A pivotal deadline under the PACT Act is looming, and you might be directly affected if you are a combat zone veteran.
Unsure if you qualify? Read more about Combat veterans and the compensation they can receive below.
What is Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)?
For Veterans who were deployed to combat zones and left military service between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013, the PACT Act has provided an exclusive enrollment opportunity to sign up for VA health care.
This window closes at 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2023.
The significance of this is that eligible Veterans can bypass the usual process of applying for disability compensation benefits, instead enrolling directly into VA health care.
Considering the undisputed benefits of VA health care, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Studies have consistently shown that Veterans enrolled in VA health care fare much better in terms of health outcomes compared to their non-enrolled counterparts.
Beyond health outcomes, VA health care stands out in terms of quality, affordability, and patient satisfaction.
The PACT Act, an unprecedented expansion in VA health care and benefits, has already seen over 344,000 Veterans benefit from this enrollment.
Post its inception on August 10, 2022, a whopping 4.2 million Veterans have been screened for toxic exposures.
And VA Secretary Denis McDonough has a clear message: “Don’t wait. Apply today.”
The essence of his message underscores the importance of enrollment, even if immediate health care isn’t a current necessity.
Want to learn more about the PACT Act? Check out our blog post below.
Beyond this special category of Veterans, the VA health care door remains open for various groups, including:
- Vietnam Veterans
- Gulf War Veterans
- Those who transitioned out of service less than a decade ago
For those not meeting these criteria, VA health care access might still be feasible through VA disability compensation benefits or income-based eligibility.
The PACT Act goes a step further by granting “presumptive” service connection for over 300 health conditions.
This implies that the VA assumes certain health conditions are linked to the Veteran’s service based on where and when they served, leading to automatic compensation and care.
With over $1.85 billion in PACT Act benefits already disbursed to Veterans and their families, the VA is leaving no stone unturned in its mission to ensure maximum enrollment.
In closing, if you are a combat zone Veteran who served between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013, please make note of the deadline – September 30th, 2023!
Learn more about filing for VA disability benefits with our free ebook
Hill & Ponton are here to support you with getting started with your claim.
If you are intending to appeal a denied claim, you can contact us for an evaluation and we can help you with this process.
However, if you are considering filing an initial claim, or even if you are interested in learning about the appeals process, we offer a free ebook to get you started on the right foot!
The Road to VA Compensation Benefits will help break down the claims process from start to finish. Click the link below to learn more.
