The PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List

The Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (a.k.a. the PACT Act) is a law that created the PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List, which added more than 20 new conditions to the VA’s Presumptive Lists.

What is the PACT Act?

In August 2022, the PACT Act was signed into law. 

The purpose of the PACT Act is “to improve health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, and for other purposes.”

The PACT Act is a big step forward in addressing the health issues many veterans face as a result of hazardous exposure. 

In addition to the PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List, this law also made significant changes to the VA’s approach to the identification, treatment, and policies surrounding military service exposures.

The PACT Act expanded health care eligibility, improved the toxic exposure screening process, instituted new research programs, enhanced the VA’s training and resources for their employees regarding toxic exposures, and eased the burden of proof for service-connecting conditions caused by toxic exposure. 

You can read more about these changes here.

The PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List

Here are all of the conditions the PACT Act added to the VA’s Presumptive List. 

For Agent Orange Exposure:

• hypertension
• monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

For Burn Pit and Particulate Exposure:

• asthma
• chronic bronchitis
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis
• emphysema
• granulomatous disease
• interstitial lung disease
• pleuritis
• pulmonary fibrosis
• sarcoidosis
• chronic sinusitis
• chronic rhinitis
• glioblastoma
• head cancer
• neck cancer
• respiratory cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer
• reproductive cancer
• lymphoma cancer
• kidney cancer
• brain cancer
• melanoma
• pancreatic cancer

The PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List added 25 new conditions to the VA’s Presumptive List, however the PACT Act also changed the Presumptive List in other ways as well to expand eligibility to even more toxic-exposed veterans.

Other PACT Act Changes to the Presumptive List

In addition to the PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List, the PACT Act made significant changes to the Presumptive List that expanded eligibility for many toxic-exposed veterans. 

For Agent Orange Exposure, the eligibility requirements were expanded to include service in:

• Thailand on a US or Royal Thai base (between January 9, 1962 and June 30, 1976)
• Laos (between December 1, 1965 and September 30, 1969)
• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek (between April 16, 1969 and April 30, 1969)
• Johnston Atoll (between January 1, 1972 and September 30, 1977)
• Guam or American Samoa (between January 9, 1962 and July 31, 1980) 

The end date for service in Vietnam was also extended to May 7, 1975.

For Radiation Exposure, the eligibility requirements were expanded to include cleanup activities or nuclear responses in:

• Palomares, Spain (between January 17, 1966 and March 31, 1967)
• Thule, Greenland (between January 21, 1968 and September 25, 1968)
• Enewetak Atoll (between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1980)

For Burn Pit Exposure, the eligibility requirements were expanded to include service in:

• Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the United Arab Emirates on or after August 2, 1990
• Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, or the Philippines on or after September 11, 2001

And for Persian Gulf veterans, Afghanistan, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, or Jordan have been added to the list of eligible countries in Southwest Asia.

How to Submit a Successful PACT Act Claim

If you have a condition on the PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List, claiming it is now easier than ever.

Instead of having to prove service-connection, you now only have to prove that you served in a location during the time frame noted on the Presumptive List. 

Before submitting your claim, first gather all the documentation you need to prove your qualifying service and support your correct ratings. 

As an All-Access Member, you have full access to our complete breakdown of the rating requirements for each condition, so you can know exactly how your condition is rated and what evidence is needed to support the correct rating. You can also contact our Disability Experts if you have any questions along the way. Not an All-Access Member? Join today!

Once you have all of the supporting evidence you need, you can submit your claim with confidence.

The Benefits of the PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List

For veterans with conditions on the PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List, disability compensation and health care are now much more accessible. 

With the goal of the PACT Act to broaden access to benefits for toxic-exposed veterans, the VA is making huge changes. These changes include not only expanding the Presumptive List, including adding the conditions on the PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List, but also include intensive research into additional conditions that could also be added to the list in the future.  

In order to get the most out of the PACT Act, continue to educate yourself by utilizing our resources, including becoming an All-Access Member, so you can get the assistance you need to maximize your benefits.