🇺🇸 VA Disability Max

🇺🇸 VA Disability Max

Presumptive conditions — full breakdown

When a presumption applies, the VA may grant service connection without the same nexus proof that is usually required—if you meet service, timing, and diagnosis rules. You still need medical evidence for diagnosis and severity (rating) under 38 CFR Part 4.

1. Agent Orange (Vietnam + certain other locations)2. Gulf War3. PACT Act4. Camp Lejeune5. Radiation exposure6. Cold injury residuals7. Former POW8. Chronic diseasesALS & mustard gas

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and VA Disability Max is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.

How to use this page

  • Lists are educational summaries. Controlling lists, dates, and locations are on VA.gov and in 38 CFR Part 3 for your effective date.
  • PACT Act and other laws update frequently—verify current presumptive diagnoses and deployment windows.
  • Broad categories (for example "any type" head/neck cancers under PACT-related materials) are intentionally wide—do not over-narrow to subtypes unless VA or the regulation does.

For rating percentages, use our condition guides (Part 4 diagnostic criteria).

Section 1

Agent Orange (Vietnam + certain other locations)

38 U.S.C. § 1116; 38 CFR §§ 3.307(a)(6), 3.309(e)

Herbicide-exposed veterans with qualifying service may receive presumptive service connection for diseases named in the schedule. Hypertension was added as presumptive for qualifying Agent Orange exposure under the PACT Act—confirm the list version for your claim period.

Cancers (often high-evidence claims if diagnosed)

  • Chronic B-cell leukemias (including hairy cell leukemia)
  • Hodgkin’s disease
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Prostate cancer
  • Respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea)
  • Soft-tissue sarcomas (many subtypes—see schedule)

Other presumptive conditions (schedule examples)

  • AL amyloidosis
  • Chloracne (or similar acneform disease)
  • Diabetes mellitus, type 2
  • Hypertension (presumptive for qualifying herbicide exposure under current law—verify eligibility)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Parkinsonism
  • Peripheral neuropathy (early onset)

Notes

  • Qualifying service locations and dates matter (Vietnam, certain Thailand bases, Korean DMZ, C-123 Reserves, Blue Water Navy rules, etc.)—use VA’s Agent Orange pages for your era.
  • Ratings use Part 4 diagnostic codes; presumption mainly establishes service connection.
VA.gov — Agent Orange ↗Type 2 diabetesHypertension

Section 2

Gulf War — Southwest Asia (undiagnosed illness framework)

38 U.S.C. § 1117; 38 CFR § 3.317

Veterans with qualifying Southwest Asia / Afghanistan service may be eligible under the Gulf War illness regulations for undiagnosed illnesses, MUCMIs, certain infectious diseases, and other categories named in § 3.317.

A. Undiagnosed illnesses (examples of symptom clusters)

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Joint pain
  • Neurological symptoms
  • Respiratory symptoms
  • Sleep disturbances
  • GI symptoms

B. Medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses (MUCMIs)

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Functional GI disorders (e.g., IBS and similar—see regulation)

C. Infectious diseases (presumptive when criteria in § 3.317 are met)

  • Brucellosis
  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
  • Malaria
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Nontyphoid Salmonella
  • Shigella
  • Visceral leishmaniasis
  • West Nile virus

Notes

  • “Undiagnosed illness” and MUCMI have specific regulatory meanings—symptoms must meet timing and duration rules.
  • This framework is related to, but not identical to, PACT Act airborne-hazard presumptions.
VA.gov — Gulf War illnesses ↗FibromyalgiaIBS

Section 3

PACT Act — burn pits & toxic exposures

38 U.S.C. §§ 1117, 1118, 1119, 1120, etc.; 38 CFR implementing rules

The PACT Act is the largest recent expansion of presumptions for airborne hazards, burn pits, and related toxic exposures. Eligible locations, dates, and condition lists have been updated—treat VA’s PACT pages as the source of truth.

Respiratory conditions (illustrative—verify full VA list)

  • Asthma
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Chronic rhinitis
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • Constrictive bronchiolitis / obliterative bronchiolitis
  • Emphysema
  • Interstitial lung disease
  • Pulmonary fibrosis

Cancers (illustrative categories—many are broad)

  • Brain cancer
  • Head cancer — any type (broad category in VA materials)
  • Neck cancer — any type
  • Gastrointestinal cancers — all types / any within GI tract (broad)
  • Reproductive cancers — any type
  • Kidney cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Lymphoma — any type
  • Melanoma
  • Sarcomas (many types)

Notes

  • Database / search tip: where VA uses “any type” or “all types,” do not artificially narrow to subtypes unless the regulation or VA manual does.
  • Agent Orange herbicide presumptions and PACT presumptions can both apply to different conditions for the same veteran—analyze each claim separately.
VA.gov — PACT Act hub ↗AsthmaSinusitisSleep apnea

Section 4

Camp Lejeune — contaminated water exposure

Camp Lejeune-specific statutes & VA rules (separate from Part 3 herbicide presumptions)

VA administers disability and health programs tied to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during specified periods. Presumptive disease lists and filing rules are distinct from Agent Orange and PACT.

