WASHINGTON (AP) — Nicole Leger always considered the burn pits at military bases in Afghanistan as more like campfires than health hazards. When tasked with disposing of sensitive documents, she would casually toss them into the flames while engaging in conversations with fellow soldiers, finding solace in these moments of camaraderie. However, her perspective changed when she began experiencing sinus problems, which only worsened upon her return home. She started struggling to breathe at night, and she felt like a different person altogether. Although Leger already received disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines, and a hip fracture, it wasn’t until President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act last year that her monthly payments expanded to account for the impact of the burn pits. Now 34 years old, Leger and her fiancé have moved into a larger home in a suburb of Tampa, Florida, giving each of their four children their own bedroom. Leger is one of the beneficiaries of the extensive expansion of veterans assistance, and the government is working swiftly to enroll as many people as possible before the first anniversary of the law.
While there is no set deadline to apply, individuals who file a claim or indicate their intent to do so by Wednesday may receive retroactive payments to last year if their claim is approved. The law presumes a link between certain cancers and ailments and exposure to the burn pits, which were utilized to dispose of waste and potentially hazardous materials. Similarly, for veterans who served during the Vietnam War, hypertension and other conditions were added to the list of issues presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the U.S. military to clear vegetation.
President Biden will commemorate the law’s anniversary at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday. According to administration statistics, the Department of Veterans Affairs has received nearly 786,000 disability claims under the PACT Act, processing over 435,000 of them and approving more than 348,000. About 111,000 veterans believed to have been exposed to toxins have enrolled in VA health care since the law’s implementation. Additionally, more than 4.1 million veterans have undergone toxic screenings, which involve questionnaires to assess potential exposure and determine the need for further tests.
Despite hiring new staff to handle the influx of claims, the VA has faced challenges in implementing the legislation. The backlog currently stands at approximately 266,000 claims, resulting in at least four months’ wait for processing. This number is expected to rise to 450,000 in October and 730,000 in April. During a recent oversight hearing, Senator Thom Tillis expressed concern about these “bad trends.” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough acknowledged that the agency is not yet satisfied with its progress and emphasized the importance of ensuring every veteran is aware of the available benefits and has filed a claim.
Despite the growing backlog, the VA has made significant efforts in outreach. It has allocated $7.5 million towards advertising, including a billboard in New York’s Times Square, and has organized events across the country. Comedian Jon Stewart, who played a key role in advocating for the PACT Act, has also contributed by sharing videos on social media. The VA’s outreach has yielded positive results, with many veterans deciding to apply for benefits. Former Army captain Eli Feret, for example, was pleasantly surprised by the ease of completing his claim on his smartphone. Cole Lyle, a former Marine corporal and leader of the advocacy organization Mission Roll Call, took inspiration from the increasing backlog and decided to file his claim as well.
There was a moment last year when the PACT Act’s approval seemed uncertain. The legislation faced unexpected obstruction from Republicans, leading advocates to stage protests outside the Capitol. President Biden, unable to be present due to contracting COVID-19, sent Secretary McDonough with pizza and joined the veterans via FaceTime. The pressure campaign worked, and Congress ultimately passed the measure. It was a bipartisan success and a personal victory for Biden, who has long believed that his late son, Beau, developed fatal brain cancer as a result of exposure to burn pits while serving in Iraq.
Secretary McDonough views the PACT Act as a pivotal moment for the VA, transforming the nation’s largest healthcare system into a more adaptable, robust, and competitive entity. He believes the new law has the potential to be the most significant expansion of VA benefits and care in history. The legislation authorized the VA to expand its facilities through 31 leases, with progress being made in 19 states. VA employees now receive higher bonuses and improved student loan assistance. The agency has implemented additional recruitment, retention, and relocation incentives. Over the past year, the VA has hired more than 21,000 healthcare workers and 4,300 benefits processing employees. Nevertheless, officials acknowledge that the process remains sluggish, with lengthy delays in onboarding new healthcare workers.
Former Army National Guard Sgt. Iona Bussiere was diagnosed with breast cancer last year after her first mammogram at the age of 40. The PACT Act presumes a link between breast cancer and proximity to burn pits. During her deployments in Iraq and Kuwait, Bussiere recalls burn pits being ubiquitous. While she wishes the VA had started providing cancer screenings earlier, she recognizes the relief provided by the benefits. Marcellus Beasley, an Air Force veteran who served during the first Gulf War, experienced similar exposure to sand, dirt, and smoke, including burn pit smoke. He found the VA to be frustrating initially but noted recent improvements in services, benefiting his psoriasis treatment and expanding his disability benefits.
The positive impact of the PACT Act is not limited to veterans alone.