Quick Answer: The PACT Act (Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act) is the largest expansion of VA benefits in decades. It added dozens of presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, and other toxic substances — meaning you no longer need to prove the link between your exposure and your condition.
What Is the PACT Act?
Signed into law in August 2022, the PACT Act expanded VA health care eligibility and established new presumptive service connections for toxic exposure. Veterans who were previously denied benefits for exposure-related conditions can now refile with presumptive status under the PACT Act.
Who Qualifies Under the PACT Act?
Post-9/11 Veterans (Burn Pit Exposure)
Veterans who served in Southwest Asia (Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and surrounding areas) on or after August 2, 1990, are presumed to have been exposed to airborne hazards including open burn pits. The VA has created a presumptive list of conditions linked to this exposure, including numerous cancers and respiratory conditions.
Vietnam Era Veterans (Agent Orange)
The PACT Act expanded presumptive Agent Orange coverage to veterans who served in additional locations — including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and along the Korean DMZ during specified periods — who were previously excluded. It also added hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy (MGUS) to the Agent Orange presumptive list.
Radiation-Exposed Veterans
Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during testing, cleanup, or other activities now have expanded presumptive coverage for radiation-associated cancers under the PACT Act.
Presumptive Conditions Under the PACT Act
A presumptive condition means the VA assumes the connection between your service and your condition — you do not need to prove causation. Key presumptive conditions added by the PACT Act include:
- All cancers (for veterans with documented burn pit or radiation exposure)
- Constrictive bronchiolitis and constrictive pericarditis
- Hypertension (Agent Orange veterans)
- MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance)
- Numerous other respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous system conditions
How to File a PACT Act Claim in 2026
File VA Form 21-526EZ and specify that you are filing under PACT Act presumptive eligibility. Include documentation of your service locations and dates. For burn pit exposure, the VA uses DoD records to verify location — you may not need additional documentation beyond your DD-214 and service records.
Veterans who were previously denied for toxic exposure conditions should refile as supplemental claims under the PACT Act. The VA has been actively reprocessing previously denied claims for veterans who now qualify under PACT Act presumptive status. Work with an accredited VSO — free of charge under federal law and California SB 694 — to identify all PACT Act eligibility and file the strongest possible claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I was denied before the PACT Act, can I refile?
Yes. Veterans previously denied for toxic exposure conditions that are now PACT Act presumptives should file a supplemental claim with new evidence of their service location and current diagnosis. The effective date for refilings will generally be the date of the new supplemental claim, not the original denial.
Does the PACT Act help veterans outside California?
Yes. The PACT Act is federal law that applies to all eligible veterans across the United States. California’s SB 694 addresses a separate issue — protection from predatory claims companies — but PACT Act eligibility is national.