Presumptive Conditions

A "condition", in the language of the VA, is any disease, illness or injury that occurs during active duty military service. To be service connected and eligible for a disability compensation rating, the condition must be caused or contributed to by an event that occurred during service. If the condition existed prior to service, it must be shown to have been aggravated (made worse) by military service.

To achieve a disability compensation rating, the veteran must prove that he or she had appropriate military service, that an event that caused the claimed condition occurred and that a medically diagnosed condition that is disabling exists today.

The regulations that govern presumptive conditions only eliminate the requirement to prove that an event caused the condition. For example, a Vietnam veteran does not have to prove that agent orange caused the diabetes he has today. It is presumed that he was exposed to agent orange and also that agent orange is at the root of the diabetes.

While agent orange and the Vietnam veteran are the best known of all presumptive conditions and ratings, atomic veterans, certain Korean veterans and other veterans may also be eligible for presumptive ratings of certain conditions.

The regulations are complex. Some veterans who have a Vietnam Service Medal aren't eligible for presumptive ratings because they didn't set their boots on the soil of the country of Vietnam. Many Korean veterans don't realize that they may be eligible for service connections due to exposure to the herbicide agent orange.

If you believe that you may be eligible for any presumptive condition and rating, the best way to find out is to file a VA disability claim. The process of adjudication is the only sure way to know.

Chronic B-cell Leukemias
 A type of cancer which affects white blood cells.

Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
 A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin.

Hodgkin’s Disease
 A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.

Ischemic Heart Disease
 A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart, that leads to chest pain.

Multiple Myeloma
 A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in bone marrow.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
 A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue.

Parkinson’s Disease
 A progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects muscle movement.

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
 A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to herbicides.

Prostate Cancer
 Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.

Respiratory Cancers
 Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)
 A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues.
 


Blue Water Navy...Agent Orange Ships List  

Gulf War Presumptions

Gulf War Service
 
For VA benefit purposes, Gulf War service is active military duty in any of the following areas in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations any time during the first Gulf War starting August 2, 1990 through the current conflict in Iraq.  This includes Veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2010) and Operation New Dawn (2010 and continuing).

Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, The neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, The United Arab Emirates, Oman, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Waters of the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea

The airspace above these locations

Medically Unexplained Chronic Multisymptom Illnesses
 
A prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.
 
VA does not use the term “Gulf War Syndrome” when referring to “medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses” reported by Gulf War Veterans. Symptoms vary widely and therefore, do not meet the definition of a syndrome. A syndrome is a group of symptoms that usually occur together and characterize a certain disease or abnormal condition. That is why VA uses the term “medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses” instead of “Gulf War Syndrome.”

Gulf War Veterans who meet the criteria below do not need to prove a connection between their military service and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses in order to receive VA disability compensation.
 
VA presumes certain chronic, unexplained symptoms existing for 6 months or more are related to Gulf War service without regard to cause. These "presumptive" illnesses must have appeared during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations or by December 31, 2016, and be at least 10 percent disabling. These illnesses include:
 
Chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition of long-term and severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions. Find out more about chronic fatigue syndrome*, treatment, and the latest medical research at Medline Plus.

Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread muscle pain. Other symptoms may include insomnia, morning stiffness, headache, and memory problems. Find out more about fibromyalgia*, treatment, and the latest medical research at Medline Plus.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders, a group of conditions marked by chronic or recurrent symptoms related to any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Functional condition refers to an abnormal function of an organ, without a structural alteration in the tissues. Examples include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome.

Undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances.
 
VA’s final rule specifying that functional gastrointestinal disorders are covered as presumptive illnesses took effect on August 15, 2011.
 

Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Hazardous Exposures
 
Possible hazardous exposures during military service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, health-related problems and VA benefits
 
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (primarily in Iraq) are military campaigns that are part of the Overseas Contingency Operation. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) began in October 2001. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) began on March 20, 2003, and continued until 2010, when Operation New Dawn began, reflecting a reduced U.S. role in Iraq.
 
OEF/OIF combat Veterans may have been exposed to a wide variety of environmental hazards during their service in Afghanistan or Iraq. These hazardous exposures may cause long-term health problems. Exposures include:

Burn pits

Infectious diseases

Depleted uranium

Toxic embedded fragments

Rabies

Mefloquine (Lariam)

Cold and heat injuries

CARC paint

Chromium at Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Facility

Infectious Diseases
 
VA presumes certain infectious diseases also are related to military service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan.

Malaria
 An infectious disease caused by a parasite. Symptoms include chills, fever, and sweats. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation or at a time when standard or accepted treatises indicate that the incubation period began during a qualifying period of military service.

Brucellosis
 A bacterial disease with symptoms such as profuse sweating and joint and muscle pain. The illness may be chronic and persist for years. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.

Campylobacter Jejuni
 A disease with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.

Coxiella Burnetii (Q Fever)
 A bacterial disease with symptoms such as fever, severe headache, and gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and diarrhea. In chronic cases, the illness may cause inflammation of the heart. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
 An illness that primarily affects the lungs and causes symptoms such as chest pain, persistent cough (sometimes bloody), weight loss and fever.

Nontyphoid Salmonella
 A condition characterized by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.

Shigella
 A condition characterized by symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.

Visceral Leishmaniasis
A parasitic disease characterized by symptoms such as fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anemia. The condition may be fatal if left untreated.

West Nile Virus
 A disease spread by mosquitoes characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain or weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms may range from mild to severe. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.
 

ALS is a Presumptive Compensable Illness  

Read more about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by clicking here.

VA Publishes Final Regulation on “Presumptive” Illnesses for Gulf War and Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans     

Ionizing Radiation  

Vets may be eligible for benefits if they have diseases that VA recognizes as related to radiation exposure during service. Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of Veterans who died as the result of diseases related to radiation exposure during service may be eligible for survivors' benefits.

Click here for more.  

There are certain diseases that may be service-connected if the disease occurred as a result of the Veteran being exposed to ionizing radiation during military service.  Click for more.