Burn Pit and Airborne Hazards Exposure
Veteran’s guide to VA disability compensation, presumptive eligibility, filing the claim, and finding help.
At-a-glance
Presumptive status:
Presumptive under the PACT Act of 2022 — 20+ conditions covered.
Presumptive under the PACT Act of 2022 — 20+ conditions covered.
Rating tiers:
Each presumptive condition rated per its own diagnostic code.
Each presumptive condition rated per its own diagnostic code.
Step-by-step guide
How to file a burn pit respiratory claim — PACT Act 2022 presumptive
Read the full guide →How common is Burn Pit Exposure among veterans?
3.5M+ post-9/11 veterans were exposed to burn pits. VA Airborne Hazards Registry enrollment is free and recommended.
What every veteran should know
- PACT Act covers 20+ presumptive conditions — respiratory illness, rare cancers, hypertension, and more.
- Service in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, and more triggers eligibility.
- If you were previously denied for a condition now covered, you can re-file via VA Form 20-0995 Supplemental Claim.
- Retroactive effective date of August 10, 2022, applies to claims filed within one year of PACT Act signing. Supplemental claims can restore benefits going back to the presumption's effective date.
- Enrollment in the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry is free and separate from the claim — both are worth doing.
What to do next
Check PACT Act eligibility →
Our free matcher checks your service era against 60+ presumptive conditions.
Find a County VSO (free claims help) →
County or state service officers file claims for you at no charge.
Download VA Form 21-526EZ (initial) or VA Form 20-0995 (Supplemental Claim — for re-filing previous denials) →
Official VA form for Burn Pit Exposure claims. File directly or work through a CVSO.
Other veteran-condition guides
Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderTraumatic Brain InjuryMilitary Sexual TraumaAgent Orange Herbicide ExposureGulf War Illness (Chronic Multisymptom Illness)Sleep Apnea — VA Disability Rating GuideTinnitus — VA Disability Rating GuideHearing Loss — VA Disability Rating GuideCamp Lejeune Water Contamination — Veterans and FamiliesDepression — VA Disability Rating GuideAnxiety — VA Disability Rating Guide
Informational only — not legal, medical, or clinical advice. Maintained by Wounded Warriors , a Texas 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 86-1336741. Verify our credentials or support our mission.