Who's covered
Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Djibouti, Yemen, and other Southwest Asia / Central Command locations.
Example presumptive conditions
- Asthma (diagnosed after service)
- Chronic bronchitis, COPD, chronic rhinitis/sinusitis
- Many cancers — head & neck, respiratory, gastrointestinal, kidney, melanoma, lymphoma
- Hypertension (added 2026)
The law behind it
The PACT Act — signed into law on August 10, 2022 — is the largest expansion of VA benefits in over 30 years. For burn-pit and airborne-hazard veterans it made 20-plus respiratory conditions and cancers "presumptive," meaning the VA now assumes they were caused by service. You no longer have to prove the connection yourself. The law also reopened the filing window and, in 2026, added hypertension to the presumptive list.
Why these claims get denied — and how to win
Before the PACT Act, most burn-pit claims were denied for "no nexus" — no proven link to service. That hurdle is gone for presumptive conditions, but claims still fail when your service dates or deployment locations are not documented, your diagnosis is not current, or the condition is filed under the wrong category. If you were denied before 2022, your claim can often be refiled and won under the new law.
Burn Pits — frequently asked questions
- Who qualifies for Burn Pits benefits under the PACT Act?
- Gulf War era (on/after Aug 2, 1990) or any period on/after Sept 11, 2001. Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Djibouti, Yemen, and other Southwest Asia / Central Command locations.
- What conditions are presumptive for Burn Pits?
- Examples include: Asthma (diagnosed after service); Chronic bronchitis, COPD, chronic rhinitis/sinusitis; Many cancers — head & neck, respiratory, gastrointestinal, kidney, melanoma, lymphoma; Hypertension (added 2026). This is not the full list — the PACT Act covers 330+ conditions across all exposure categories.
- How do I file a Burn Pits claim?
- File a VA disability claim and note your toxic exposure. A free accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can help you build a strong claim at no cost. "Presumptive" means the VA assumes the service connection for eligible veterans — but you still must file.
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