VA Toxic Exposure and Presumptive Claims

Everything you need in one place to understand VA toxic-exposure claims and presumptive conditions. The PACT Act of 2022 greatly expanded the list of presumptive conditions and qualifying service for burn pits, Agent Orange, and more, so many veterans no longer have to prove how an exposure caused their condition. Start with the PACT Act and a presumptive check, then dig into each exposure type and how to file.

Start here

The PACT Act

What the 2022 law changed and which presumptive conditions and locations it added.

Presumptive Check

See whether your condition and service may qualify for a presumption.

Non-Presumptive Exposures

Asbestos, benzene, solvents, fuels, metals, no presumption, so the Board record is the roadmap. The conditions tied to each, with grant rates.

Medication Side Effects

The same exercise for prescriptions, not chemicals: when a drug taken for a service-connected condition was blamed for causing a new one, and what the Board granted.

Burn pits and airborne hazards

Gulf War Presumptives

Burn pit and airborne-hazard presumptions for Gulf War and post-9/11 service.

Exposures by MOS

Common toxic exposures tied to your military job and duties.

Agent Orange and herbicides

Agent Orange Presumptives

Conditions VA presumes from herbicide exposure in Vietnam and other locations.

Chronic Disease Presumptives

Chronic conditions presumed service-connected when they appear within set timeframes.

Water and chemical

Camp Lejeune

Conditions presumed from the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

PFAS Exposure

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from firefighting foam and base water.
DOCUMENTED HISTORICAL RELEASE
Served at Aberdeen or Edgewood?

Read the sulfuric-acid release record, original sources, and the limits of what those records establish.

Read the Aberdeen record

Historical documentation, not a finding that everyone stationed there was exposed.

Radiation and POW

Radiation Presumptives

Conditions presumed from ionizing-radiation exposure during qualifying service.

Radiogenic Dose-Based Pathway

The dose-estimate route for radiogenic diseases not on the presumptive list.

POW Presumptives

Conditions presumed service-connected for former prisoners of war.

Gulf War illness

Gulf War Illness Guide

Undiagnosed and chronic multisymptom illness from Gulf War service.
Location, exposure, medical, and nexus evidence categories.
Visual guide: Toxic Exposure Evidence Guide View full size · All 20 visual guides

Service context

Combat Service Claims

How combat service affects proof of exposure and in-service events.

Guard and Reserve Claims

How exposure claims work for National Guard and Reserve members.
Comparison of screening, registry, health care, and compensation.
Visual guide: Toxic Exposure Screening vs Disability Claim View full size · All 20 visual guides
Four-step guide to disability evidence, exposure participation, possible association, and medical opinion.
Visual guide: TERA Medical Examination Roadmap View full size · All 20 visual guides

Filing and appealing exposure claims

Toxic Exposure Appeals

How the Board has decided burn pit, herbicide, and water-exposure appeals.

TERA Exceptions

Toxic Exposure Risk Activity and when the exam and review apply.
Presumptive does not mean automatic. Even when your condition is on a presumptive list, you still need a current diagnosis and proof of qualifying service. The presumption removes the burden of proving how the exposure caused the condition, not the need to file a claim and show the diagnosis.

This hub is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. For official guidance on the PACT Act and presumptive conditions see VA.gov. For help with your claim, find a VSO representative near you.

Common Questions

What is a presumptive condition under the PACT Act?
A presumptive condition is one that VA presumes was caused by qualifying military service, such as exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, or contaminated water. If you served in a covered time and place and have a listed condition, VA accepts the service connection without requiring you to prove how the exposure caused it. The PACT Act of 2022 expanded the list of presumptive conditions and the qualifying locations for toxic exposure.
Do you need a nexus letter for a presumptive condition?
Generally no. For a presumptive condition, VA already presumes the link between your service and the condition, so a private nexus letter establishing causation is usually not required. You still need a current diagnosis and proof of qualifying service. A nexus letter is mainly used for direct-service-connection claims where the link is not presumed.

Related Tools and Guides

PACT Act Visual Guide Library
All 19 printable charts: presumptions, burn pits, Agent Orange, TERA, and Board research.
Conditions Guide
Browse plain-English claims guides for common service-connected conditions.
Cancer Claims Guide
How VA rates cancers, many presumptive after toxic exposure.
How Claims Work
The VA claim process from filing to decision, in plain language.
Nexus Letters
When you need a nexus letter, and when a presumption means you do not.
Claim File Readiness Check
Grade how complete your claim file is, 0 to 100, before you submit.