"Alarming Number of Veterans Found with Potential Toxic Exposures: Study"
The Department of Veterans Affairs has screened 5 million veterans for potential toxic exposures since the passage of the PACT Act in 2022, with 2.1 million veterans self-reporting at least one potential exposure. The screenings are part of the VA's efforts to expand healthcare coverage for veterans and identify related medical issues. The PACT Act takes a "presumptive" approach, linking certain chronic conditions to burn pit exposure and reducing the burden of proof for veterans. The most commonly reported exposures are to Agent Orange and burn pits.