The PACT Act is the largest expansion of veteran benefits in a generation, and Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans are among the biggest beneficiaries. If you breathed the air near a burn pit, this law was written for you.
What the PACT Act added
The law created new presumptions for conditions tied to burn pits and airborne hazards — including numerous respiratory conditions and cancers — and expanded the list of qualifying locations and exposures. For covered veterans, the VA concedes the exposure and the connection.
TERA and the exposure interview
Even outside the presumptive list, the VA now performs a Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA) assessment for many claims, opening a path to service connection on a direct basis. Documenting where you were and what you were exposed to is critical.
File. Even if you were denied before the PACT Act, the legal landscape has changed in your favor.