Presumptive Conditions
Conditions the VA presumes are service-connected based on your service
What Does "Presumptive" Mean?
For presumptive conditions, you don't need to prove a direct link between your service and your disability. If you served in certain locations or time periods, the VA assumes (presumes) that your condition was caused by that service.
You still need: A current diagnosis and evidence of qualifying service. But you don't need a nexus letter or proof that service caused the condition.
Toxic Exposure - Burn Pits & Airborne Hazards
The PACT Act expanded presumptive conditions for post-9/11 veterans exposed to burn pits and other airborne hazards.
Burn Pits / PACT Act
Comprehensive guide to burn pit presumptives and the PACT Act
Toxic Exposure Overview
Understanding toxic exposure claims and registry
Afghanistan
Presumptives for Afghanistan service
Presumptive Conditions Include:
- Asthma diagnosed during or within 10 years of service
- Rhinitis
- Sinusitis (including rhinosinusitis)
- Constrictive bronchiolitis
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Granulomatous disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Chronic bronchitis
- COPD
- Emphysema
- Head, neck, respiratory, and GI cancers
- Reproductive cancers
- Lymphoma and leukemia
- Kidney cancer
- Brain cancer
- Melanoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Hypertension
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
Agent Orange
Veterans exposed to herbicides during service in Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, and other locations.
Agent Orange Overview
Complete guide to Agent Orange presumptives
Agent Orange - Children
Birth defects and conditions in children of exposed veterans
Presumptive Conditions Include:
- AL Amyloidosis
- Bladder cancer
- Chronic B-cell leukemias
- Chloracne
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- Hodgkin's disease
- Hypertension
- Hypothyroidism
- Ischemic heart disease
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Parkinson's disease
- Parkinsonism
- Peripheral neuropathy (early-onset)
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
- Prostate cancer
- Respiratory cancers
- Soft tissue sarcomas
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Veterans and family members at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987.
Presumptive Conditions Include:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Parkinson's disease
Gulf War Illness
Veterans who served in Southwest Asia and other locations during the Gulf War era.
Presumptive Conditions Include:
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders (IBS, functional dyspepsia)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms lasting 6+ months
- Medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI)
Radiation Exposure
Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during service.
Other Presumptive Categories
Combat Veterans
Presumptives based on combat service
Cold War Era
Conditions for Cold War veterans
Former POWs
Special presumptives for prisoners of war
Mustard Gas
Veterans exposed to mustard gas or Lewisite
Tropical Diseases
Diseases from tropical service
Project SHAD
Shipboard Hazard and Defense testing participants