PACT Act and Camp Lejeune — What Veterans Need to Know in 2026

Part 1: The PACT Act — Who Qualifies?

The PACT Act created new presumptive service connections for conditions related to toxic exposures during military service. This means VA now assumes these conditions are related to your service — you no longer have to prove a nexus between your exposure and your condition.

Burn Pit Exposure

Veterans who served in post-9/11 combat zones — including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and dozens of other locations — were routinely exposed to open burn pits. These pits burned waste 24/7, producing toxic smoke containing benzene, heavy metals, dioxins, and other carcinogens.

The PACT Act created presumptive service connection for veterans who served in covered locations after August 2, 1990, and developed any of the following conditions:

For cancer specifically, the PACT Act created presumptive connection for veterans exposed to burn pits, radiation, or other covered toxic substances who develop any of 23 specific cancers.

Presumptive Cancers Added by PACT Act

The following cancers are now presumptive for eligible veterans:

• Head cancer (squamous cell carcinoma of the head/neck)
• Neck cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer
• Reproductive cancers (male and female)
• Melanoma
• Thyroid cancer
• Any rare cancer (monoclonal gammopathy, or <0.01% prevalence in the general population)
• Glioblastoma and other brain cancers
• Kidney cancer, urinary cancer, renal cell carcinoma
• Lymphatic cancer, lymphoma
• Pancreatic cancer

If you're uncertain whether your specific cancer qualifies, file a claim — VA will review it under the new standards. The list has been expanding since the Act was signed.

Agent Orange Expansion

The PACT Act also expanded Agent Orange presumptive service connection to include:

• Thailand (1962–1975): Veterans who served at specific Royal Thai Air Force Bases
• Laos (1962–1975): Veterans who served in military operations in Laos
• Cambodia (1969–1970): Veterans who served at Mimot or Krek
• Vietnam era veterans who served in waters adjacent to the Republic of Vietnam ("Blue Water Navy")
• Veterans exposed to tactical herbicides at U.S. bases during testing and storage

Conditions presumptively associated with Agent Orange include: Type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease, B-cell leukemias, and Bladder cancer (newly added by PACT Act).

Part 2: Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

From the 1950s through 1987, the water supply at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina was contaminated with industrial solvents — primarily trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. These carcinogens exceeded safety standards by up to 280 times at peak contamination.

An estimated 900,000 people — including Marines, civilian workers, and family members — were exposed to the contaminated water during this period.

Who Is Eligible for Camp Lejeune Benefits?

To qualify for VA benefits under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act:

• You must have lived or worked at Camp Lejeune (or MCAS New River, North Carolina) for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987
• You (or your survivors) must have a current diagnosis of one of the qualifying conditions
• You must not have been discharged dishonorably
• Family members also qualify — spouses, children, and dependents who lived at Camp Lejeune during the covered period can receive healthcare and, through the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (separate from VA), may be able to file civil lawsuits

Qualifying Conditions for Camp Lejeune VA Benefits

Camp Lejeune Healthcare

Even if you don't have one of the 16 listed conditions above, veterans and family members who were exposed to Camp Lejeune water may qualify for free VA healthcare for any condition — not just the listed ones. File VA Form 10-10EZ and note your Camp Lejeune service on the form.

How to File a PACT Act or Camp Lejeune Claim

1. File Intent to File immediately — VA Form 21-0966. This locks in your effective date. If you file a PACT Act claim today and it takes a year to process, your back pay goes back to today's date.
2. File VA Form 21-526EZ — the standard disability compensation claim. Select your conditions and indicate the relevant toxic exposure in the description.
3. For Camp Lejeune: Note your service at Camp Lejeune and the dates. VA has a Camp Lejeune page at VA.gov with specific instructions.
4. Submit your medical records documenting your current diagnosis.
5. Submit proof of exposure — military orders, deployment records, anything showing you were at the covered location during the covered period. VA is required to give you the benefit of the doubt if service records are consistent with exposure.

Deadlines You Need to Know

• PACT Act claims: No hard deadline for filing disability claims — but the longer you wait, the less back pay you'll receive. File Intent to File today to protect your date.
• Camp Lejeune civil lawsuits (CLJA): The CLJA has a statute of limitations of 2 years from August 10, 2022 — meaning the original window closed August 10, 2024. However, ongoing litigation and legislation may affect this. Consult an attorney if you believe you have a civil claim.
• VA healthcare enrollment: No hard deadline, but earlier enrollment means earlier access to care and treatment records that support your disability claim.