Senator Hassan Encourages Newly Eligible Veterans to Apply for VA Health Care

WASHINGTON – Following the signing of Senator Maggie Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan PACT Act into law, the VA announced that, starting today, many veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars, and War on Terror are newly eligible for VA health care.

WATCH Senator Hassan’s video on the eligibility period opening.

“I was proud to help develop and pass our bipartisan PACT Act into law, providing long-deserved support for veterans exposed to toxic substances,” said Senator Hassan. “We need to connect our veterans to the health care and benefits that they have earned and deserve after sacrificing so much for our country. I encourage veterans who may be newly eligible to apply for VA health care to enroll now, and I will continue working to make sure that our veterans receive the support that they need.”

October 1 is the first day that many veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars, and War on Terror can apply for VA health care. The PACT Act also includes additional health care and disabilities benefits for veterans. To learn more about these options, visit www.va.gov/PACT or call the VA at 800-698-2411. Additionally, Granite Staters can contact Senator Hassan’s office with questions here or at 603-622-2204.

More than 60,000 veterans in New Hampshire stand to benefit from the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. Among its many priorities, Senator Hassan and colleagues’ law:

• Expands VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
• Creates a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
• Adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions;
• Expands presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure, including hypertension;
• Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
• Strengthens federal research on toxic exposure;
• Improves VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
• Sets VA and veterans up for success by investing in:
• VA claims processing;
• VA’s workforce; and
• VA health care facilities.

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