What the PACT Act is
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
- Brain cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
- Glioblastoma
- Genitourinary cancer
- Head cancer of any type
- Hematologic and lymphatic cancers
- Lymphoma of any type
- Melanoma
- Neck cancer of any type
- Pancreatic cancer
- Reproductive cancer of any type
- Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
Other presumptive conditions
- 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
Source: VA.gov, Exposure to burn pits and other specific environmental hazards (checked October 13, 2026).
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
Qualifying service depends on where and when you served, not your MOS. The burn pits and PACT Act page lists the locations and dates.