As a veteran, you’ve already given so much to our nation, but sometimes that service comes with hidden health challenges. While the PACT Act was a huge step forward for toxic exposure claims, the fight for fair compensation doesn’t stop there. The VA keeps changing things, adding new presumptive conditions and offering chances you might not even know about to boost your disability ratings.
If you’ve filed claims and been denied, or if you’re looking to increase your current ratings, understanding these new presumptive conditions is key. A “presumptive condition” means the VA assumes your service caused your illness. This means you don’t have to prove a direct link, which makes the claims process much smoother and can really change your benefits.
More and More Presumptive Conditions Are Being Added
The PACT Act, signed in 2022, greatly expanded the list of presumptive conditions, especially for burn pit and Agent Orange exposures. But the VA’s commitment to veterans’ health doesn’t end with that law. As new science and medical evidence comes out, the VA keeps adding conditions to its presumptive list, or making existing ones clearer.
For example, here are some recent additions to presumptive conditions under the PACT Act for toxic exposures:
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): As of May 17, 2024, if you were exposed to Agent Orange, your high blood pressure is now presumed service-connected.
- MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance): Also effective May 17, 2024, this blood disorder is now presumed service-connected for those with Agent Orange exposure.
- Specific Cancers: As of June 17, 2024, Male Breast Cancer, Urethral Cancer, and Cancer of the Paraurethral Glands are now presumed service-connected for Gulf War and Post-9/11 veterans who served in specific toxic exposure areas.
- Other Blood Cancers: Since January 10, 2025, various leukemias (acute and chronic), multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myelofibrosis are now presumed service-connected due to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for certain Gulf War and Post-9/11 veterans.
These additions show how the VA is continuously working to cover more conditions for those impacted by their service. You can read more by clicking on our article about Burn Pits and Presumptive Conditions.
Don’t Miss These Other Opportunities Beyond New Presumptive Conditions
Even if your condition isn’t specifically on a new presumptive list, there are still often chances to make your claim stronger or get a higher rating:
- Secondary Conditions: If a condition is caused or made worse by a disability you already have service-connected, you can claim it too. For example, if your service-connected knee injury causes chronic back pain because you walk differently, that back pain could be a secondary service-connected condition. Or if your service-connected PTSD leads to sleep problems or high blood pressure, those could also be claimed.
- Increased Disability Ratings: If your service-connected condition has gotten worse since your last rating, you absolutely should apply for an increase. You’ll need to provide new medical evidence showing how your symptoms have progressed and how they affect your daily life and ability to work. Remember the new mental health rating changes we talked about recently? Those could make it easier to get a higher rating for PTSD and other mental health conditions.
- Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU): If your service-connected disabilities stop you from keeping a regular, gainful job, you might be eligible for TDIU. This means you could be paid at the 100% disability rate, even if your combined rating is less than 100%. This is a huge opportunity for many veterans who can’t work because of their service-connected conditions.
The VA claims process can be tricky, even with presumptive conditions. You need to gather the right medical records, understand the specific rules for each condition, and clearly explain how your service affects your daily life.
If your claim has been denied, or if you think you deserve a higher rating, the appeals process needs a smart approach and often new evidence.
At Tucker Disability Law, we’re here to help veterans through these complex situations. Our goal is to make sure you get every benefit you’ve earned and deserve.
If you think you have a new presumptive condition, or if your service-connected disabilities have gotten worse, contact us for a full review of your case. Your service matters, and so do your benefits.
Use the blue contact section NOW to call us, live chat with us, or message us. You can also message us using our confidential contact form.
WE NEVER GIVE UP. NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
For the most current and official information directly from the VA on presumptive conditions and the PACT Act, we encourage you to visit VA.gov/PACT
