The PACT Act (Public Law 117-168), signed in August 2022, expanded VA disability benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances during service in Vietnam, the Gulf War, and post-9/11 conflict zones. It added a number of presumptive conditions, meaning veterans no longer have to prove a direct link between their military service and their illness for those specific diagnoses. Presumptive conditions under the PACT Act include several respiratory illnesses and cancers (such as certain rare cancers, asthma diagnosed after service, chronic bronchitis, and others), as well as expanded presumptions for Agent Orange exposure locations like Thailand, Guam, and American Samoa, and expanded Gulf War era presumptive locations.
To file a claim based on PACT Act presumptions, a veteran generally submits VA Form 21-526EZ (Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits) if this is an original claim, or VA Form 20-0995 (Supplemental Claim) if a prior claim for the same condition was previously denied and new evidence, such as the PACT Act's presumptive status, now applies. Veterans do not need to prove exposure occurred if they served in a qualifying location during the qualifying time period and have a diagnosed presumptive condition; the exposure is presumed based on service record and location.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →It's also worth understanding that the PACT Act created a new toxic exposure screening requirement at VA health facilities, which is separate from the disability claims process. Getting screened does not automatically start a claim, but it can generate medical documentation that supports one, and early detection of conditions can meaningfully affect treatment options and long-term outcomes.
Outcomes vary significantly depending on service dates, locations, and the specific diagnosis, so not every condition or every veteran will qualify as presumptive; some claims still require evidence of a direct connection between service and the condition. Veterans who previously had a toxic exposure claim denied before August 2022 may want to consider filing a Supplemental Claim citing the PACT Act, since the change in law can qualify as new and relevant evidence.
The concrete next step is to check the VA's current list of PACT Act presumptive conditions and qualifying service locations, get the toxic exposure screening at a VA facility if you haven't already, and file or refile using the appropriate VA form based on whether this is a new or previously denied claim.
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