The PACT Act expands care and benefits to veterans—and their survivors—who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.
If you were deployed in any of these conflicts and were discharged or released on October 1, 2013, or after, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encourages you to submit a PACT Act claim.
Act, scan the QR code with your
mobile device or visit VA.gov/PACT.
- Vietnam
- Gulf War
- Post-9/11
What's Covered?
Veterans and survivors can file claims for all conditions in the PACT Act immediately. The PACT Act covers all presumptive conditions. A presumptive condition is an illness that is assumed or presumed to be caused by your service. Unlike other VA disabilities, you do not need to prove that your ailment was caused by your service once it is deemed a presumptive condition and written into law or policy. The PACT Act includes new diagnoses and an expanded list of respiratory conditions and cancers.
For Gulf War and post-9/11 Veterans, presumptive conditions include:
Presumptive Cancers:
- Brain cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
- Glioblastoma
- Head cancer of any type
- Kidney cancer
- Lymphoma of any type
- Melanoma
- Neck cancer of any type
- Pancreatic cancer
- Reproductive cancer of any type
- Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
Presumptive Illnesses:
- Asthma that was diagnosed after service
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic rhinitis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
- Emphysema
- Granulomatous disease
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
For Vietnam Veterans and other Veterans exposed to tactical herbicides, included are two Agent Orange presumptive conditions:
- High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
How Do I Apply?
Call the VA at 1-800-698-2411 or file a disability claim online. To file a claim online, click into the VA disability compensation form, select "sign in to start your application," and "create an account", or log on with your My HealtheVet, DS Logon, ID.me, or LOGIN.GOV accounts.
Not sure about filing a claim? Submit an intent to file. An intent to file may help you qualify for retroactive benefits and payments by logging a potential start date for your benefits.
The Workforce Care Directorate is here to help you. If you need help walking through this process, contact CBP’s Veteran Support Program at cbpvsp@cbp.dhs.gov.
What if the VA Denied My Claim but My Condition Is Now Covered Under the Pact Act?
If you submitted a claim that was formerly denied but is now covered by the PACT Act, submit a Supplemental Claim.
Where Can I Get Screened?
If you are enrolled in VA health care, you can get a toxic exposure screening at any VA health facility nationwide. Not enrolled in VA health care? Apply for VA health care today. After your initial screening, you should receive follow-up screenings every 5 years.
Is There a Deadline to Apply?
There is no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits.
More Resources
Still have questions? Check out these materials from the VA and other reliable outlets.
- Full text of the PACT Act.
- More from the VA about airborne hazards and burn pit exposure, including a full list of presumptive conditions.
- A VA fact sheet (PDF download) on survivor benefits connected to the PACT Act.