The Most Common Conditions Linked to PACT Act Eligibility

Veterans with certain medical conditions may qualify for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. In recent years, Congress has passed legislation designed to expand VA disability benefits eligibility for veterans who suffer from medical conditions caused by specific kinds of toxic exposure. The PACT Act, passed in 2022, identifies dozens of presumptive conditions caused by various types of toxic exposure that veterans may have experienced during their military service. 

Overview of PACT Act Eligibility

The PACT Act extends eligibility for VA disability benefits to veterans who suffered various forms of toxic exposure during their military service, such as burn pits, Agent Orange, or radioactive materials, and who have developed certain medical conditions linked to such exposure. Under the PACT Act, the VA presumes a service connection for specific medical conditions when a veteran served in roles that would have exposed them to toxic or radioactive materials. As a result, veterans who have these medical conditions and who served in certain places at certain times no longer need to prove a service connection for their medical condition. The PACT Act also allows the VA to add to the list of presumptive conditions as medical research identifies links between various illnesses and service-related toxic exposure. 

Most Common Respiratory Conditions

The PACT Act and VA regulations recognize certain respiratory conditions as linked to in-service toxic exposure from burn pits and other airborne toxins. Examples of respiratory conditions that may entitle Gulf War and post-9/11 era veterans to VA disability benefits include:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic rhinitis
• Chronic sinusitis
• Asthma that developed post-service
• Constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis
• Emphysema
• Granulomatous disease
• Interstitial lung disease
• Pleuritis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis

Common Cancers Linked to Toxic Exposure

The PACT Act also recognizes certain cancers as caused by toxic exposure from burn pits and other airborne toxins present during the Gulf War and post-9/11 military actions. Presumptive cancers include:

• Brain cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancers
• Glioblastoma
• Head cancer of any type, such as cancers of the scalp, face, mouth, lips, or hard or soft palate
• Lymphoma
• Kidney cancer
• Melanoma
• Neck cancer of any type
• Reproductive cancer of any type
• Pancreatic cancer
• Respiratory cancers of any type
• Spinal cord cancers affecting the cervical spine
• Ear, nose, and throat cancers
• Eye cancers
• Sarcomas of the head, neck, or blood vessels

Other Notable Presumptive Conditions

Other health conditions entitled to the presumption of a service connection under the PACT Act include:

• High blood pressure caused by Agent Orange exposure
• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance caused by Agent Orange exposure
• Parkinson’s disease
• Ischemic heart disease

As a result, the PACT Act extends VA disability benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange who develop chronic health conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure).

What Should Veterans Do If Diagnosed

Veterans who receive a cancer diagnosis or a diagnosis for chronic respiratory conditions, hypertension, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, or other chronic health conditions should check the VA’s current list of presumptive conditions and presumptive locations of exposure to determine whether they might qualify for VA disability benefits under the PACT Act and related VA regulations. Veterans with presumptive conditions should apply for disability benefits promptly, even if the VA denied a prior application, as the VA regularly recognizes new presumptive conditions and exposure locations. 

Contact a VA Disability Attorney Today

When you’ve developed a chronic health condition due to toxic exposure during your military service, you may qualify for disability compensation from the VA. Contact Veterans Benefits Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a PACT Act attorney to discuss your eligibility for VA disability benefits under the law.