The PACT Act and toxic exposure

• Gulf War and post-9/11 Veterans who served in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Djibouti, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Somalia, the UAE and others, during covered dates.
• Vietnam-era Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, including newer locations like Thailand bases, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll during covered dates.
• Veterans exposed to radiation in covered cleanup and testing missions. The exact places and dates matter. Our exposure checker can check yours.

VA presumes Agent Orange exposure if you served in any of these places and dates. Service of any length counts.

• Vietnam, its inland waterways, or a ship within 12 nautical miles of its coast (Blue Water Navy): Jan 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975.
• Thailand, any U.S. or Royal Thai base: Jan 9, 1962 to June 30, 1976.
• Laos: Dec 1, 1965 to Sept 30, 1969.
• Cambodia (Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province): Apr 16 to 30, 1969.
• Guam or American Samoa and their waters: Jan 9, 1962 to July 31, 1980.
• Johnston Atoll, or a ship that called there: Jan 1, 1972 to Sept 30, 1977.
• In or near the Korean DMZ: Sept 1, 1967 to Aug 31, 1971.

Agent Orange presumptive conditions include high blood pressure and MGUS (added by the PACT Act), type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, hypothyroidism, AL amyloidosis, and cancers of the bladder, prostate and lungs, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic B-cell leukemia and some soft tissue sarcomas. A few skin and nerve conditions count only if they showed up within a year of exposure.

Many Veterans were turned down for conditions that are now presumptive. You can ask VA to decide again with a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995). Say that the law changed.

• VA says it reviews old denials for bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism on its own. You can still ask.
• For some Vietnam-era Veterans and their survivors, VA may pay back to the date of the first claim, not just the new one. The rules are detailed, so ask a free accredited VSO to check your old letters with you.

The covered list includes many cancers (like brain, gastrointestinal, head, neck, kidney, lymphatic, pancreatic and reproductive cancers, and melanoma) and breathing illnesses (like asthma diagnosed after service, COPD, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis and rhinitis). For Agent Orange, it added high blood pressure and MGUS. VA has added more conditions since. Always check VA's current list.

You can still file. A condition that isn't presumptive can be claimed directly, with a medical opinion that links it to your exposure. It just takes more evidence.

VA offers a free toxic exposure screening to Veterans in VA health care. The PACT Act also opened VA health care to many more Veterans with toxic exposure. A screening isn't a claim, but it puts your exposures in your record and can start care.

If VA denied a condition that's now presumptive, you can file again. Use a Supplemental Claim, and say that the PACT Act now covers it.

File VA Form 21-526EZ on VA.gov, the same claim form as any disability claim. It has questions about toxic exposure: answer them with your locations and dates. You still need a current diagnosis. Submit an Intent to File first to protect your date.

If a Veteran died from a condition that's now presumptive, a surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for survivor pay (DIC).