VA Presumptive Condition

Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome a VA Presumptive Condition?

Yes — under 1 service era.If your service matches the era + location criteria below, you can file a VA disability claim without submitting a nexus letter — service connection is presumed.

Eras under which this is presumptive

Gulf War Illness

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Service criteria: 1990-08-02 onward; service in Southwest Asia theater (Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea); presumptive conditions remain through current era

Gulf War-era service in SW Asia theater. Covers undiagnosed multisymptom illness ("Gulf War Illness") + 9 infectious diseases.

How to file: Submit VA Form 21-526EZ (Application for Disability Compensation). Include your DD-214 + medical records showing the diagnosis. No nexus letter required — service connection is presumed for the eras above.

View VA Form 21-526EZ → Find a free CVSO →

In crisis? Call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line — 24/7 confidential, federally-operated. Text 838255. Chat at veteranscrisisline.net.

Related presumptive conditions

About this catalog

This page is part of a comprehensive catalog of VA-recognized presumptive conditions covering Agent Orange (Vietnam, Korea DMZ, blue-water Navy), PACT Act 2022 burn-pit exposure (post-9/11), Camp Lejeune water contamination, Gulf War illness, and radiation-exposed veterans. Sourced from VA's official presumptive lists with 2024 PACT Act expansions. Always verify the most current list at va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure before filing. Browse all conditions →

This page is informational only and is not a VA-affiliated source.