The Honoring Our PACT Act

The PACT Act expands VA health care and benefits for nearly 3.5 million Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances, providing generations of Veterans – and their survivors – with the care and benefits they deserve.

The Honoring Our PACT Act:

• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
• Adds 23 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures  
• Requires the VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
• Improves research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposure

Expands the presumption of exposure to toxic substances for veterans who served in locations beyond Vietnam:

• Vietnam: Jan 9, 1962 – May 7, 1975
• Thailand: Jan 9, 1962 – June 30, 1976 
• Laos: Dec 1, 1965 – Sept 30, 1969
• Cambodia: Apr 16, 1969 – Apr 30, 1969
• Guam or America Samoa: Jan 9, 1962 – July 31, 1980
• Johnston Atoll: Jan 1, 1972 – Sept 30, 1977

Veterans who have not yet applied for benefits, have been denied benefits, or are pending a final determination are all eligible for their claim to be reviewed under the Honoring our PACT Act.

Adds two new illnesses to the list of Agent Orange presumptive conditions caused by exposure during military service:

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)

• Adds MGUS to the list of Agent Orange presumptive conditions
• This change goes into effect on October 1, 2022  
• Veterans who are 85 years or older, homeless, or terminally ill will be eligible immediately

Hypertension    

• Adds hypertension to the list of Agent Orange presumptive conditions    
• This change goes into effect on October 1, 2026
• Veterans who are 85 years or older, homeless, or terminally ill will be eligible immediately   

For more information on eligibility and how to apply for benefits, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs info page.