Justice for Vaccine Injured Veterans Act of 2025
The Justice for Vaccine Injured Veterans Act of 2025 would create a new presumption that certain diseases are linked to a COVID-19 vaccine administered to U.S. military personnel under official orders, for purposes of VA disability compensation. Specifically, for service members who received a COVID-19 vaccine under DoD orders during a defined window (August 24, 2021, to January 10, 2023), certain diseases that become manifest would be treated as if incurred in or aggravated by military service, even if evidence of the disease during service is lacking. The act lists four specific diseases (myocarditis, pericarditis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, and Guillain-Barré Syndrome) and allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to add others if there is a positive association with the vaccine. The bill also requires ongoing reporting to Congress and public disclosure of that information, and it defines what counts as a COVID-19 vaccine for purposes of the law.
Key Points
- 1Presumption of service-connection for the listed diseases. If a service member who received a COVID-19 vaccine under DoD orders during the specified period develops one of the specified diseases, VA would presume the disease was incurred in or aggravated by military service for purposes of disability compensation, even without documented disease during active service.
- 2Covered diseases. The bill enumerates four diseases: myocarditis, pericarditis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). It also allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to add other diseases to this presumption if there is a positive association with the COVID-19 vaccine.
- 3Time window and scope. The presumption applies to individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine under DoD orders within August 24, 2021, through January 10, 2023. The approach is tied to the period of the DoD vaccination mandate and its aftermath as described in the bill’s findings.
- 4Congressional notice and ongoing reporting. If the Secretary adds new diseases to the list, he/she must notify the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The Secretary must also issue periodic reports (not later than 60 days after enactment and every 60 days for four years) detailing the number of claims, the status of those claims (approved, denied with various actions, or pending), and related information. These reports must be publicly accessible.
- 5Definition and statutory mechanics. The bill defines “COVID-19 vaccine” to include vaccines licensed under the Public Health Service Act or authorized for emergency use under the FDA’s emergency-use framework. It adds a new section (1120A) to Title 38 to codify this presumption and related requirements, and it requires a clerical amendment to the table of sections accordingly.