VA to Prioritize PACT ACT Claims for Those with Cancer

Washington, D.C. — This past month the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will prioritize the processing of Veterans’ benefits claims for cancers associated with the PACT Act. VA will expedite these claims to ensure Veterans with cancer are getting timely access to the care and benefits they need and deserve.

The PACT Act added presumptions of service connection for more than 20 new conditions, including various cancers. These presumptions help Veterans get their earned benefits by reducing the evidence necessary for VA to find that a condition was caused by burn pits or other toxic exposures. They also simplify the claims process by eliminating the need to establish a link between the Veteran’s service and the claimed condition.

Since the PACT Act was signed into law August 10, Veterans have filed nearly 125,000 PACT Act-related claims. Of those claims, nearly 14,000 are for cancers covered by the PACT Act.

VA will begin processing all PACT Act-related claims Jan 1, 2023. John Rosenberger of Norman County Veteran Services says the VA is anticipating a surge of claims and will be hiring more service workers to assist.

For more information about PACT Act and how to file a claim, visit va.gov/PACT or contact your local Veterans Service Officer.