WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Friday it was including three new cancer types to the list of presumed service-connected disabilities due to military environmental exposure, according to a news release.
Male breast cancer, urethral cancer and cancer of the paraurethral glands have been included in the list of presumptive diseases, meaning the VA will automatically assume service connection for such cancer types and will provide benefits to eligible veterans who have submitted claims with evidence of a diagnosis, the release states.
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The change was made under the PACT Act, according to the VA, which added Friday’s announcement marks continued efforts by the Biden administration to support U.S. veterans.
“We are working with urgency to deliver on the promise of the PACT Act to provide health care and benefits to as many toxic-exposed Veterans as possible — we’re leaning in wherever we can,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. “VA is working with one goal in mind: getting today and tomorrow’s Veterans and their families the benefits they deserve as fast as possible.”
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In the new policy, presumptions of service connection regarding the above-mentioned cancer types are established for eligible Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans who deployed to the following areas, according to the VA:
- Afghanistan
- Somalia
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Syria
- Yemen
- Uzbekistan
- The entire Southwest Asia theater of operations, which includes Iraq
Any Veteran who currently has or previously had one of the listed cancers at any time during military service or after separation may be entitled to disability compensation benefits dated back to Aug. 10, 2022, the date the PACT Act was signed into law. VA will review all claims from impacted Veterans and survivors who previously filed and were denied for these three conditions on or after Aug. 10, 2022, to determine if benefits can now be granted.
VA extends presumptions of service connection for three new cancer types | 06/14/2024 9:00 AM EDT (excerpt)
Veterans are encouraged to work with a VA-accredited representative or to contact their state’s VA office for further assistance with the claims process, the release suggests, adding the VA recently announced the expansion of its Close to Me cancer care program to bring such services closer to where veterans are located.
Apply and learn more about the PACT Act by visiting the VA’s website and cancer.va.gov, or by calling 1-800-MYVA411.
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