August might mean new backpacks and school supply runs for most Americans, but for the military and veteran community, it signals something else entirely.

This is not just back-to-school season. It is the start of admin hell — the time of year when benefit deadlines, readiness checks, enrollment certifications and medical screenings collide with login errors, system maintenance and incomplete forms.

For many in uniform, August becomes a month-long sprint to meet bureaucratic obligations before the fiscal year ends. And every year, the stakes feel a little higher.

Veterans and the post-PACT Act claims surge

Veterans who submitted an “Intent to File” under the PACT Act before August 10, 2023, had until that same date in 2024 to complete their claims to preserve retroactive benefits. Now

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