Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — VA Pacific Islands Health Care System is continuing to make PACT Act enrollment a priority, as well as other community outreach events from those who are unable to come to a VA Hospital location. To meet this goal, on Feb 23rd and 24th, there will be a PACT Act Registration and Community Call where VA health care professionals will be available to share information and resources with American Samoa Veterans.

The PACT (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics) Act is a historic new law that will help VA deliver for millions of Veterans — and their spouses or survivors — by empowering the VA to presumptively provide care and benefits to Veterans suffering from more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions.

What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?

To get a VA disability rating, your disability must connect to your military service. For many health conditions, you need to prove that your service caused your condition.

But for some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these “presumptive conditions.”

VA considers a condition presumptive when it's established by law or regulation.

If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.

It will also bring generations of men and women who have served into VA health care, which will improve Veteran health outcomes across the board.

•           You can apply for PACT Act-related benefits now by filing a claim.

•           You can learn more about the PACT Act by visiting VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-41

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb, 23 and Saturday, Feb.24, 2024 in the American Samoa Memorial Monument Center in Tafuna. Veterans who are already enrolled may also come for diabetic foot checks, blood pressure checks, as well as health and benefits questions.

For more information regarding VA health care in the Pacific call: 1-800-698-2411. 

BACKGROUND

The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.

The PACT Act will bring these changes:

•           Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras

•           Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures

•           Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation

•           Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care

•           Helps VA improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures

If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.