CLARKSVILLE, TN – This week, the VA announced that all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military – at home or abroad – are now eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. This means that all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 are eligible to enroll in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits.
Additionally, veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States are eligible to enroll.
Many veterans believe they must apply to receive VA disability compensation benefits to become eligible for VA health care, but this is not correct. With this expansion and other authorities, millions of eligible veterans can enroll directly in VA care – without any need to first apply for VA benefits.
As directed by President Biden, this expansion of VA health care eliminates the phased in approach called for by the PACT Act – meaning that millions of veterans are becoming eligible for VA health care up to eight years earlier than written into law. This is a critical step forward because veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. In fact, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System is one of 19 hospitals in the state of Tennessee to earn a 4-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.
“In 2023, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) hired more talented health care professionals to provide world-class health care for our veterans – growth in part driven by the PACT Act,” said Daniel Dücker, TVHS Executive Director. “The TVHS footprint is continually growing, and we opened a new VA Clinic at Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in late February. We anticipate opening new VA Clinics in Clarksville, Cookeville, Columbia, and Nashville in fiscal year 2027 and beyond, building upon our infrastructure to provide care to more than 94,000 veterans in those respective communities.”
Since the PACT Act was signed into law on Aug. 10, 2022, more than 9,300 Tennessee veterans have enrolled in VA health care.
To apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.
For more information about how the PACT Act is helping veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard.