Burn Pit Exposure Claims: What First-Time Filers Should Gather
Filing a burn pit claim under the PACT Act is more straightforward than most veterans expect. Here is the evidence that makes a first-time claim strong.
If you served near open-air burn pits in the Gulf War or post-9/11 theaters, the PACT Act may make your related conditions presumptive — meaning you do not have to prove the pits caused them. The claim still needs to be built well, though. Here is what helps.
1. Proof of where and when you served
The presumption depends on serving in a covered location during a covered time window. Your DD-214, deployment orders, and travel or award records all help establish this. For Gulf War theater service, the window is on or after August 2, 1990; for the post-9/11 locations, on or after September 11, 2001.
2. A current diagnosis
The presumption covers the cause, not the diagnosis. You still need a documented, current diagnosis from a medical provider. Covered conditions include many cancers (head, neck, respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and more) and respiratory illnesses such as asthma diagnosed after service, chronic bronchitis, COPD, and chronic sinusitis or rhinitis.
3. Your symptom history
Even with a presumptive condition, notes about when your symptoms started and how they affect your daily life help the rating be accurate. A rating reflects severity — so the record should show it.
Confirm your pathway
Exposure Lookup by Duty Station
Look up your bases and dates to confirm which presumptive exposures apply to your service.
New to the process? Start with our step-by-step first-claim guide, then review the Toxic Exposure guide.
General information only. Eligibility depends on the VA’s decision. We are not the VA.
Every figure on this site is an estimate that depends on your specific situation and the VA’s decision. If you’d like a real person to look at your case, Albert Thombs is a VA-accredited claims agent (accreditation #45147). Reviews are free and no-obligation — there’s no pressure and no fee unless we win. This article is general information, not legal advice, and we are not the VA.