Cancers (examples commonly cited by VA)

  • Adult leukemia
  • Aplastic anemia / myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Other conditions (examples)

  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Kidney disease (qualifying types per VA)
  • Female infertility
  • Miscarriage
  • Scleroderma
  • Neurobehavioral effects

Notes

  • Verify residence / service dates on base against VA’s qualifying window.
VA.gov — Camp Lejeune ↗

Section 5

Radiation exposure — atomic veterans / nuclear testing

38 CFR §§ 3.309(d), 3.311

Participation in certain radiation-risk activities can support presumptive service connection for specific cancers named in the schedule. Participation must be verified under VA’s rules.

Cancers (presumptive for qualifying participation — illustrative)

  • Leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Bone cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Urinary bladder cancer
  • Salivary gland cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s lymphoma)

Notes

  • Which cancers apply depends on the veteran’s specific radiation scenario in Part 3—lists differ by cohort.
VA.gov — Ionizing radiation ↗

Section 6

Cold injury residuals — Arctic / Korea / similar

38 CFR § 3.309(b) (residuals of cold injury); Part 4 evaluation of residuals

Cold injury during service (frostbite, immersion foot, etc.) may support service connection for residuals. VA’s materials also discuss cold injury in the context of former POWs. Link residuals to in-service cold exposure with STRs and exams.

Common residual themes (medical evidence required)

  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Arthritis in affected areas
  • Skin changes
  • Nail abnormalities
  • Chronic pain
  • Cold sensitivity

Notes

  • Whether your claim is framed as direct SC or under a presumptive rule depends on the facts—compare VA guidance and Part 3.
VA.gov — Hazardous exposures (search cold injury) ↗

Section 7

Former POW — presumptive conditions

38 CFR § 3.309(c)

Former prisoners of war may receive presumptive service connection for certain chronic disabilities. The regulatory list can depend on length of detention (for example 30 days or more) and other factors.

If detained at least 30 days (examples from schedule themes)

  • Psychosis
  • Anxiety states
  • Dysthymic disorder
  • Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
  • Atherosclerotic heart disease
  • Stroke residuals

Additional conditions (see full regulatory list)

  • Beriberi (including cardiovascular manifestations)
  • Malnutrition
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Peptic ulcer disease

Notes

  • VA.gov lists additional presumptive conditions (for example osteoporosis in certain PTSD/filing-date scenarios, frostbite residuals, stroke, hypertensive vascular disease, and more)—the list below is abbreviated.
  • Shorter captivity may still qualify for a subset—read § 3.309(c) and VA’s page together.
VA.gov — Former POWs (full presumptive list) ↗IBS

Section 8

Chronic diseases — 1-year post-discharge presumption

38 CFR § 3.309(a)

Certain chronic diseases may be presumptively service connected if they become manifest to a compensable degree within one year after separation from qualifying service (some diseases have longer periods in the regulation). The complete list is in Part 3—not limited to the examples below.

Examples of conditions commonly discussed with the 1-year presumption

  • Arthritis
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Epilepsies
  • Cardiovascular-renal disease
  • Psychoses

Notes

  • Hypertension and other conditions may have their own presumptive paths (for example under Agent Orange or PACT)—do not double-count theories without analysis.
  • Always compare symptom onset dates to the regulatory timeline for the specific disease.
VA.gov — Illnesses within one year of discharge ↗Diabetes

Other statutory presumptions

Not every presumption fits the numbered sections above. Examples:

  • ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

    38 CFR § 3.318

    Statutory presumption for ALS after qualifying continuous active service when diagnosis occurs after service—verify continuous service and effective-date rules.

    Open VA resource ↗

  • Mustard gas / Lewisite

    38 CFR § 3.316

    Documented full-body exposure during training or combat under regulatory criteria.

    Open VA resource ↗

Legal sources

Adjudication rules live in 38 CFR Part 3. Rating schedules live in Part 4. When a statute and the eCFR differ for an old effective date, your accredited representative can help compare historical versions.

Suggested next steps

  1. Confirm service history (locations, dates, deployments) on your DD-214 and personnel records.
  2. Obtain a clear medical diagnosis for each condition you believe matches a presumptive list.
  3. Compare your facts to VA’s current published lists, not forum posts or outdated articles.
  4. File or supplement through VA.gov or a VA-accredited VSO.

Tools: VA math calculator, DC code lookup.

Educational summary only. Verify all presumptions on VA.gov and eCFR before filing.