The American PACT Act expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances such as Carbon Tetrachloride. The Act also recognizes “Presumptive Exposure” such as serving in a particulate area or extensive use of a particular chemical.

Although para 50 (g) of the Canadian Veterans Well-Being Regulation cites exposure to environmental hazards, VAC has not been interpreting it as such and “Presumptive Exposure” has yet to be recognized by our veterans affairs in spite of the regulation stating that it should be. From my reading the wording of 50(g) clearly states that if you were exposed to an environmental hazard your cancer must be presumed to be service related. Should this not mean that you don’t need a letter from your doctor stating that your prostate cancer was likely caused by your exposure to Carbon Tetrachloride?

Here are the exact words from the regulation.

50. … a veteran is presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have established that an injury or disease is a service-related injury or disease, ... if it is demonstrated that the injury or disease or its aggravation was incurred in the course of:

(g) the performance by the member or veteran of any duties that exposed the member or veteran to an environmental hazard that might reasonably have caused the injury or disease or its aggravation.