The PACT Act and your VA benefits
The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
This page will help answer your questions about what the PACT Act means for you or your loved ones. You can also call us at 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711). And you can file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation or apply for VA health care now.
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On this page
What’s the PACT Act and how will it affect my VA benefits and care?
What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?
Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veteran eligibility
Vietnam era Veteran eligibility
Getting benefits
Toxic exposure screenings
Information for survivors
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What’s the PACT Act and how will it affect my VA benefits and care?
The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
The PACT Act will bring these changes:
Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures
Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures
If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.
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What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?
To get a VA disability rating, your disability must connect to your military service. For many health conditions, you need to prove that your service caused your condition.
But for some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these “presumptive conditions.”
We consider a condition presumptive when it's established by law or regulation.
If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.
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Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veteran eligibility
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What burn pit and other toxic exposure conditions are now presumptive?
We’ve added more than 20 burn pit and other toxic exposure presumptive conditions based on the PACT Act. This change expands benefits for Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veterans.
These cancers are now presumptive:
Brain cancer
Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
Glioblastoma
Head cancer of any type
Kidney cancer
Lymphoma of any type
Melanoma
Neck cancer of any type
Pancreatic cancer
Reproductive cancer of any type
Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
These illnesses are now presumptive:
Asthma that was diagnosed after service
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic rhinitis
Chronic sinusitis
Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
Emphysema
Granulomatous disease
Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
Pleuritis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Sarcoidosis
Learn about other hazardous materials presumptive conditions that may make you eligible for care or benefits
How do I know if I have a presumptive exposure to burn pits?
Are there more exposure-related presumptive conditions?
Am I eligible for free VA health care as a post-9/11 combat Veteran?
What if I was discharged or released before October 1, 2013?
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Vietnam era Veteran eligibility
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What new Agent Orange presumptive conditions will VA add?
Based on the PACT Act, we’ve added 2 new Agent Orange presumptive conditions:
High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
You may also be eligible for disability compensation based on other Agent Orange presumptive conditions. These conditions include certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses.
Get a list of other Agent Orange presumptive conditions
If you think you’re eligible for VA health care and benefits, we encourage you to apply now.
Are there more exposure-related presumptive conditions?
What new Agent Orange presumptive locations will VA add?
What new radiation presumptive locations will VA add?
Am I eligible for VA health care as a Vietnam Veteran?
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Getting benefits
