It is estimated that one in three Veterans had toxic exposures during their active duty.
From burn pits and Agent Orange to nuclear waste and contaminated groundwater, these environmental hazard exposures can adversely impact Veterans’ health long after their service.
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VHA Under Secretary for Health, and Dr. Danielle Carnival, White House Cancer Moonshot Coordinator
The PACT Act, signed into law Aug. 10, 2022, expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and potentially toxic substances. It is the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxin-exposed Veterans in more than 30 years. The act ensures Veterans exposed to toxins are screened and get the best clinical care possible.
The PACT Act also helps foster a cancer research community within VA that prioritizes innovation, collaboration, and the needs of the Veteran.
Aligning support
I recently sat down with Dr. Danielle Carnival, White House Cancer Moonshot coordinator, to discuss how VA and Cancer Moonshot are aligned to support the PACT Act and Veterans with environmental exposures.
We discussed how the PACT Act expands health care eligibility to several groups of Veterans, including Vietnam era, Gulf War era and Post-9/11 combat Veterans. It also adds more than 20 burn pit and toxic-exposure-related conditions to VA’s military service presumption list, including several different types of cancers.
This means if you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions, VA assumes that toxic exposure during your military service led to the diagnosis.
The added cancers are:
- Brain cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
- Glioblastoma
- Head cancer of any type
- Kidney cancer
- Lymphoma of any type
- Melanoma
- Neck cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Reproductive cancer of any type, including breast cancer and prostate cancer
- Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
What this means for you
“The PACT Act is transformational for Veterans who may need cancer care,” said Dr. Michael Kelley, VHA national executive program director for Oncology. “These men and women have served their country with bravery and honor. Thanks to this legislation, we can provide them with best-in-class cancer care. VA is ready to support Veterans facing a cancer diagnosis.”
In addition to expanding the list of presumptive cancers, the act strengthens the Cancer Moonshot effort to address rare cancers which make up approximately 25% of all cancer diagnoses at VA. If a Veteran is diagnosed with a rare cancer or a common cancer with an unusual or unique symptom, VA can support them.
President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot program aims to reduce the number of cancer deaths by 50% over the next 25 years. Moonshot is a singularly uniting force behind research, clinical care, patient stories and caregivers.
You can take advantage of the PACT Act right now by getting screened for toxic exposure at your local VA. We urge all Veterans to file claims so we can provide the benefits and care they have earned and deserve.
To learn more, visit: The PACT Act And Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs.
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My husband was in the Gulf war in the Coast Guard and he passed away in 2019 after a 3 year battle of pancreatic cancer. What do I need to do now to try and get some much needed help? His name was Joey Wood Taylor.
Thanks for any help you can offer me,
Patricia K. Taylor
I was in Korea in 77and79. While serving in the DMZ we were burning feces from the outhouses that we used and I also burned some kind of white tiles and other unknown materials that created black smoke that smell bad . Could this apply to me? Just recently of this year I had colon cancer removed and planning to get another check up!
I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. I served in Iraq. My VSO filed in June for breast cancer. It was denied last week. He told me breast cancer isn’t covered! He filed an appeal. Shouldn’t he have done a supplemental claim? Isn’t breast cancer included? I’m so confused.
Great, l have been fighting for my respiratory condition for years. I gave up and finally thanks to President Biden and the ones in Congress that have vote to pass this bill and Veterans Groups,. us Veterans that were exposed have a chance to finally get the help we deserve .
I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2021. This needs to added to the list. My oncologist linked this disease with being exposed to the toxins in Desert Storm (burn pit, and oil fields that were set on fire). My first claim was denied. I am now awaiting another decision. I feel if the VA has the audacity to deny this a second time, I will just need to take it to law suit level. I’d rather not, but don’t mind taking it there.
Agreed. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2019 and have undergone chemo for it continuously ever since. When this all started, I asked my doctor what could have caused this in the first place, and she commented that it was probably caused by exposure to radiation while in the service. I think they know more than they are telling us.
I was stationed at EL Toro MCAS in 1984, 1985. I was a Corpsman. I was pregnant and living on base. I know El Toro was toxic. My baby died from developmental problems. I developed leukemia. I am now in VA at Buffalo. They tell me I am not eligible for Pact Act! I am confused. I have never been “healthy” mentally or physically since all this happened. I come from a military family. Both my kids are military. Why am I not allowed to qualify for Pact Act? I feel I have suffered as much as any veteran. Please can someone assist/help me.
I would love to get more information on PACT Act.
Does this include CANLEJ JUSTICE ACT???
I don’t understand why all this info is so complicated.
Un sur trois ,c’est la proportion de Vétérans Atomique (ou des Essais Nucléaires) qui ont été contaminés !