WEST HAVEN, Conn. — Starting Tuesday, millions of veterans exposed to toxins abroad or at home will now be eligible for VA health care years earlier than anticipated.
“It's coming early, but it's coming too late,” said Amy Antioho, who works with the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center.
Antioho’s husband Peter served in Afghanistan for most of 2012. Six years later, he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
“To be able to feel like my husband's death was not in vain and to fight on in his legacy is really truly honor,” Antioho said.
Peter’s cancer was caused by his time near burn pits, which were used as storage for toxic materials and trash. For years, he was left without benefits and tasked with proving the link himself, so he called his senator.
“Peter was an American hero,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a proponent of the PACT Act and member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. “His order to me when he knew he was going to pass away was to get the PACT Act done, to make sure that no veteran would have to do what he did.”
In August of 2022, President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law, expanding VA healthcare benefits for service members exposed to toxic substances.
“It is simple justice,” Blumenthal continued. “Men and women who serve our country, who are exposed to these kinds of toxic chemicals, suffer from cancer, hypertension, heart disease as a result, no matter when it manifests, should have this benefit.”
RELATED: Transgender veterans sue to have gender-affirming surgery covered by Department of Veteran Affairs
The act laid out a “phased-in” approach, delaying full implementation of the law for eight years, but the VA is now getting ahead of the game.
Starting Mar. 5, all veterans who were exposed to toxins, including those who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan or any other combat zone after 9/11, will be able to enroll directly in VA health care.
“This means you won't hear no anymore,” said Antioho. “You've been told no so many times and you've been denied an appeal, then denied again, so many times. This is different. You earned this. You deserve it and this is your time.”
Blumenthal says this expansion happened because the VA realized it had the resources necessary to fully implement the PACT Act now.
---
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
---
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.