Burn Pits & Particulate Matter Exposure
TL;DR
What You Need to Know
- The PACT Act (2022) created presumptive service connection for burn pit exposure
- 23+ respiratory conditions and 30+ cancers are now presumptive
- No minimum time requirement — even brief exposure in covered areas qualifies
- No 10% severity requirement — any diagnosis qualifies for presumption
The PACT Act (Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act) recognized that Veterans exposed to burn pits and other airborne hazards during deployment are at increased risk for respiratory diseases and cancers.
Good news: You do NOT need to join the Burn Pit Registry to file a claim. The registry is optional and for research purposes only.
Eligibility
Active Duty, Reservists, and National Guard members who served in or in the airspace above these locations qualify:
Post-9/11 Locations (Sept 11, 2001 – Present)
- Afghanistan
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Syria
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
Gulf War Locations (Aug 2, 1990 – Present)
- Arabian Sea
- Bahrain
- Gulf of Aden
- Gulf of Oman
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Persian Gulf
- Qatar
- Red Sea
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Iraq-Saudi Neutral Zone
- United Arab Emirates
No minimum time requirement! If you have evidence you were in a covered location for even a moment, you qualify. One day of boots on ground (or flying over) is enough.
Presumptive Respiratory Conditions
These conditions can develop any time after separation:
Presumptive Cancers
These cancers can develop any time after separation:
Respiratory & Head/Neck Cancers
- Respiratory cancers of any type (lung, trachea, larynx, bronchus)
- Head cancer of any type
- Neck cancer of any type
Blood & Lymphatic Cancers
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma of any type
- Multiple myeloma
- MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy)
- Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
- Myelofibrosis
Urinary & Reproductive Cancers
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Ureter cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer (including males)
- Reproductive cancer of any type
Other Cancers
Important Notes
For VA raters:
- Presumptive grants CAN receive earlier effective dates under liberalizing law
- If condition manifested DURING service but BEFORE exposure, get a direct opinion first — if unfavorable, grant presumptive
- If condition existed BEFORE service, consider aggravation opinion