NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — There is an important deadline for those who have served and have an illness — August 9 — and you may be eligible even if you were denied benefits in the past.
Last year President Biden signed the PACT Act, which gives veterans benefits and retroactively pays them if they believe their illness is due to burn pits or even agent orange.
The Act added more than 20 conditions that could be caused by the toxins. For example, if you suffer from high blood pressure and served in the Vietnam War, you could receive benefits without any further questions. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will assume it is linked.
Those who file a claim before the August 9 deadline could be eligible for thousands of dollars of backdated benefits for both veterans and their surviving families.
Even if you do not think your illness is linked to your service or that you're eligible, it is recommended that you go ahead and apply. The VA is experiencing a backlog in processing the claims, but it is important to get your application in there and get the process started. You can apply here.
