Thousands of Veterans Affected by PACT Act Disability Claim Errors: What You Need to Know
April 2025 – Thousands of veterans across the country may have been underpaid on their disability compensation due to a critical error in how the Department of Veterans Affairs processed PACT Act claims. If you or someone you know filed a claim related to toxic exposure, this update could directly affect your back pay or current disability benefits.
What Happened with PACT Act Claim Errors?
The VA recently acknowledged that over 28,000 disability claims filed under the PACT Act were processed with incorrect effective dates. This error led to lower back pay amounts or delayed monthly payments for many veterans.
The problem occurred when the VA incorrectly used the application date instead of the intended effective date of August 10, 2022—the day the PACT Act was signed into law. This resulted in thousands of veterans receiving reduced retroactive compensation, potentially shortchanging them by thousands of dollars.
What Is the PACT Act?
The PACT Act (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act) expanded VA benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service, including:
- Burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Agent Orange in Vietnam and surrounding areas
- Radiation and other hazardous exposures
It added more than 20 presumptive conditions, making it easier for veterans to get approved for benefits without having to prove a direct service connection.
If your condition is listed under the PACT Act and you served in a qualifying location, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation, even if you were denied in the past.
Who’s Affected by the Payment Errors?
According to the VA, this issue mostly affected first-time PACT Act claims filed between August 10, 2022, and February 15, 2024. These veterans should have received retroactive benefits back to the date the law was signed—August 10, 2022—but instead received back pay only from their application date.
This means many veterans missed out on up to 18 months of back pay they rightfully earned.
It added more than 20 presumptive conditions, making it easier for veterans to get approved for benefits without having to prove a direct service connection.
If your condition is listed under the PACT Act and you served in a qualifying location, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation, even if you were denied in the past.
Who’s Affected by the Payment Errors?
According to the VA, this issue mostly affected first-time PACT Act claims filed between August 10, 2022, and February 15, 2024. These veterans should have received retroactive benefits back to the date the law was signed—August 10, 2022—but instead received back pay only from their application date.
This means many veterans missed out on up to 18 months of back pay they rightfully earned.
The VA has stated that it is proactively identifying and correcting these errors and plans to notify impacted veterans.
What Should You Do Now?
If you filed a PACT Act-related claim during this window and suspect you were underpaid:
1. Review your VA award letter – Check the effective date listed and the amount of back pay received.
2. Log into your VA.gov account to confirm the date your claim was filed and when your benefits started.
3. Request a review or appeal if your payment doesn’t reflect the proper effective date.
You can also get help from an accredited VA claims agent to ensure your benefits are accurate and maximized.
Get Help from The Rep For Vets – Trusted VA-Accredited Claims Agents
At The Rep For Vets, we help veterans cut through the red tape and fight for the benefits they’ve earned—and that includes fixing VA mistakes like this.
- We’re VA-accredited and follow all guidelines.
- We never exaggerate claims—we fight for what’s rightfully yours.
- We work on a contingency basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless you win.
Contact Us for a Free Evaluation If you think your PACT Act claim was mishandled—or you’re just starting the process—our team is ready to help.
Get Your Free VA Disability Evaluation Now