VET PFAS Act

The VET PFAS Act would expand Veterans Affairs health care and establish a formal presumption of service connection for veterans who were stationed at military installations where PFAS chemicals (including perfluorooctanoic acid and other PFAS) were present, including through contaminated drinking water. Key elements include: (1) granting VA hospital care and medical services to veterans (and, separately, to their dependents) who were stationed at covered installations for PFAS exposure, with care available even if there isn’t conclusive medical proof that the condition came from that service; (2) creating a presumption that certain PFAS-exposed veterans have specific diseases incurred in service, which streamlines disability benefits processes; (3) extending health-care rights to family members of those veterans (and in utero exposure) under a new VA program, subject to appropriations and guidelines; (4) annual reporting on program implementation for three years; and (5) clarifying that reserve-component service at covered installations can count as active duty for purposes of these provisions. The effective date for many provisions is 90 days after enactment.