Veterans with low disability ratings see higher income than non-disabled peers, but individuals with significant health issues lag far behind. The backlog of overdue disability claims is expected to keep rising over the next year. Roughly four in 10 veterans think they may have been exposed to harmful chemicals or toxic conditions during their time in the service. Justice Department officials will enforce limits on the fees that can be charged to veterans or family members formerly stationed at the Marine Corps base. Veterans Affairs officials reached more veterans last year than ever before, but the department's leader said there is still more work to be done. The 12-year-old program has cultivated a massive database of genetic information for health researchers. Individuals can get up to $550,000 through the new process, but officials won't say exactly when the payouts will be sent out. The original deadline was extended by several days because of technical issues with the Department of Veterans Affairs claims systems. The PACT Act is intended to improve health care and disability compensation for exposure to toxic substances. The Veterans Affairs extended the deadline for retroactive PACT Act payouts amid online technical difficulties. Load More