So Washington responded with a bill extending insurance “eligibility” to the people who fell ill from drinking this water. The words “medical care” did not appear anywhere in the bill. There were no provisions for who would provide care or where and when care could be attained. The afflicted were only granted additional insurance benefits.

Some veterans say the PACT Act is a step forward, but many are still being left behind.

Two major types of errors were discovered in the Camp Lejeune disability claims process. Errors involving about 2,300 claims were made by staffers who assigned an incorrect effective date for benefit entitlement. Overall, the report said, veterans were underpaid at least $13.8 million in benefits for granted claims because VA regional office staff did not assign the earliest effective date permitted by federal regulation.

The bill redefines many conditions as "presumptive" — meaning the department will automatically consider those conditions a result of military service. A full list of presumptive conditions is available at VA.gov/PACT.

“My first reaction is to get mad. But then I have to reel back and say, ‘You know, I can’t get mad about it because I can’t undo it,’” Derrick said. “I mean, it’s done, and all these other people, their health issues, they can’t take that back. So on behalf of all the other people, we have got to get justice and have accountability.

Eligibility for VA health care is also expanded under the Act. Now Gulf War and post 9/11 veterans are eligible if they served in theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War or served in combat during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998.

Veterans benefits to be expanded as PACT Act heads to President Biden's desk

"So I strongly support the burn pit legislation, I think it was important legislation that provides needed care to our veterans who have stepped forward to defend our nation," Cruz said. "If you look at burn pits that were used in active combat theaters like Iraq or Afghanistan, we're seeing a great number of veterans coming back with serious health problems as a consequence of toxins being burnt in these open burn pits."