https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/
WASHINGTON — Today, VA announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024. This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll.
VA has announced that they are expanding healthcare eligibility to all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11/2001. Originally, the PACT Act called for a phased in approach, but at the direction of President Biden, VA has instead opened this expanded eligibility to VA Healthcare effective March 5, 2024.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction
In one of the largest-ever expansions of Veteran health care (va.gov)