If you faced burn pits, Agent Orange, or other toxic hazards during service, 2026 could be the year your VA benefits finally change, or slip further away.

Nearly four years after the PACT Act became law, millions of Veterans are still asking: Do I qualify now? What’s new this year? Did I miss out on benefits?

The law opened access to health care and disability pay for a generation of veterans. But as claims and regulations grow more complex, confusion is as common as the exposures themselves.

Here are the main takeaways for Veterans in 2026: what the PACT Act means now, what’s covered, what’s changing, and what is essential to understand before filing or re-filing a claim.

What the PACT Act Covers in 2026

Signed into law on August 10, 2022, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, known as the PACT Act, is the largest expansion of VA health care and disability benefits in decades.

At its core, the law does three things:

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• Expands eligibility for VA health care based on toxic exposure
• Adds new presumptive conditions for disability compensation
• Requires VA to screen Veterans for toxic exposure as part of routine care

If you served in locations or time periods associated with burn pits, airborne hazards, Agent Orange, radiation, or other toxins, the PACT Act may directly affect your benefits in 2026.

Expanded VA Health Care Eligibility Is Already in Effect

The PACT Act opened VA health care to millions of Veterans who were previously ineligible, even if they do not yet have a service-connected disability rating.

Although the law originally planned a phased rollout over several years, VA accelerated implementation. As of March 5, 2024, VA began enrolling all eligible veterans under the PACT Act’s expanded criteria.

In 2026, this means Veterans who:

• Served in post-9/11 combat zones,
• Participated in certain deployments or operations, or
• Were exposed to specific environmental hazards

Veterans can apply for VA health care now, even if they were previously turned away.

New Presumptive Conditions for Burn Pits and Airborne Hazards

One of the most powerful changes under the PACT Act is the expansion of presumptive conditions. If a condition is presumptive, VA automatically assumes it is service-connected when a Veteran has qualifying service, without requiring proof that the exposure caused the illness.

For burn pits and airborne hazards, VA now presumes service connection for multiple cancers and respiratory illnesses, including:

• Brain cancer
• Head cancer of any type
• Neck cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancers
• Kidney cancer
• Lymphatic cancers
• Melanoma
• Reproductive cancers
• Respiratory cancers
• Asthma diagnosed after service
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Chronic sinusitis
• Chronic rhinitis
• Pulmonary fibrosis

These presumptions apply to Veterans who served in qualifying locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and other designated areas during specific timeframes.

For Veterans in 2026, the key is that conditions previously denied may now qualify for VA compensation. Check the current list of presumptive conditions for updates relevant to you.

Agent Orange: New Presumptives and Expanded Locations

The PACT Act also expanded Agent Orange coverage in two key ways. It added two new presumptive conditions:

• Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure
• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, known as MGUS

It also expanded the list of locations where exposure is presumed, beyond Vietnam and the Korean DMZ, to include additional sites where herbicides were used or stored.

For many aging Veterans, these changes mean new claims will remain possible in 2026. Review the updated lists to see if you are now eligible.

Toxic Exposure Screening Is Now Standard VA Care

The PACT Act requires VA to screen enrolled Veterans for toxic exposure as part of routine health care.

VA implemented this screening requirement in November 2022. In 2026, it remains a standard component of VA primary care, with follow-up screenings recommended at least every five years.

The screening does not determine benefits on its own, but it documents exposure history, informs care decisions, and can support future disability claims.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care who have not been screened can request it from their provider.

The Retroactive Pay Window Has Closed, But Claims Are Still Open

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the PACT Act involves retroactive benefits.

Veterans who filed a claim or an intent to file by August 14, 2023, could potentially receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022, the date the law was signed.

That window has closed.

In 2026, most new PACT Act claims will be paid from the date VA receives the claim. While retroactive pay is now rare, you can still file and receive benefits moving forward.

What’s Changing as 2026 Begins

While the PACT Act remains in force, a few shifts matter for Veterans this year.

PACT Claims Are Still Flooding the VA System

• VA continues to report historically high volumes of disability claims, driven in large part by PACT Act filings for toxic exposure.
• For Veterans, the key takeaway is that claims processing remains under heavy demand, and providing complete medical evidence is more important than ever.
• Complete medical evidence and exams matter more than ever.
• Some claims may still take months to resolve.

Public Reporting Will Be Less Frequent

VA has announced that, beginning in fiscal year 2026, it will move its PACT Act performance reporting from monthly to quarterly.

For Veterans and advocates, this means fewer real-time snapshots of:

• How many PACT claims are being filed
• How many are being decided
• How backlogs are shifting

VA will continue to provide updates, but understand that these will happen less often. Keep informed through official channels for the latest developments.

Presumptive Lists May Continue to Evolve, Quietly

VA has the authority to add conditions to presumptive lists based on emerging scientific evidence. That process continues through medical reviews and rulemaking.

However, VA does not publish a calendar or a preview of which conditions are under review. For Veterans in 2026, this means:

• Presumptive lists can change
• Updates may come with little warning
• Re-filing later could be important if new conditions are added to presumptive lists. Stay updated and regularly revisit your eligibility

What Veterans Still Need to Know

Even after years of implementation, key gaps remain.

• Which Conditions VA Is Reviewing Right Now: VA does not publicly release a list of illnesses currently under consideration for presumptive status. Veterans with rare cancers or chronic diseases linked to toxic exposure often have no way to know whether their conditions are even being evaluated.
• How Often Past Denials Are Being Reversed: VA encourages Veterans to refile if they were previously denied for conditions now considered presumptive. But VA does not regularly publish clear data showing how many older denials are being overturned under PACT Act rules.

A past denial should not stop Veterans from trying again, but approval is not automatic.

• How Effective Dates Are Really Applied: Effective dates determine how far back VA pays benefits, and under PACT Act rules, they can be especially complex.

Small differences in when a claim was filed, whether an intent to file was used, and how the condition was claimed can mean the difference between months or years of retroactive pay.

This is one of the most significant aspects for your finances in the PACT process for 2026. Review effective date rules carefully to ensure you maximize potential benefits.

What This Means for Veterans in 2026

The PACT Act is no longer new. It is now a permanent part of the VA benefits system.

In 2026, Veterans should:

• Review the current presumptive condition lists
• Enroll in VA health care if eligible
• Request a toxic exposure screening
• File claims for any qualifying conditions, even if denied before
• Seek help from an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney if needed

Most of all, Veterans should remember that waiting does not mean missing out. While some deadlines have passed, the PACT Act's main benefits are still available, so act now if eligible. The opportunity remains open. Understanding how to access these benefits is more important than ever for your future.

Suggested reads:

• A Full Guide to the PACT Act: How You and Your Loved Ones Benefit
• VA to Rollout Major Electronic Health Record Dashboard Upgrade In 2026
• VA Community Care Restructuring In 2026: Will Veteran Access Change?