The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry is a voluntary questionnaire and optional health evaluation offered by the VA to veterans who believe they were exposed to burn pits, oil well fires, or other airborne hazards during service. Signing up for the registry is not the same as filing a disability claim, and registry participation is not required to file a claim, but it can help create a record of exposure concerns and may prompt a related health exam.
The PACT Act, signed into law in 2022, expanded the list of conditions the VA presumes are related to burn pit and other toxic exposures, meaning veterans with qualifying service history do not have to individually prove that their illness was caused by exposure. The presumptive list includes many respiratory illnesses and numerous cancers, including but not limited to certain respiratory cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, reproductive cancers, and other conditions specified by the VA. The law also expanded presumptive locations and service periods, covering many veterans of the Gulf War era, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts going back to Vietnam for herbicide exposure.
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 →To actually receive benefits, a veteran or their survivor must file a claim, typically using VA Form 21-526EZ for a new disability claim, and if the condition is on the presumptive list, service connection is generally easier to establish because the veteran does not need to submit a nexus opinion linking the condition to service. For veterans who died from a presumptive condition, survivors may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and should file VA Form 21-534EZ.
If a veteran already has a denied claim for a condition that is now presumptive under the PACT Act, they may be able to file a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) with new evidence, or in some cases request review through a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) or appeal (VA Form 10182), depending on the circumstances and timeline of the prior decision. Effective dates for benefits can sometimes be tied to earlier claim or registry dates, so it is worth having a Veterans Service Organization or accredited representative review the specific filing history.
The concrete next step is to sign up for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry through the VA website, then separately file or amend a disability claim using VA Form 21-526EZ, ideally with the help of an accredited Veterans Service Officer to make sure all presumptive conditions and exposure history are properly documented.
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