In one of the largest-ever expansions of veteran health care | va fayetteville arkansas health care | veterans affairs

Fayetteville , AR — In one of the largest-ever expansions of Veteran health care, all Veterans exposed to toxins and other hazards during military service – at home or abroad – are now

eligible for VA health care. FAYETTEVILLE, AR -  Today, 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. 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. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans. VA encourages all eligible Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT

or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and apply for VA health care today. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on August 10, 2022, more than 3100 Veterans have enrolled in VA

health care at Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks. “If you’re a Veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, we want you to

come to us for the health care you deserve,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for Veterans – and once you’re in, you

have access for life. So don’t wait, enroll today.” “Today, we’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act,” said VA Under

Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “With this expansion, VA can care for 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. We can also care for Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home – by working with

chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more. We want to bring all these Veterans to VA for the care they’ve earned and deserve.” “By signing up

for VA heath care, Veterans ensure the well-being of future generations.  The VA has extensive experience in treating the unique health concerns of Veterans,” said Veterans Health Care

System of the Ozarks Medical Center Director, Dr. George Velez, DHA, MBA, FACHE. “VHSO’s mission is “To become the healthcare destination of choice.”  You’ve served us, now let us serve

you.”  In addition to expanding access to VA care, this decision makes it quicker and easier for millions of Veterans 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. This expansion of care covers Vietnam Veterans, Gulf War Veterans, Iraq War Veterans, Afghanistan War Veterans, Veterans who

deployed in support of contingency operations for the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation

Inherent Resolve, and Resolute Support Mission), and more. This expansion also covers many Veterans who never deployed as a part of a conflict but were exposed to toxins or hazards while

serving in the U.S. Specifically, under this expansion of care, any Veteran who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) – at home or abroad – is eligible for VA health care. VA

has determined that Veterans who were exposed to one or more of the following hazards or conditions during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training participated in a

TERA: air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust, particulates, oil well fires, sulfur fires); chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, contaminated water);

occupational hazards (asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent resistant coating, firefighting foams); radiation (nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and

detonation, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, X-rays, radiation from military occupational exposure); warfare agents (nerve agents, chemical and biological weapons);

and more. VA will use all available information to determine if Veterans participated in a TERA, including military records and service connection. For more information about how the PACT

Act is helping Veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard. 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 Fayetteville VA, visit www.va.gov/fayetteville-arkansas-health-care/. ###