CLAIM RECON INTEL
PACT Act Presumptive Conditions Index
PACT Act (Pub. L. 117-168) | Verified against eCFR · 2026-05-15
Every presumptive condition, grouped by exposure type, with the CFR citation and qualifying service criteria for each group.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE VA|Educational tools only - not legal advice▼
INTERACTIVE TOOL
Want to check whether your specific deployment + condition combination qualifies?
How Presumptions Work
A presumptive condition is one VA accepts as service-connected for veterans who served in qualifying locations or under qualifying exposure conditions, without requiring the standard medical nexus opinion. If you have a listed condition and a qualifying service record, the burden shifts: VA must accept the connection unless there is affirmative evidence to the contrary. The PACT Act (Pub. L. 117-168, signed August 10, 2022) expanded presumptive coverage substantially.
What you need to file:
1. Current diagnosis of a listed condition
2. Qualifying service in a listed location or exposure category
3. Service records proving the deployment / exposure
4. No nexus letter required for presumptive conditions, though one strengthens the claim and may be required for non-presumptive secondary claims.
Gulf War Illness
CFR / statute: 38 CFR 3.317
Eligibility: Gulf War era service (Aug 2, 1990 - present)
Deadline: Symptoms must manifest by December 31, 2026
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (7)
Functional Dyspepsia
Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome
Other Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Burn Pit / PACT Act
CFR / statute: 38 CFR 3.320
Eligibility: OIF/OEF/GWOT deployments
QUALIFYING LOCATIONS
- Iraq(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Kuwait(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Saudi Arabia(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Bahrain(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Qatar(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Oman(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- United Arab Emirates(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Somalia(1990-08-02 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Afghanistan(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Djibouti(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Egypt(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Jordan(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Lebanon(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Syria(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Yemen(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
- Uzbekistan(2001-09-11 - present)38 U.S.C. § 1119(c)
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (27)
Brain Cancer[cancer]
Lymphoma (Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's)[cancer]
Bladder/Ureter Cancer (Jan 2025)[cancer]
Leukemia - Acute and Chronic (Jan 2025)[cancer]
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (Jan 2025)[cancer]
Myelofibrosis (Jan 2025)[cancer]
Chronic Bronchitis[respiratory]
Emphysema[respiratory]
Granulomatous Disease[respiratory]
Interstitial Lung Disease[respiratory]
Pleuritis[respiratory]
Agent Orange / Herbicide Exposure
CFR / statute: 38 CFR 3.309(e)
Eligibility: Vietnam, Thailand bases, Korea DMZ (Sep 1967 - Aug 1971)
QUALIFYING LOCATIONS
- Vietnam (in-country, inland waterways, 12NM offshore)(1962-01-09 to 1975-05-07)38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6)
- Thailand (any U.S. or Royal Thai military base)(1962-01-09 to 1976-06-30)PACT Act § 403
- Korean DMZ (designated units)(1967-09-01 to 1971-08-31)38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6)
- Laos(1965-12-01 to 1969-09-30)PACT Act § 403
- Cambodia (Mimot/Krek, Kampong Cham Province)(1969-04-16 to 1969-04-30)PACT Act § 403
- Guam or American Samoa(1962-01-09 to 1980-07-31)PACT Act § 403
- Johnston Atoll (or ships calling there)(1972-01-01 to 1977-09-30)PACT Act § 403
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (26)
Stomach Cancer[cancer]
Colon Cancer[cancer]
Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular)[cancer]
Thyroid Cancer[cancer]
Breast Cancer - Male (2025)[cancer]
Urethral Cancer (2025)[cancer]
Urogenital Cancer (2025)[cancer]
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
CFR / statute: 38 CFR 3.309(f)
Eligibility: Stationed 1953–1987, minimum 30 days
QUALIFYING LOCATIONS
- Camp Lejeune / MCAS New River, NC (30+ days)(1953-08-01 to 1987-12-31)38 CFR § 3.309(f)
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (8)
Adult Leukemia
Aplastic Anemia / Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Liver Cancer
Radiation Exposure
CFR / statute: 38 CFR 3.309(d), 38 CFR 3.311
Eligibility: Atomic veterans, nuclear weapons testing, Hiroshima/Nagasaki occupation
QUALIFYING LOCATIONS
- Hiroshima/Nagasaki occupation(1945-08-06 to 1946-07-01)38 CFR § 3.309(d)
- Enewetak Atoll cleanup(1977-01-01 to 1980-12-31)PACT Act §§ 401-402
- Palomares, Spain (nuclear accident cleanup)(1966-01-17 to 1967-03-31)PACT Act §§ 401-402
- Thule AFB, Greenland (B-52 fire response)(1968-01-21 to 1968-09-25)PACT Act §§ 401-402
- Atmospheric nuclear weapons testing(1945-07-16 to 1963-12-31)38 CFR § 3.309(d)
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (18)
Bile Duct Cancer
Bone Cancer
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Colon Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Gallbladder Cancer
Leukemia (all types except CLL)
Liver Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Pharynx Cancer
Salivary Gland Cancer
Small Intestine Cancer
Stomach Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Urinary Tract Cancer
PFAS / AFFF Exposure
CFR / statute: Emerging - PACT Act review
Eligibility: Service at bases with PFAS-contaminated water
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (6)
Testicular Cancer[cancer]
Ulcerative Colitis[other]
High Cholesterol / Dyslipidemia[other]
Preeclampsia / Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension[other]
Chemical / Industrial Exposure
CFR / statute: 38 CFR 3.311a (various)
Eligibility: Service at bases with documented chemical contamination
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (6)
Liver Disease
Neurological Disorders
Reproductive Issues
Noise / Hearing Exposure
CFR / statute: 38 CFR 4.85–4.87
Eligibility: Military occupational noise exposure
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS (2)
PACT Act Effective-Date Windows
The PACT Act created special effective-date provisions for presumptive claims. When VA adds a condition or location to the presumptive list by regulation, a one-year window typically opens during which a veteran filing the claim can carry an effective date back to the date the presumption took effect. After that window closes, standard effective-date rules under 38 C.F.R. § 3.400 apply. Because windows open and close on a rolling basis as new presumptives are added, the operative deadline depends on the specific condition and presumption -- check va.gov/PACT for current per-condition deadlines.
For a comprehensive reference on effective-date and appeals-timeline rules, see /effective-date.
Key Authorities
Pub. L. 117-168 (Aug. 10, 2022) -- Honoring Our PACT Act of 202238 U.S.C. § 1116B -- Agent Orange-era presumptive authorities38 U.S.C. § 1117 -- Gulf War illness presumptive authority38 U.S.C. §§ 1119-1120 -- Toxic exposure / burn pit presumptive authorities38 C.F.R. § 3.307 -- Presumptive service connection (general framework)38 C.F.R. § 3.309 -- Disease subject to presumptive service connection38 C.F.R. § 3.311 -- Claims based on exposure to ionizing radiation38 C.F.R. § 3.317 -- Compensation for certain disabilities of Persian Gulf veterans38 C.F.R. § 3.320 -- Compensation for certain disabilities relating to toxic exposure
How ClaimRecon Helps
Use the PACT Act Scanner to check whether your specific deployment + condition combination qualifies under the statute. See /effective-date for retroactive-pay rules. If a presumptive condition is listed above, you can also explore secondary conditions that may be ratable in addition to the primary.
Educational information only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Consult a VSO or accredited representative before making decisions about your VA benefits.