Is Sarcoma Presumptive for VA Disability?
PACT Act (burn pit) presumptions
VA's burn pit cancer guidance lists sarcomas as presumptive for eligible Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans when the malignancy is in the head or neck area. VA notes its examples are not a complete list.
- Head or neck: fibromatosis, liposarcoma, malignant ganglioma, mesenchymoma, schwannoma, and osteosarcoma.
- Rare head or neck sarcomas: dermatofibrosarcoma, ectomesenchymoma, Ewing sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma.
- Blood vessel sarcomas: angiosarcoma, hemangioendothelioma and hemangiopericytoma, solitary fibrous tumor, and vascular sarcoma.
- Sarcomas of the nose, larynx, jaw, and ear are also named within VA's head, neck, and respiratory cancer categories.
Agent Orange (herbicide) presumption
Soft-tissue sarcoma has long been on the herbicide presumptive list at 38 CFR § 3.309(e) for veterans with qualifying exposure, such as service in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, or other locations and dates VA recognizes. Osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and mesothelioma are excluded from that presumption.
When no presumption applies
A sarcoma outside these categories can still be service connected on a direct basis with a current diagnosis, evidence of an in-service event or exposure, and a medical opinion linking them. VA decided presumptive cases are often reviewed on whether VA applied the right location, dates, and tumor type.
What the decision letter says
| If your record shows this | What it means |
|---|---|
| Denied because the sarcoma is not on the presumptive list | Compare the tumor type and location in the pathology report with VA's head/neck and blood-vessel sarcoma categories and the § 3.309(e) soft-tissue sarcoma definition. |
| Denied because service location was not verified | The issue is qualifying service, not the diagnosis; deployment orders and personnel records are the relevant evidence. |
| Presumption denied with no direct-basis analysis | VA must also consider direct service connection when the record raises it. |
Frequently Asked Questions
References & sources
Useful Tools & Topics
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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
Burn-Pit Cancer Cluster (Hub)
All PACT Act presumptive cancers tied to burn-pit and airborne-hazard exposure — lung, brain (glioblastoma), kidney, pancreatic, melanoma, and head & neck — in one place with links to each rating page.
Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act (H.R. 5339)
Pending bill that would extend PACT Act presumptions to servicemembers who reported for duty at the Pentagon from Sept. 11 to Nov. 19, 2001.
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