Filing a VA Disability Claim for Toxic Exposure: Step by Step

For veterans who served near burn pits, handled firefighting foam, or lived on bases with contaminated water, the question of whether a later illness is connected to military service can feel overwhelming. The claims process itself, however, follows a fairly predictable path. Since the PACT Act became law in 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded both health care and disability benefits for veterans with toxic exposures, and in the law's first year VA reported processing more than 450,000 PACT-related claims, according to VA's PACT Act resource page. This guide walks through the steps. It is general information, not legal or medical advice, and individual cases vary.

Step 1: Gather your records and document the exposure

A disability claim generally rests on three things: evidence that you served where and when an exposure occurred, a current diagnosed condition, and (for some claims) a link between the two. Start with your DD214 and military personnel records. If you apply for VA benefits, VA says it will request your DD214 for you, but you can also pull records yourself through the National Archives or the milConnect portal. Beyond service records, useful evidence can include VA and private medical records, and supporting statements from family members or fellow service members who can describe what you were exposed to, as outlined on VA's how-to-file page.

If you are enrolled in VA health care, ask about the toxic exposure screening. The PACT Act requires VA to offer every enrolled veteran a short screening, typically five to ten minutes, at least once every five years. It covers burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, Gulf War hazards, water contamination at Camp Lejeune, and other occupational exposures. The screening is not required before filing a claim, but it documents your exposure concerns in your VA health record, which can support both ongoing care and future claims.

Step 2: Understand presumptive vs. non-presumptive conditions

For a presumptive condition, VA assumes the service connection if your service falls within defined locations and dates, so you generally do not have to prove that the exposure caused your illness. The PACT Act added more than 20 presumptive conditions, including a list of cancers and respiratory illnesses associated with burn pit and airborne hazard exposure for Gulf War era and post-9/11 veterans. Longstanding presumptions also cover Agent Orange, certain radiation-exposed veterans, and veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987. Our earlier piece on what the PACT Act means for veterans exposed to toxics covers these categories in more detail.

For a non-presumptive condition, you will need evidence connecting the exposure to the diagnosis, often a medical opinion (sometimes called a nexus letter) from a physician. This is common territory for exposures that researchers are still studying, such as PFAS chemicals from AFFF firefighting foam, where health effects have been associated with exposure in some studies but few formal presumptions exist yet. Asbestos claims, similarly, often turn on documenting a military occupation with known exposure risk, as described on VA's hazardous materials exposure page.

Step 3: File the claim and attend the C&P exam

The fastest route is filing online at va.gov using VA Form 21-526EZ; you can also file by mail, by fax, or in person at a regional office. If you are not ready to file but want to lock in a potential effective date, you can submit an intent to file, which gives you up to one year to complete the claim and may allow retroactive payments, per VA's intent-to-file page. Filing online sets your effective date automatically.

After you file, VA may schedule a claim exam, often called a C&P (compensation and pension) exam. You cannot schedule it yourself; VA or a contractor will contact you. The provider reviews your records, asks questions, and may order tests at no cost to you. VA advises submitting any new private medical records before the appointment and warns that missing the exam without good cause can mean a decision based only on existing evidence.

Step 4: Revisit past denials and get the right help

If VA denied your claim before the PACT Act, you can file a supplemental claim using VA Form 20-0995. You qualify if you have new and relevant evidence, or if a change in law, such as a condition becoming presumptive, applies to your case, according to VA's supplemental claim page. VA says it may reach out proactively to some veterans whose conditions became presumptive, but officials encourage filing rather than waiting.

Finally, consider help from an accredited representative. Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives assist with claims for free, while accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge fees, generally only for work after an initial decision. VA maintains a searchable directory of accredited representatives, and you appoint one with VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a. VA has also warned veterans about unaccredited companies that charge steep fees or a share of benefits and make promises no one can guarantee; you should never have to pay anyone to file an initial claim. For more on exposures by installation and substance, see our resources page and base profiles.