Presumptive cancers
VA lists these as presumptive for qualifying burn pit and toxic exposure:
- Brain cancer and glioblastoma
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
- Genitourinary cancer
- Head and neck cancer of any type
- Hematologic and lymphatic cancers, including lymphoma of any type
- Melanoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Reproductive cancer of any type
- Respiratory cancer of any type
Presumptive illnesses
- Asthma diagnosed after service
- Chronic bronchitis
- COPD
- Chronic rhinitis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis
- Emphysema
- Granulomatous disease
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
Qualifying locations
| Service dates | Locations (including the airspace above) |
|---|---|
| On or after August 2, 1990 | Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, UAE, plus the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Iraq/Saudi neutral zone |
| On or after September 11, 2001 | Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen |
VA updates these lists, so always confirm against VA's current page.
If your condition or location isn't listed
You can still file. You'll need evidence of exposure and a medical opinion linking your condition to it. Chronic rhinitis and sinusitis claims, for example, are common and often rated under the respiratory schedule.
Previously denied?
If VA denied a condition that's now presumptive, you can file a Supplemental Claim. VA says it will review your case again.
Deployed to Southwest Asia or Afghanistan?
Free Claim Review →We'll check your service dates and diagnoses against VA's current presumptive lists.
Official sources
VA: Burn pits & other specific environmental hazards · VA: PACT Act
Rating criteria summarized for general information. Read the full regulation for details. Last reviewed October 2026.