Presumptive Conditions

A presumptive condition is a medical condition that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assumes to be directly related to a veteran's military service without requiring the veteran to provide evidence of a direct connection. This assumption is based on specific circumstances of service, such as location, time period, or exposure to certain hazards, making it easier for veterans to receive disability compensation.

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Key Points About Presumptive Conditions:

  • Streamlined Process:
    Veterans do not need to prove the condition was caused by their service. Instead, the VA presumes the connection if the condition is on the presumptive list and service criteria are met.

  • Common Examples:
    Conditions like Agent Orange-related illnesses for Vietnam veterans, certain respiratory diseases for Gulf War veterans, or specific cancers linked to toxic exposure during service.

  • Eligibility Requirements:
    Veterans must meet specific criteria, such as serving in certain locations or timeframes or being diagnosed with the condition within a designated period after discharge.

If you believe you have a presumptive condition related to your service, contact our office for assistance in filing a claim or learning more about eligibility.

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Eligibility for presumptive service connection depends on factors such as the veteran's service location, time period, and specific exposures. For instance, veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War or those exposed to burn pits in more recent conflicts may qualify for presumptive service connection for certain cancers.

For personalized assistance and to determine eligibility, veterans are encouraged to contact the Putnam County Veterans Service or visit the VA's official website.

Exposure to Burn Pits

A burn pit is an open-air area used to burn trash, commonly found at military sites abroad, like in Iraq and Afghanistan. The smoke contained substances that could cause health issues, particularly for those exposed long-term or with pre-existing conditions like asthma or heart problems.

  • If you served in any of these locations and time periods, we’ve determined that you had exposure to burn pits or other toxins:

    On or after September 11, 2001

    Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen and/or the airspace above any of these locations

    On or after August 2, 1990

    Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Neutral zone between Iraq/Saudi Arabia, Persian Gulf, Red Sea and/or the airspace above any of these locations

    • Brain and Nervous System Cancers:

      • Glioblastoma (Primary, Secondary)

      • Other malignant neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord

    • Head and Neck Cancers:

      • Cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, and pharynx

    • Respiratory Cancers:

      • Lung cancer

      • Bronchial cancer

      • Trachea cancer

    • Gastrointestinal Cancers:

      • Esophageal cancer

      • Stomach cancer

      • Pancreatic cancer

      • Liver cancer (primary site)

      • Colorectal cancer

    • Genitourinary Cancers:

      • Bladder cancer

      • Kidney cancer

      • Prostate cancer

      • Ureter cancer

      • Urethral cancer

      • Cancers of the paraurethral glands

    • Lymphatic and Blood Cancers:

      • Hodgkin’s disease

      • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

      • Multiple myeloma

      • Leukemias (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukemia)

    • Soft Tissue Sarcomas:

      • Excluding osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and mesothelioma

    • Skin Cancers:

      • Melanoma

  • 1. Chronic Diseases Diagnosed After Discharge:

    If any of the following chronic diseases manifest to a degree of 10% or more within the first year after discharge, they are presumed to be service-connected:

    • Cardiovascular System:

      • Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

      • Arteriosclerosis

      • Endocarditis

      • Valvular heart disease

    • Nervous System:

      • Multiple Sclerosis (if it manifests within seven years post-discharge)

      • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

      • Parkinson’s Disease

    • Musculoskeletal System:

      • Arthritis

      • Osteoporosis

    • Endocrine System:

      • Diabetes Mellitus

      • Thyroid disorders

    • Digestive System:

      • Gastric or Duodenal Ulcer

      • Cirrhosis of the Liver

    2. Tropical Diseases:

    Veterans who served in tropical regions and develop certain diseases may qualify for presumptive service connection. These include:

    • Malaria

    • Dengue Fever

    • Leishmaniasis

    • Filariasis

    • Schistosomiasis

    • Onchocerciasis

    • Trypanosomiasis

    • Cholera

    • Nontyphoid Salmonella Infection

    • Brucellosis

    • Campylobacter Jejuni

    • Q Fever

    • West Nile Virus

    3. Conditions Related to Specific Exposures:

    • Agent Orange Exposure:

      • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

      • Ischemic Heart Disease

      • Chronic B-cell Leukemias

      • Parkinson’s Disease

      • Peripheral Neuropathy (Early-Onset)

      • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

      • Chloracne

    • Radiation Exposure:

      • All forms of leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic leukemia)

      • Thyroid Cancer

      • Breast Cancer

      • Lung Cancer

      • Bone Cancer

      • Liver Cancer

      • Skin Cancer

      • Esophageal Cancer

      • Stomach Cancer

      • Colon Cancer

      • Pancreatic Cancer

      • Kidney Cancer

      • Urinary Bladder Cancer

      • Salivary Gland Cancer

      • Multiple Myeloma

      • Lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s disease)

    • Gulf War Veterans:

      • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

      • Fibromyalgia

      • Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (e.g., Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

      • Undiagnosed Illnesses with symptoms like fatigue, skin conditions, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, neurological and neuropsychological symptoms, respiratory disorders, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular symptoms, abnormal weight loss, and menstrual disorders

    • Camp Lejeune Water Contamination:

      • Adult Leukemia

      • Aplastic Anemia and other Myelodysplastic Syndromes

      • Bladder Cancer

      • Kidney Cancer

      • Liver Cancer

      • Multiple Myeloma

      • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

      • Parkinson’s Disease

Camp Legeune Water Contamination

In the early 1980s at the Marine Corps Base in Lejeune, NC, it was discovered that two on-base water supply systems were contaminated with the volatiles organic compounds trichloroethylene (TCE), a metal degreaser and perchloroethylene (PCE), a dry cleaning agent. Benzene, vinyl chloride and other compounds were also found to be contaminating the water supply systems.

  • If you served at either of these locations between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987:

    Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and/or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina

    You may be eligible for disability and health care benefits

  • You may be eligible for disability compensation payments on a presumptive basis if you have a diagnosis of one or more of these conditions:

    • Bladder cancer

    • Kidney cancer

    • Adult Leukemia

    • Liver cancer

    • Aplastic Anemia/Myelodysplastic Syndrome

    • Parkinson Disease

    • Multiple myeloma

    • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

  • If you meet the service requirements for Camp Lejeune, you may be eligible to enroll in VA health care. If you have any of the 15 covered health conditions listed here, you won’t have to pay a copay for care for that condition.

    • Bladder cancer

    • Breast cancer

    • Esophageal cancer

    • Female infertility

    • Hepatic steatosis

    • Kidney cancer

    • Leukemia

    • Lung cancer

    • Miscarriage

    • Multiple myeloma

    • Myelodysplastic syndromes

    • Neurobehavioral effects

    • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

    • Renal toxicity

    • Scleroderma

Agent Orange and the Veteran

Agent Orange is a highly toxic herbicide used by the US military during the Vietnam War to defoliate hiding places used by the Viet Cong. The most dangerous element of Agent Orange is an impurity known chemically as dioxin.

  • You have a presumption of exposure if you meet at least one of these service requirements:

    The VA assumes all veterans who served in the Vietnam Theater from Jan. 9 1962 - May 7 1975 to have been exposed

    Laos: December 1, 1965-September 30, 1969

    Cambodia at Mimok or Krek, Kampong Cham Province: April 16, 1969- April 30 1969

    Guam or American Samoa: Jan. 9, 1962 - Jul. 30, 1980

    Johnston Atoll: (or a ship that called at J. Atoll): Jan. 1, 1972-Sep. 30, 1977 Korean DMZ: Sep. 1, 1967-Aug. 31, 1971 Air Force Unit where you had repeated contact with a C-123 aircraft that had traces of Agent Orange

    You were involved in: transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange during your service

    • Bladder cancer

    • Chronic B-cell leukemia

    • Hodgkin’s disease

    • Multiple myeloma

    • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

    • Prostate cancer

    • Respiratory cancers (including lung cancer)

    • Some soft tissue sarcomas

    • AL amyloidosis

    • Chloracne (or other types of acneiform disease like it)

      • Note: Under our rating regulations, this condition must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of herbicide exposure.

    • Diabetes mellitus type 2

    • High blood pressure (hypertension)

    • Hypothyroidism

    • Ischemic heart disease

    • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)

    • Parkinsonism

    • Parkinson’s disease

    • Peripheral neuropathy, early onset

      • Note: Under our rating regulations, this condition must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of herbicide exposure.

    • Porphyria cutanea tarda

      • Note: Under our rating regulations, this condition must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of herbicide exposure.