What Is the PACT Act?
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 expanded VA healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. It created new presumptive service connections, meaning the VA assumes certain conditions are related to service — no nexus letter needed.
Who Qualifies?
Post-9/11 Veterans (Burn Pit / Airborne Hazard Exposure)
If you served in any of these locations on or after August 2, 1990:
- Southwest Asia (Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc.)
- Afghanistan
- Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen
- Uzbekistan and surrounding areas
You are presumed to have been exposed to burn pits and airborne hazards.
Vietnam Era Veterans
If you served in Vietnam, Thailand, or certain other locations during the Vietnam era, Agent Orange presumptives apply.
Camp Lejeune Veterans
If you served at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days between 1953-1987, water contamination presumptives apply.
Presumptive Conditions Under PACT Act
Burn Pit / Airborne Hazards (Post-9/11):
Cancers:
- Any type of cancer (as of 10/1/2022)
- Head, neck, respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, urinary cancers
- Melanoma, pancreatic, kidney, any other cancer
Respiratory Conditions:
- Asthma (diagnosed after service)
- Rhinitis, sinusitis (chronic)
- Laryngitis
- Rhinosinusitis
- Constrictive bronchiolitis
- Diffuse interstitial pneumonitis
- Desquamative interstitial pneumonitis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Granulomatous disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pleuritis
How to File a PACT Act Claim
- File on VA.gov like any other disability claim
- Select the conditions you're claiming
- Indicate your service locations and dates
- You do NOT need a nexus letter for presumptive PACT Act conditions
- You still need a current diagnosis from a medical provider
- The VA will verify your service location through your records
Toxic Exposure Screening
All veterans enrolled in VA healthcare now receive a toxic exposure screening at their appointments. This helps identify conditions that may be related to toxic exposure during service.
Effective Dates
- If you file and are approved, your effective date follows standard rules (ITF date or filing date)
- If you previously had a PACT-eligible condition denied before the law passed, you can file a supplemental claim — and the VA may backdate benefits to the original denial
- There is no deadline to file PACT Act claims
Check Your Eligibility
Use the MOS Intel tab to see if your MOS has PACT Act presumptive conditions flagged. Many combat, maintenance, and support MOS roles that involved deployment qualify.