{"id":7549,"date":"2024-05-21T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7549"},"modified":"2024-05-21T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T09:00:00","slug":"va-to-grant-1-millionth-benefit-claim-for-veterans-and-their-survivors-under-the-pact-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7549","title":{"rendered":"VA to grant 1 millionth benefit claim for Veterans and their survivors under the PACT Act"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-05-21T09:00:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON<\/strong> \u2013 Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs expects to grant its 1 millionth PACT Act-related disability compensation claims to Veterans and survivors since President Biden signed the bill into law on Aug. 10, 2022. The grant rate for these claims is 75% \u2013 a sharp increase from pre-PACT levels \u2013 and VA has delivered more than $5.7 billion in earned benefits to these Veterans and survivors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits to millions of Veterans, including adding \u201cpresumptive\u201d service connection for hundreds of conditions linked to burn pits, agent orange, and other hazards while serving our country. Presumptions such as these lower the burden of proof required to receive disability benefits, helping Veterans get the benefits they deserve as quickly as possible. The average service connection rate for Veterans with these granted claims is 70%, meaning that they receive more than $20,000 in earned benefits payments from VA each year.<\/p>\n

President Biden believes the nation has a sacred obligation to take care of Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, and he has made supporting Veterans a key pillar of his Unity Agenda for the nation. VA encourages all Veterans to visit VA.gov\/PACT<\/a> to learn more and apply for the care and benefits they deserve today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to President Biden, the Veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other hazards while serving our country are now being taken care of for the conditions that followed them home from war,\u201d said\u00a0VA Secretary Denis McDonough.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWhenever a Veteran gets a claim granted, it means life-changing monthly payments and access to no-cost VA health care for that condition. We\u2019re proud that we\u2019ve granted 1 million PACT Act-related claims for Veterans and survivors, but we won\u2019t rest until every Veteran and every survivor gets the VA health care and benefits they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to the PACT Act, VA is delivering more benefits to more Veterans than ever before,\u201d said Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs<\/strong>. \u201cWe encourage all toxic-exposed Veterans and their survivors to apply today for care and benefits at VA.gov\/PACT. When you apply, we will stop at nothing to get you the benefits you\u2019ve earned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through the PACT Act, VA has been able to help millions of Veterans get the health care and benefits they deserve. Key impacts include: \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n