Who is covered
Qualifying locations and dates under the PACT Act:
- Burn Pits and Airborne Hazards - Post-9/11 Theaterfrom September 11, 2001Open-air burn pits and fine particulate matter exposure during post-9/11 service in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and the airspace above.
- Burn Pits and Airborne Hazards - Gulf War Theaterfrom August 2, 1990Open-air burn pits and fine particulate matter exposure during Gulf War service in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates, and surrounding waters plus the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
- Kuwait Oil Well Fires (1991)February 1, 1991 – November 30, 1991During the 1991 Gulf War, retreating Iraqi forces ignited Kuwaiti oil wells, producing dense smoke from Feb through Nov 1991. Exposure falls under 38 CFR 3.317 SW Asia and PACT Act burn-pit presumptions.
Presumptive conditions (24)
With a qualifying diagnosis and the service above, VA presumes these conditions are connected to the exposure.
Brain cancerGastrointestinal cancer of any typeGlioblastomaGenitourinary cancer of any typeHead cancer of any typeHematologic and lymphatic cancersLymphoma of any typeMelanomaNeck cancer of any typePancreatic cancerReproductive cancer of any typeRespiratory cancer of any typeAsthma diagnosed after serviceChronic bronchitisCOPDChronic rhinitisChronic sinusitisConstrictive or obliterative bronchiolitisEmphysemaGranulomatous diseaseInterstitial lung disease (ILD)PleuritisPulmonary fibrosisSarcoidosis
Rating tables: asthma diagnosed after service.
To see how these conditions combine with others, use the combined-rating calculator.
Documents VA asks for
- DD-214: establishes service on or after Sep 11, 2001
- Personnel records / orders / deployment records: confirms service in qualifying country or airspace
- Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry record: supports exposure narrative
- Medical diagnosis: confirms a PACT presumptive condition
- Personnel records / orders: confirms qualifying country or maritime zone
Related guides: Intent to File · C&P exam preparation · nexus letters
Legal authority and sources
PACT Act 2022 (Pub.L.117-168)