Chronic Debilitating Diseases that are diagnosed with the first year of leaving military service are presumed to be caused by military service, and made eligible for VA disability benefits.  There are over 50 conditions that are included in the VA's presumptive list, and are organized according to CFR Title 38, Part 4 - The Schedule of Rating Disabilities by Body System.

CHRONIC DEBILITATING DISEASE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

If you served in a tropical location and developed a tropical disease which manifests within 1 year of serving in that location, you could be eligible for presumptive eligibility.  Diseases with a medically recognized longer incubation period where symptoms don't appear until after the one year limit may still be considered service related.

TROPICAL DISEASE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

Agent Orange is an herbicide used in Vietnam and Korea during the 1960's and 1970's.  There is no length of service requirement to claim Agent Orange exposure.   There are 40+ conditions that make up the VA Presumptive List for Agent Orange and qualify for benefits at any point and to any degree they manifest.

AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

Exposure to Asbestos in the military is eligible for disability if the veteran can provide evidence and documentation of exposure while in the service.  Medical records showing treatment and diagnosis, a nexus letter, as well as testimony and credible witnesses can help to provide proof of exposure.   There are 16 known conditions related to Asbestos Exposure that are eligible for VA disability benefits.

ASBESTOS PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

Any Atomic Veteran who was exposed to ionizing radiation during military service may be eligible for VA disability compensation.  There are several conditions that must be met in order to qualify for Radiation Exposure presumptive eligibility.

RADIATION EXPOSURE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

If you can prove full body exposure to Sulfur or Nitrogen Mustard Gas, or Lewisite while you served on active duty, and served at specific locations during the presumptive period, and you have contracted one or more of 14 conditions you may be eligible for VA Disability Compensation.

MUSTARD GAS OR LEWISITE EXPOSURE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina may have exposed you to contaminants in the drinking water.   Medical evidence and research has shown a verifiable connection between exposure to these contaminants and specific diseases and conditions.  Find out if you may have been exposed.

CAMP LEJEUNE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

After serving in Southwest Asia, many veterans began to develop seemingly random and unconnected chronic symptoms that cannot be labeled in an identifiable dianosis.  The coined phrase "Gulf War Syndrome" was develoiped to encompass all the symptoms under a single label.  If you are diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome before or after discharge you may be eligible for Presumptive Disability.

GULF WAR SYNDROME PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »

Exposure to particulate and burn pit matter on or after August 1990 in specific ground locations or the airspace above has been shown to cause a number of debilitating conditions that are considered service related.  These conditions can appear anytime after discharge, and are on the presumptive disability list.

BURN PITS AND PARTICULATE MATTER PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS »