VA Toxic Exposure Policy Changes
VA presumptive conditions, rating rules, and filing deadlines change through legislation and rulemaking. This page is a dated log of the changes that matter for toxic exposure claims, each linked to the official record. We add entries as rules change and re-verify the log when we review our reference pages.
Last reviewed: July 2, 2026.
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PFAS scientific assessment: VA responds to public comments, no presumption yet
The VA published its response to public comments in the Federal Register as part of its formal scientific assessment of whether PFAS exposure during military service should be presumptively connected to kidney cancer and other conditions. The assessment remains open: as of this entry, no PFAS-based presumption exists, and PFAS claims still require direct service connection.
Sources: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/18/2025-23311/response-to-comments-for-the-department-of-veterans-affairs-to-assess-the-current-scientific · https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/pfas.asp
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Bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers become presumptive
An interim final rule creating 38 CFR 3.320a took effect, establishing presumptive service connection for urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers for veterans with qualifying Gulf War (on or after August 2, 1990) or post-9/11 service in covered locations. This adds a genitourinary pathway alongside the PACT Act's respiratory cancer presumption.
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VA opens a formal scientific assessment of PFAS exposure
The VA announced a formal scientific assessment to determine whether PFAS exposure during military service, including from AFFF firefighting foam, should be presumptively connected to kidney cancer among veterans. This began the process that could eventually create the first PFAS presumption; until it concludes, PFAS claims require direct service connection.
Sources: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/pfas.asp · https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-to-review-possible-service-connection-between-pfas-exposure-and-kidney-cancer/
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Camp Lejeune Justice Act filing window closes
The two year window to file claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 closed on August 10, 2024. Only claims filed by that deadline are still being processed. This does not affect VA disability compensation or health care for Camp Lejeune veterans, which remain available under 38 CFR 3.309(f) and the Camp Lejeune Families Act.
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Toxic exposure screenings begin at all VA facilities
Under the PACT Act, every veteran enrolled in VA health care became eligible for a free toxic exposure screening at VA medical centers and clinics, repeated at least once every five years. The screening takes five to ten minutes and connects veterans with follow-up care, registry information, and benefits resources.
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PACT Act signed into law
Public Law 117-168, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act, added more than 20 presumptive conditions, including respiratory cancer of any type for veterans with qualifying Gulf War or post-9/11 service in covered locations. It also added Agent Orange presumptive locations (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll) and expanded radiation risk activities to include Enewetak Atoll cleanup, the Palomares response, and the Thule response.
Sources: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ · https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3373
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Bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism added to the Agent Orange list
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 added bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism to the list of conditions presumed connected to herbicide exposure for veterans with qualifying service in Vietnam and other covered locations.
Sources: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/ · https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6395
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Blue Water Navy Act takes effect
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-23) took effect, restoring the presumption of herbicide exposure to sailors who served within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam coast (codified at 38 U.S.C. 1116A) and codifying the presumption for veterans who served in or near the Korean DMZ between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971 (38 U.S.C. 1116B).
Sources: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/299 · https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/navy-coast-guard-ships-vietnam/
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Hematologic rating criteria revised: chronic myeloid leukemia gets its own code
The VA revised the rating schedule for the hemic and lymphatic systems in 38 CFR 4.117. Chronic myeloid leukemia moved from the general leukemia code (DC 7703) to its own diagnostic code, DC 7719, with tiered ratings of 100, 60, or 30 percent depending on treatment status, and asymptomatic chronic lymphocytic leukemia at Rai Stage 0 rates 0 percent.
Sources: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/29/2018-23517/schedule-for-rating-disabilities-the-hematologic-and-lymphatic-systems · https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.117
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Camp Lejeune presumptive conditions rule takes effect
The final rule establishing eight presumptive conditions for veterans who served at least 30 cumulative days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, took effect: adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Parkinson's disease (38 CFR 3.309(f)).
See the full presumptive conditions list, check whether the PACT Act applies to you, or read how we verify our information.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional about your health or benefits.