The PACT Act (signed August 10, 2022) is the largest expansion of VA health care and benefits in over 30 years. It establishes presumptive service connection for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins. If you served in qualifying locations and developed one of 23+ recognized conditions, the VA presumes your illness was caused by service—you no longer need to prove the link.
| Eligible Category | Geographic and Service Criteria |
|---|---|
| Vietnam Era Veterans | Republic of Vietnam (1962–1975), Thailand (1962–1976), Laos (1965–1969), Cambodia (1969), Guam, American Samoa, or Johnston Atoll |
| Gulf War Veterans | On or after August 2, 1990, in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, UAE, or surrounding waters |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | On or after September 11, 2001, in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen, or supporting the Global War on Terror |
| Toxic-Exposed Veterans | Radiation (e.g., Enewetak Atoll, Palomares), contaminated water (Camp Lejeune), or domestic hazardous materials |
| Survivors | Spouses, children, or parents of veterans who died from service-connected conditions now recognized as presumptive |
| Milestone | Date and Significance |
|---|---|
| Date of Enactment | August 10, 2022 — New presumptive standards active for pending and future claims |
| Presumptive Effective Date | January 1, 2023 — Official implementation for Agent Orange presumptives including hypertension |
| Health Care Expansion | March 5, 2024 — All toxin-exposed veterans can apply for healthcare years ahead of schedule |
| Filing Window | Now Open — No expiration date for filing a PACT Act claim |
Brain, GI, head and neck, kidney, lymphatic/hematologic, reproductive, respiratory, melanoma, and bladder/ureter/genitourinary (per 2025 interim rule).
File an Intent to File as soon as possible. It establishes a placeholder for your effective date. If you submit your formal claim within one year and it is approved, the VA will pay retroactive benefits back to the date the intent was received.
For non-presumptive conditions where toxic exposure is suspected, the VA must determine if you participated in a TERA. If conceded, the VA must order a medical opinion to assess whether exposure is "at least as likely as not" the cause.