The PACT Act — Your Guide to Toxic Exposure Benefits

Use this guide to connect your service era, deployment history, and military job to the toxic exposures and presumptive conditions that may strengthen a VA disability claim.

20+
New presumptives
4
Covered eras
MOS + era
Exposure finder
Find My Exposures Open Toxic Exposure Map

What is the PACT Act?

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 is the largest expansion of VA benefits in decades.

✅ Added 20+ new presumptive conditions for burn pit and toxic exposure claims.
✅ Expanded Agent Orange presumptive locations, including Thailand, Guam, and American Samoa contexts.
✅ Added radiation exposure sites such as Enewetak, Palomares, and Thule.
✅ Created mandatory toxic exposure screenings for all VA-enrolled veterans.
✅ Established a process for future presumptive toxic exposure conditions.
✅ Conceded burn pit exposure for post-9/11 veterans who served in covered locations.

Why this matters

Many veterans no longer have to prove the same exposure-and-nexus chain they used to.

  • Covered service can trigger presumptions.
  • Respiratory, cancer, herbicide, radiation, and contamination claims may be easier to file.
  • Toxic exposure screening is now part of VA care.

Before vs. After the PACT Act

Open Claim Builder
Situation Before PACT Act After PACT Act
Burn pit exposure claim Had to prove exposure + nexus Presumed if you served in a covered location
Post-9/11 veteran with lung cancer Had to prove burn pits caused it Presumptive — prove deployment + diagnosis
Gulf War veteran with chronic illness Limited presumptives and stricter timelines Expanded presumptives with no end date
Thailand veteran (Agent Orange) Often handled case-by-case Presumptive for covered perimeter service
Toxic exposure screening Not required Mandatory for all VA-enrolled veterans
Filing deadline for burn pit claims Fragmented and often confusing Streamlined with broader eligibility

Find Your Era

Each era has different toxic exposure patterns.
🌴
1962-1975

Vietnam Era

Service during the Vietnam Era often involved herbicide exposure, austere combat environments, and infectious disease risk in tropical climates.

3 era exposures · 104 mapped jobs
☢️
1945-1991

Cold War Era

Cold War service included nuclear deterrence missions, asbestos-heavy ships and facilities, chemical testing programs, and documented contamination at certain bases.

5 era exposures · 104 mapped jobs
🏜️
1990-2001

Gulf War Era

Gulf War service brought airborne hazards, depleted uranium risk, pesticide exposure, chemical warfare concerns, and chronic multisymptom illness patterns now recognized by VA.

7 era exposures · 104 mapped jobs
🔥
2001-present

Post-9/11 Era

Post-9/11 deployments frequently involved burn pits, blast exposure, airborne hazards, persistent dust, PFAS, and site-specific contamination such as K2.

6 era exposures · 104 mapped jobs

Find Your Job’s Exposures

Browse all jobs

A mechanic in Vietnam did not have the same exposure profile as a mechanic in Iraq. Use the job finder to combine your MOS/rating with your era.

Key timelines

Vietnam Era Agent Orange
Jan 9, 1962 – May 7, 1975 in covered locations
Gulf War
Aug 2, 1990 – present in Southwest Asia
Post-9/11 Burn Pits
Sep 11, 2001 – present in covered locations
Camp Lejeune
30+ days between Aug 1, 1953 – Dec 31, 1987
Toxic Exposure Screening
Available now for all enrolled veterans

How to file a PACT Act claim

  1. Determine your era, deployment dates, and where you served.
  2. Check whether your condition appears on a presumptive list tied to that era or location.
  3. If presumptive, prove service in the covered area and show your diagnosis — no nexus letter is usually needed.
  4. If not presumptive but still related, file with supporting evidence; a nexus letter can help.
  5. Submit through VA.gov, a VSO, or your regional VA office.
  6. Ask for a toxic exposure screening at your next VA appointment.

Cross-links

📍 Toxic Exposure Map 🔗 Secondary conditions 📝 Claim Builder 🩺 C&P Exam Prep