The PACT Act of 2022 is one of the most critical laws that has been passed in recent years to address the issues faced by veterans. Thanks to the measures it put into place, many more veterans are now potentially eligible for benefits when they might not have been previously. But what exactly is the PACT Act, and how can it potentially benefit you?
What is the PACT Act?
The Honoring Our PACT Act, or simply the PACT Act for short, is a law that was passed to address issues related to veterans who struggled to obtain disability benefits for conditions related to toxic exposure during their service. More specifically, it is meant to help people who have experienced negative health effects from things like being exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, or getting sick from burn pit exposure. This way, more veterans can get access to disability benefits they might previously have been denied.
What Does the PACT Act Do?
The way the PACT Act works is that it lays out certain medical conditions known to be associated with exposure to burn pits or other common sources of toxicity that veterans have needed to deal with. These “presumptive conditions” will be automatically treated as service-related, even if there is not substantial evidence connecting their conditions with their service. This makes it easier and faster for them to obtain their benefits than it otherwise would be.
How Could it Potentially Benefit You?
This can be potentially beneficial if you or your loved ones suffered from one of these presumptive conditions. By establishing these presumptive conditions, you may be able to more easily obtain veterans disability benefits, which can assist you and your family with paying bills and obtaining medical care through the VA. It can also help you to appeal your application for benefits if it was previously rejected due to your condition not being considered service-related, provided your condition is one of those covered by the PACT Act.
What Should You Do?
Whether you are looking to apply for VA disability benefits for the first time, or you are looking to appeal a rejected application, you may be able to benefit from legal assistance. That is why you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling veteran disability applications. They can help you go over the details of your case, and argue on your behalf to give you the best chance possible at getting the benefits you deserve.
The attorneys of Sullivan & Kehoe place a special focus on assisting disabled veterans. Our veterans’ disability lawyers are still available for remote consultation on your legal issues. Call our office at (800) 395-7830 to schedule a consultation in our New York City, Garden City, Kings Park, Riverhead, or White Plains office, or visit our contact page.
