Department of Defense testing records
PFAS Contamination at Military Bases
Between 2017 and 2023, the Department of Defense confirmed PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, "forever chemicals") in drinking water at 97 military installations above at least one EPA threshold, the 70 ppt Lifetime Health Advisory (in effect 2016–2023) or the 4 ppt proposed Maximum Contaminant Level (2023). If you served at one of these bases, this is documented evidence of exposure you can use in a VA claim.
Search your duty station
Type a base name (e.g. "Lejeune", "Wright-Patterson") or state to see if contamination was confirmed. Matches across the DOD 2017 report and the 2021–2023 monitoring API.
| Installation | State | Branch | Dataset | Analyte | Max PFAS (ppt) | 70 ppt | 4 ppt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading installations… | |||||||
Historical comparison: 2017 vs 2021–2023
Installations measured in both datasets, green means concentrations dropped between the two reports (often due to new treatment systems), red means they rose. Many still exceed the 2023 proposed standard of 4 ppt.
PFAS exposure and VA claims
PFAS exposure is NOT a PACT Act presumptive on its own (except indirectly through Camp Lejeune, which covers PFAS among other contaminants). However, the CDC/ATSDR and National Academies recognize scientific consensus linking PFAS exposure to several conditions, giving veterans a strong direct service-connection argument when the contamination is documented:
DC 7528, up to 100% during active treatment
DC 7528, up to 100% during active treatment
DC 7900 (hyperthyroid) / DC 7903 (hypothyroid)
DC 7323, up to 100%
Secondary to cardiovascular claims
Preeclampsia; claim support for service-connected disability
DC 7345 (cirrhosis) / DC 7354 (hepatitis)
Considered via residuals of specific diseases
Source: ATSDR PFAS Health Effects, National Academies 2022 Report.
What a 2026 study found in veterans' blood
Everything above is about the water at a base. This is about what ended up in people. In September 2026, researchers at Brown and Harvard published Serum PFAS Concentrations Among US Veterans in Environmental Health Perspectives, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey blood samples from 2003 to 2018, weighted to represent about 22.8 million US adults with prior military service.
- Veterans aged 20 to 39 carried 13 to 24 percent higher PFAS concentrations than non-veterans of the same age, depending on the chemical.
- Young veterans were 18 percent more likely to exceed 20 ng/mL, the level at which the National Academies recommend monitoring by a clinician.
- Older veterans had levels comparable to civilians their age. The researchers attribute that to time, not to safety: PFOA has a half-life of roughly one and a half to two years, so exposure clears slowly long after service ends.
- The study does not establish where any individual's exposure came from. The authors point to firefighting foam, groundwater at military installations and munitions as likely sources.
What the lead author recommends is a conversation, not a claim step: a male veteran aged 20 to 39 may want to ask a physician about testing PFAS levels, and about whether screening for the associated conditions listed above makes sense. A blood level is a health fact about you. It is not by itself proof that a condition is service connected, and it is not a rating.
One practical note, reported by Army Times and Stars and Stripes rather than by the study: the VA does not currently offer or cover PFAS blood testing, and the Defense Department is required to offer it only to active-duty and civilian DoD firefighters. The researchers said their findings may inform future VA policy on coverage.
Sources: Brown University, September 14, 2026, Army Times, September 15, 2026, Stars and Stripes, September 15, 2026. Study: Hoover, Costello, Braun and colleagues, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2026.
How to use this data in a claim
- Confirm your duty station dates match when PFAS was documented (or reasonably present, treatment systems were added AFTER contamination was found).
- Gather your DD214 and service records (e.g., orders, LES) proving you were stationed there.
- Request a nexus letter from a physician linking your diagnosed condition to PFAS exposure.
- File a direct service-connection claim citing the DOD documentation on this page as proof of in-service exposure.
- If your claim is denied, consider a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal. Check BVA toxic-exposure appeal data for grant rates.
Disclaimer: This data is for educational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Presence on this list does not automatically grant service connection. You must still demonstrate a nexus between your exposure and your diagnosed condition. Concentrations reported are the highest measured per installation from DOD sampling and may not reflect every water system on base.
If your base isn't listed: DOD only began systematic PFAS testing in the 2010s, so a base that wasn't tested during 2017 or 2021–2023, or one where testing came back below current detection limits, isn't automatically "uncontaminated" for the years you served. If you have medical records and credible reason to believe exposure occurred, a direct service-connection claim with a nexus letter may still be viable even without this database confirming your base. The absence of a measurement doesn't prove exposure, but it also doesn't disprove it.
Data sourced from the DAPM-PFAS-PACT-ACT repository, which scrapes the DOD PFAS website. Installations filtered to those where DOD measured PFOA or PFOS above an EPA threshold (70 ppt old standard or 4 ppt new proposed standard). Always consult a VA-accredited representative for guidance on your specific claim.