Burn-Pit Cancer Cluster — PACT Act Presumptive Cancers
Covered cancers under 38 U.S.C. § 1120
- Brain cancer — including glioblastoma multiforme.
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type.
- Glioblastoma.
- Head cancer of any type.
- Kidney cancer.
- Lymphatic cancer of any type (including lymphoma).
- Lymphoma of any type.
- Melanoma.
- Neck cancer of any type.
- Pancreatic cancer.
- Reproductive cancer of any type.
- Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type — including lung, larynx, trachea.
Qualifying service locations and dates
Post-9/11 covered locations include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Uzbekistan during qualifying periods.
Gulf War-era covered locations include Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen for service on or after August 2, 1990.
Each cancer has its own rating page
Use the links below to jump to the diagnostic-code rating page for each cancer. Each page covers active-treatment 100% rules, residuals after the mandatory 6-month re-exam, and / eligibility considerations.
Where these claims break down
- ×Filing without documenting qualifying service location and dates — the presumption only attaches to covered service.
- ×Failing to attach pathology reports establishing the diagnosis.
- ×Not filing for active-treatment 100% during chemotherapy/radiation/surgery.
- ×Surviving spouses missing the DIC pathway when a presumptive cancer was the cause of death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
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Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
PACT Act Presumptives
Burn pit, airborne hazard, and toxic exposure presumptives for post-9/11 and Vietnam-era veterans.
K2 / Karshi-Khanabad (Uzbekistan)
Service at K2 air base from 2001–2005 — recognized PACT Act presumptive location and known contaminants.
Panama Canal Zone Herbicide Exposure
Tactical-herbicide testing and right-of-way spraying in the former Canal Zone (1960s–70s) — currently a direct (not presumptive) claim path.
Hexavalent Chromium (Qarmat Ali)
Sodium dichromate exposure at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in Iraq, 2003.