VA announced earlier this week that after just 13 months of veteran screening for toxic exposures as part of the PACT Act, 5 million have been screened and some 2.1 million (43 percent) reported at least one potential exposure.
The screening takes 5-10 minutes and begins with VA health providers asking veterans if they believe they experienced toxic exposures while serving in the armed forces. A “yes” response results in follow-up questions and access to information on benefits, registry-related medical exams, and other clinical resources, creating a path for early detection and treatments—and for VA to deliver more care and more benefits to a greater number of veterans than ever before. For additional insight into how VA is using the PACT Act to help veterans and their survivors, click here.