VA has announced that all the presumptive conditions included in the PACT Act are eligible for benefits, effective 10 August 2022 (the day the bill was signed into law): https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5815
There are no waiting periods for future effective dates. So please urge veterans to file their claims asap – especially those whose claims were previously denied.
While VA may reach out to veterans whose previous claims were denied, there is no indication VA will review and re-adjudicate those denials (as it did when three more presumptive conditions for Agent Orange/herbicide exposure were recognized in 2010).
Please encourage veterans to work with VA-accredited representatives to help ensure their claims are filed properly – and to help them avoid predatory claims companies that charge exorbitant fees (based on future VA benefit payments) for their services.
This link provides a full breakdown of the PACT Act and related VA benefits: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/
Marty Callaghan is deputy director of benefits and claims services for The American Legion.
Author: caLegion Contributor
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My only source of income is Social Security and 1nd 10% disability from VA, I f I am granter for disability under Pact Act when is the starting payment of benefits for high blood pressure and diabetes?
PACT Act, eliminates Nehmer backpay effective dates to 2022. Will this be appealed?
I’m a 100% disabled with two of my disabilities under agent orange. In 2010 I had open heart surgery quadruple bypass for ischemic heart disease, when I filled my claim the BA approved the heart disease but not hypertension. Now that hypertension has been added to the agent orange presumptive list, would I be eligible to now file a new claim and if approved be in titled to back pay from the date it was denied. I know my rating can’t go higher than the 100% so is it even worth it. Please give me an answer.