San Antonio veterans who were exposed to toxic hazards during military service may be eligible for expanded benefits. The San Antonio Veterans Association and Veterans Benefits Administration is hosting a free claims clinic and resource fair on Thursday.
Veterans exposed to toxic hazards first became eligible for VA Health Care and benefits in 2022, when the PACT Act was signed into law.
Since then, more than 68,867 Texas Veterans have enrolled for VA health care benefits under the PACT Act.
Veterans who served in the Vietnam, Gulf, Iraq, or Afghanistan wars or any other combat zone after Sept. 11, 2001, or who were deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, or had been exposed to toxins or other hazards in the U.S. or abroad are eligible.
Veterans, family members and caregivers are encouraged to attend the event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday inside of the San Antonio Northwest Health Care Center at 9939 State Highway 151.
The claims clinic will be located on the third floor of the Veterans Benefits Administration Office and the Veterans Resource Fair will be on the first floor in the main lobby.
Veterans will be able to ask questions about eligibility for health care, including the caregiver support program, office of community care and the homeless veteran program.
The PACT Act was the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history; expanding help for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances.
Under the PACT Act, every veteran enrolled is required to undergo an initial toxic exposure screening and follow-up every five years.
The act also makes it easier to get a VA disability rating that determines how much the veteran will be compensated every month. For some medical conditions, the VA will automatically assume the veteran’s service caused the condition. Those presumptive conditions were expanded under the PACT Act, which meant veterans no longer needed to prove that their service caused their conditions.
You can apply for the PACT Act online now or call the office of public affairs at 210-616-8528.