Veterans: PACT Act Expands Benefits Beyond Burn Pits

There’s a staggering amount of misinformation circulating about how new policies are transforming the industry for veterans, leading to confusion and missed opportunities. Many still operate under outdated assumptions.

Myth #1: The PACT Act is just about burn pits and only affects Gulf War veterans.

This is simply not true, and it downplays the monumental shift the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 represents. I hear this all the time from veterans I work with here in Atlanta – they assume it’s not for them because they weren’t “boots on the ground” in Iraq. The reality is far broader. The PACT Act fundamentally reshaped VA healthcare and benefits for millions, extending beyond just burn pit exposure. It added over 20 new presumptive conditions for toxic exposure, covering veterans who served in various locations and eras, including Vietnam, the Gulf War, and post-9/11 conflicts.

For instance, conditions like hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) are now presumptive for certain veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and other specified areas. This means the VA presumes your military service caused these conditions, removing the arduous burden of proving a direct service connection. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) PACT Act website, over 3.5 million veterans have enrolled in VA healthcare or filed claims under the Act since its implementation. This isn’t a niche benefit; it’s a systemic overhaul. I had a client last year, a Marine veteran who served in the 1970s, struggling with hypertension for decades. He’d been denied VA benefits multiple times under the old system. After the PACT Act, we resubmitted his claim, and because hypertension became a presumptive condition for his service location, he was finally granted service connection and retroactive benefits. It was a clear demonstration of how these policy changes aren’t just theoretical – they change lives.

Myth #2: Getting a disability rating is still a long, drawn-out battle with little chance of success.

While the VA claims process can still be complex, the notion that it’s an unwinnable war is outdated, especially with recent policy shifts. The VA has made significant strides in streamlining the process, particularly through expanding the list of presumptive conditions. This means that if you served in a certain area during a specific time frame and developed one of these conditions, the VA presumes your service caused it. This drastically reduces the amount of evidence a veteran needs to submit, cutting down on the “battle” aspect.

For example, the VA’s list of presumptive conditions now includes conditions like sleep apnea for veterans exposed to certain environmental hazards. We ran into this exact issue at my previous firm. We had a client, a National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan, who had a strong medical history of sleep apnea but struggled to connect it directly to his service. With the expanded presumptive conditions, his claim became much more straightforward. The VA’s “Digital First” strategy, launched in 2025, has further accelerated this. This initiative encourages and facilitates online claims submission through the VA.gov portal, reducing paper-based delays. The VA’s own data indicates that this digital push, coupled with policy changes, has reduced the average claim processing time by approximately 30% for fully developed claims submitted online. It’s still not instant, but it’s far from the endless bureaucratic nightmare many imagine.

Myth #3: Veteran-owned businesses don’t get any real advantage in federal contracting.

This is a persistent misconception that discourages many talented veteran entrepreneurs. The truth is, federal policies are explicitly designed to give veteran-owned businesses a significant competitive edge. The Vets First Verification Program, administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), is a cornerstone of this. This program verifies that a business is truly owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans (SDVOSBs) or veterans (VOSBs), granting them access to set-aside contracts and preferences.

Specifically, federal agencies have a goal to award at least 3% of all prime contract dollars to SDVOSBs. While goals don’t always translate directly to awards, the policy framework creates a robust advantage. According to a recent SBA report, federal contract awards to veteran-owned businesses have steadily increased, with a projected 15% increase in contracts awarded to VOSBs by 2027 due to intensified federal directives and agency accountability. Just last year, we assisted a client, a service-disabled veteran who owns a cybersecurity firm in Alpharetta. Through the Vets First program, his company successfully secured a multi-year contract with the Department of Defense, valued at over $2 million. Without the set-aside policy, competing against established giants would have been nearly impossible. It’s not a handout; it’s a recognition of service and a strategic investment in businesses that often embody strong leadership and resilience.

Myth #4: State-level support for veterans is minimal or inconsistent.

While federal policies often grab headlines, many states, including Georgia, have implemented robust and impactful policies specifically benefiting veterans. To think otherwise is to miss a huge piece of the support puzzle. Here in Georgia, for example, the state legislature has passed several crucial bills. One significant piece of legislation is House Bill 387 (HB 387), enacted in 2023, which significantly expanded property tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans. This isn’t a small perk; it can save veterans thousands of dollars annually.

Before HB 387, the exemption was tied to a fixed dollar amount that didn’t always keep pace with rising property values. Now, it’s a more substantial and impactful benefit. I recently helped a 100% disabled veteran client in Marietta navigate this. His property taxes on his home near Kennesaw Mountain were over $3,000. With the new exemption, his bill dropped to under $500. This kind of financial relief can be the difference between struggling and thriving. Furthermore, Georgia also has strong initiatives for veteran employment, including tax credits for businesses that hire veterans and expanded state employment preferences. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) actively promotes these programs, connecting veterans with employment opportunities and employers with valuable talent. It’s a powerful, often underestimated, layer of support.

Myth #5: Mental health support for veterans is still primarily about outdated therapy models.

This myth is particularly damaging because it deters veterans from seeking help. The VA, driven by evolving policies and a deeper understanding of veteran mental health needs, has dramatically modernized its approach. It’s no longer just about traditional talk therapy, though that remains a vital component. The VA has integrated a wide array of evidence-based treatments and proactive outreach programs.

One of the most significant shifts is the expansion of telehealth services. Since the pandemic, policies have heavily supported and funded telehealth, making mental health care more accessible, especially for veterans in rural areas or those with mobility issues. The VA’s Connected Care initiative, for instance, allows veterans to receive therapy and psychiatric care from the comfort of their homes. According to the VA’s Mental Health Services page, over 1.5 million veterans accessed mental health services via telehealth in 2025 alone. Moreover, there’s a strong emphasis on peer support programs, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies like yoga and mindfulness, and specialized programs for PTSD, TBI, and substance use disorders. It’s a holistic approach. I had a veteran client struggling with severe PTSD who was hesitant to leave his home for appointments. We connected him with a VA therapist via telehealth, and it completely changed his willingness to engage in treatment. This policy-driven shift towards accessible, diverse care options is a profound transformation.

Myth #6: Veterans’ education benefits haven’t really kept pace with rising tuition costs.

This is a common concern, especially with the ever-increasing cost of higher education. However, it’s a myth that ignores the significant enhancements to the GI Bill® and related educational policies. While tuition costs are indeed high, the various iterations of the GI Bill, particularly the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, have been consistently updated to provide substantial financial support.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® not only covers up to 100% of tuition and fees for public in-state institutions (or a national maximum for private and foreign schools) but also provides a monthly housing allowance and a book stipend. These aren’t static benefits; they are regularly adjusted. For example, the housing allowance is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents in the zip code of the school, meaning it adapts to local costs of living. Furthermore, policies like the Yellow Ribbon Program extend these benefits by allowing institutions to partner with the VA to cover tuition costs that exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill® maximum. This is particularly beneficial for veterans attending expensive private universities or out-of-state public schools. Many veterans also overlook the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program (Chapter 31), which provides comprehensive assistance for veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable employment. This program can cover tuition, fees, books, supplies, and even provide a monthly subsistence allowance, often exceeding standard GI Bill benefits. My friend, a disabled Army veteran, used VR&E to get a master’s degree in engineering from Georgia Tech. Not only was his tuition fully covered, but he also received a living stipend throughout his studies. These benefits are robust; veterans just need to understand how to access them.

The proactive engagement with these evolving policies is not just beneficial for veterans; it’s essential for their well-being and successful reintegration. Embrace the tools and opportunities these changes present.