If you served where VA says, you don't have to prove the nexus.

Service on the perimeter of Royal Thai Air Force Bases (U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, Don Muang) Jan 1962 – May 1975, or in or near the Korean DMZ 1 Apr 1968 – 31 Aug 1971, gives presumption of Agent Orange exposure.

Service window

Jan 9, 1962 — May 7, 1975

Locations

U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, Don Muang, Thailand RTAFB, Korean DMZ, DMZ, Korea DMZ

Authority

38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(iii) and (iv)

Documentation: MOS that put vet on perimeter (security police, dog handlers, etc.). Korea DMZ: unit history.

Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between 9 Jan 1962 and 7 May 1975, including service aboard ships in the inland waterways or boots on ground, are presumed exposed to Agent Orange. 17+ conditions are presumptively service-connected.

Service window

Jan 9, 1962 — May 7, 1975

Locations

Vietnam, Republic of Vietnam, RVN, Da Nang, Saigon, Mekong, Tan Son Nhut, Agent Orange, herbicide

Authority

38 U.S.C. § 1116, 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e)

If previously denied, file 20-0995 Supplemental Claim citing the new evidence / regulation change.

A diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a veteran who served on active duty for 90+ continuous days is presumptively service-connected regardless of when symptoms appeared.

Service window

Any qualifying service

Locations

ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig

Minimum days

90

Authority

38 U.S.C. § 1112(c), 38 C.F.R. § 3.318

Strong, easy presumption. Typically results in 100% schedular + SMC; pair with TDIU + A&A applications as condition progresses.

Veterans who participated in atmospheric nuclear tests (1945-1962), Hiroshima/Nagasaki occupation (Aug 1945 – July 1946), POWs in Japan, Enewetak cleanup (1977-1980), Palomares cleanup, or worked on internment of nuclear material qualify for radiation-exposure presumption.

Service window

Aug 6, 1945 — present

Locations

Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Enewetak, Bikini Atoll, Operation Crossroads, Operation Sandstone, Palomares, radiation, nuclear test, atomic

Authority

38 U.S.C. § 1112(c), 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(d)

Establish radiation-risk activity via DD-214, unit history, NTPR. File alongside MOS/dose data request.

Veterans who served on ships within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam's shoreline between 9 Jan 1962 and 7 May 1975 are presumed exposed to Agent Orange. Same condition list as Vietnam boots-on-ground.

Service window

Jan 9, 1962 — May 7, 1975

Locations

Blue Water, offshore Vietnam, Vietnam ships, Tonkin Gulf, Yankee Station

Authority

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, 38 U.S.C. § 1116(f)

Confirm ship location via DD-214 + deck logs (NARA).

Veterans, civilian workers, family members, or others who served / lived at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, for ≥30 cumulative days between 1 Aug 1953 and 31 Dec 1987 are presumed exposed to contaminated drinking water. Eight conditions are presumptively service-connected for VA benefits; the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 also allows tort claims through the EDNC.

Service window

Aug 1, 1953 — Dec 31, 1987

Locations

Camp Lejeune, MCB Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville NC, Onslow County, Tarawa Terrace, Hadnot Point

Minimum days

30

Authority

38 U.S.C. § 1710(e)(1)(F), 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(7), Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022

File VA disability claim AND consider separate CLJA tort claim filed with the Department of Navy / EDNC (2-year window from law passage).

Veterans/families at MCB Camp Pendleton, CA, exposed to contaminated drinking water (Lower Lake / Box Canyon wells, 1980s). Active issue with potential future presumptive expansion under PACT framework.

Service window

Jan 1, 1980 — Dec 31, 1992

Locations

Camp Pendleton, MCB Camp Pendleton, Oceanside CA

Minimum days

30

Authority

PACT Act 2022 (CLJA companion)

Direct service connection on top of any presumptive pathway. Document residence on base.

Veterans exposed to chemical or biological agents during testing (Project 112, SHAD), embassy bombings (Beirut, Mogadishu), or other documented hazardous exposures may qualify for direct service connection with relaxed evidence.

Service window

Any qualifying service

Locations

Project SHAD, Project 112, Edgewood, Fort Detrick, Beirut, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Khobar Towers

Authority

VA M21-1 Manual, various

Documentation via Project 112/SHAD test rosters held by DoD; FOIA pathways available.

Nine infectious diseases are presumptively service-connected for SW Asia theater veterans plus Afghanistan, with no manifestation period for some (visceral leishmaniasis is lifetime).

Service window

Aug 2, 1990 — present

Locations

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Persian Gulf, Southwest Asia

Authority

38 C.F.R. § 3.317(c)

Q fever and brucellosis often missed; ask about livestock contact, vector exposure.

Veterans with qualifying service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations who show signs/symptoms of an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, functional GI disorders) manifest to a 10% degree at any time. Presumptive period extends through 31 Dec 2026.

Service window

Aug 2, 1990 — present

Locations

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Southwest Asia, Operation Desert, Operation Iraqi Freedom, OEF, OIF

Authority

38 U.S.C. § 1117, 38 C.F.R. § 3.317

Use the SW Asia Service Connection box on 21-526EZ; signs/symptoms must be persisting >6 months or recurring.

Service at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) in Uzbekistan after Oct 2001 is presumed for exposure to depleted uranium, chemical weapons remnants, jet fuel, and asbestos. PACT Act extends presumption to listed cancers and respiratory illnesses.

Service window

Oct 1, 2001 — Dec 31, 2005

Locations

K2, Karshi-Khanabad, Karshi Khanabad, Uzbekistan

Authority

PACT Act 2022

Strong PACT Act match — usually denied historically, file Supplemental claim citing new regulation.

Veterans with PTSD or related mental health conditions resulting from sexual assault, sexual harassment, or repeated unwanted sexual contact during service have a relaxed evidentiary standard — markers (transfer requests, behavioral changes, medical visits, lay statements) may corroborate the stressor.

Service window

Any qualifying service

Locations

MST, military sexual trauma, sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, assault, harassment

Authority

38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5)

Mandatory 21-0781a. Markers + lay statements often more powerful than the absent contemporaneous report.

Extended Persian Gulf service during Operations Southern Watch (1991-2003) and Northern Watch (1997-2003) qualifies for the same SW Asia presumption framework as Desert Storm / OIF.

Service window

Mar 3, 1991 — Apr 30, 2003

Locations

Operation Southern Watch, Operation Northern Watch, OSW, ONW, Incirlik, Prince Sultan Air Base, Al Jaber

Authority

38 C.F.R. § 3.317

Same framework as DS/OIF; document base location.

Veterans who served 2 Aug 1990 – 11 Sept 2001 in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or UAE are presumed exposed to burn pits and airborne hazards. Same condition list as the post-9/11 cohort.

Service window

Aug 2, 1990 — Sep 10, 2001

Locations

Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Desert, burn pit, burn pits

Authority

PACT Act 2022, 38 U.S.C. § 1119, 38 C.F.R. § 3.320

Supplemental claim under PACT Act. ITF first.

Veterans who served after 11 Sept 2001 in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Uzbekistan, or other listed locations are presumed exposed to burn pits and airborne hazards. 23+ conditions are presumptively service-connected.

Service window

Sep 11, 2001 — present

Locations

Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Uzbekistan, K2, Bagram, Kandahar, Balad, burn pit, burn pits, airborne hazard

Authority

Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, 38 U.S.C. § 1119, 38 C.F.R. § 3.320

File a Supplemental Claim under the PACT Act citing exposure. Pair with 21-0966 Intent to File first to lock the effective date.