
• Pension
• Health care
• Burial benefits

These trained professionals can also help in these ways:

• Help you gather supporting documents (like a doctor’s report or medical test results)
• File a claim or appeal on your behalf
• Provide added support, like helping with transportation to medical appointments or emergency funds

Note: If your claim has a clear factual or legal error, your accredited representative or VSO can request a faster Higher-Level Review decision through a new pilot program called Claim Accuracy Request (CAR).

Veteran Service Organizations:

Recognized organizations and individuals can legally represent a Veteran, service member, dependent, or survivor before VA. 

Non-recognized organizations and individuals can provide information, but can’t be representatives.

Note: Veterans Service Officers work for Veterans Service Organizations (both are called VSOs), as well as for local government offices.

Veteran Service Officers / NYC

VA Regional Office (Manhattan)

245 W. Houston

American Legion

(212)807-3066

Mon-Fri: 9am-2pm

Disabled American Veteran (DAV)

(212)807-3157

Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Fri: 8:30am-3pm

Wed: 8:30am-12pm

Paralyzed Veterans of America

(212)807-3114

Mon-Fri: 8am-4:30pm

United War Veterans

(212)693-1476

Mon-Fri: 7am-4pm

New York State Division of Veterans Affairs

(212)807-3162

Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm