Shoeleather Journalism in the Digital Age

Shoeleather Journalism
in the Digital Age

PACT Act: VA grants more than 23,975 benefit claims for Arizona veterans

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The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits to millions of Veterans, including adding “presumptive” service connection for hundreds of conditions linked to burn pits, agent orange, and other hazards while serving our country. (File Photos/DigitalFreePress)
VA delivers more than $153M in benefits to Arizona military families
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press

The Department of Veterans Affairs expects to grant its 1 millionth PACT Act-related disability compensation claim to Veterans and survivors since President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on Aug. 10, 2022 – including 23,975 claims to Veterans and survivors in Arizona.

The grant rate for these 1 million claims is 75% — a sharp increase from pre-PACT levels — and VA has delivered more than $153,503,539.45 in earned benefits to Arizona Veterans and survivors, according to a press release.

Additionally, since the PACT Act was signed into law, more than 16,049 Arizona Veterans have signed up for VA health care, the release states.

The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits to millions of Veterans, including adding “presumptive” 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 nationwide 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.

“Thanks 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,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “Whenever a Veteran gets a claim granted, it means life-changing monthly payments and access to no-cost VA health care for that condition.

We’re proud that we’ve granted 1 million PACT Act-related claims for Veterans and survivors, but we won’t rest until every Veteran and every survivor gets the VA health care and benefits they deserve.”
Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs echoed a similar sentiment.

“Thanks to the PACT Act, VA is delivering more benefits to more Veterans than ever before,” he said in a prepared statement. “We 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’ve earned.”

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