Stroke and blood clotting disorders are not currently on the VA's list of presumptive conditions tied to burn pit or airborne hazard exposure under the PACT Act. The PACT Act's presumptive list focuses mainly on certain respiratory illnesses and specific cancers. That does not mean a stroke or clotting disorder claim is impossible, but without a presumption, it must be filed as a direct service-connection claim, which requires showing three things: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or exposure, and a medical nexus connecting the two.
For the appointment and eventual claim, it helps to gather: the veteran's DD-214 and any deployment orders or records showing time in Iraq; service treatment records; any documentation of burn pit exposure, including enrollment in the VA's Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (this creates an official record of exposure history even though registry participation alone does not establish service connection); current medical records documenting the stroke, imaging, lab work, and any specialist notes about the undetermined source of the clots; a list of other possible causes the doctors have already ruled out, since the absence of family history or other risk factors can support an argument that exposure-related or service-connected factors should be considered; and a written medical opinion (nexus letter) from a treating physician or independent medical examiner stating that it is at least as likely as not that the condition is related to in-service exposures, if one can be obtained.
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 is also worth filing a VA Form 21-0966, Intent to File a Claim, as soon as possible. This locks in an effective date for potential back pay while the medical evidence is gathered, since nexus letters and specialist opinions can take time to obtain. The formal claim itself is submitted on VA Form 21-526EZ, and supporting lay statements from family members describing observed health changes since deployment can add useful context, though they do not replace medical nexus evidence.
Because this is a direct rather than presumptive claim, outcomes vary significantly depending on the strength of the medical nexus opinion, so getting the treating neurologist or primary doctor to document any suspected link, even tentatively, is valuable.
The concrete next step is to file an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) now to preserve the effective date, while asking the treating physician to document burn pit exposure history and any clinical suspicion about its role in the clotting disorder.
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