Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act): VA Presumptive Condition (PACT Act)
VeteranHQ lists Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act) as a presumptive condition in the PACT Act (Burn Pits and Airborne Hazards) group. The exposure it is tied to is: Airborne hazards, burn pit smoke, benzene, dioxins, immunosuppressive chemical exposures. The presumption is effective August 10, 2022. It is governed by PACT Act of 2022, Public Law 117-168, § 406(b); 38 USC § 1120(b)(2)(F).
A presumption removes one requirement and one only: the veteran does not have to prove a medical link between the condition and service. Everything else still applies. There must be a current diagnosis, the service has to meet the requirements below, and VA decides the claim on the evidence in the record.
What qualifies: Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act)
- Service era
- Post-9/11 (2001–present) or Post-Gulf War (1990–present)
- Service location
- Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or the United Arab Emirates (on or after August 2, 1990); Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen or Uzbekistan (on or after September 11, 2001); or another country the Secretary determines relevant
- Exposure
- Airborne hazards, burn pit smoke, benzene, dioxins, immunosuppressive chemical exposures
- Effective date
- August 10, 2022
- Filing deadline
- No statutory deadline
Service required for this presumption
Qualifying service is defined by 38 USC § 1119(c)(1): active military, naval, air, or space service while assigned to a duty station in, or in the airspace above, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or the United Arab Emirates on or after August 2, 1990; or Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan or another country the Secretary determines relevant, on or after September 11, 2001. NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS IS REQUIRED: neither 38 USC § 1119 nor § 1120 sets one. Covers all lymphoma subtypes including Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-cell and T-cell), follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and cutaneous lymphomas. Applicability under Public Law 117-168 § 406(d): August 10, 2022 for claimants for dependency and indemnity compensation and for veterans VA determines are terminally ill, homeless, under extreme financial hardship, more than 85 years old, or capable of demonstrating other sufficient cause; October 1, 2024 for everyone else.
About this presumption
All types of lymphoma are presumptively service-connected under the PACT Act for veterans with qualifying burn pit or airborne hazard exposure. Benzene is an established lymphomagen and is present in burn pit emissions from burning plastics, fuels, and industrial waste. Dioxins and furans in burn pit smoke also suppress immune surveillance, promoting lymphoid malignancies. This PACT Act presumptive is distinct from and additive to the Agent Orange NHL presumptive — veterans with both qualifying Vietnam and post-9/11 service may assert both grounds.
Evidence still needed
A presumption does not remove the evidence requirement. VA still needs a current diagnosis from a medical provider and service records that show the qualifying service above. What it removes is the medical opinion connecting the two.
Service records confirming qualifying duty location; lymph node or tissue biopsy with histological classification; immunohistochemistry panel; flow cytometry; PET/CT staging scan; oncology treatment records. The histological classification matters for the rating as well as the diagnosis: 38 CFR § 4.117 evaluates Hodgkin lymphoma under DC 7709 and non-Hodgkin lymphoma under DC 7715, so this row carries no single diagnostic code.
Controlling legal authority
PACT Act of 2022, Public Law 117-168, § 406(b); 38 USC § 1120(b)(2)(F)
Related on VeteranHQ
Questions About Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act) and Presumptive Service Connection
Is Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act) a VA presumptive condition?
Yes. VeteranHQ lists Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act) as presumptive in the PACT Act (Burn Pits and Airborne Hazards) group, effective August 10, 2022, under PACT Act of 2022, Public Law 117-168, § 406(b); 38 USC § 1120(b)(2)(F). A presumption removes the requirement to prove a medical link to service. A current diagnosis and qualifying service are still required, and VA decides the claim.
What service qualifies for the Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act) presumption?
Qualifying service is defined by 38 USC § 1119(c)(1): active military, naval, air, or space service while assigned to a duty station in, or in the airspace above, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or the United Arab Emirates on or after August 2, 1990; or Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan or another country the Secretary determines relevant, on or after September 11, 2001. NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS IS REQUIRED: neither 38 USC § 1119 nor § 1120 sets one. Covers all lymphoma subtypes including Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-cell and T-cell), follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and cutaneous lymphomas. Applicability under Public Law 117-168 § 406(d): August 10, 2022 for claimants for dependency and indemnity compensation and for veterans VA determines are terminally ill, homeless, under extreme financial hardship, more than 85 years old, or capable of demonstrating other sufficient cause; October 1, 2024 for everyone else. Service era: Post-9/11 (2001–present) or Post-Gulf War (1990–present). Service location: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or the United Arab Emirates (on or after August 2, 1990); Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen or Uzbekistan (on or after September 11, 2001); or another country the Secretary determines relevant.
What evidence is still needed for a Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act) claim?
Service records confirming qualifying duty location; lymph node or tissue biopsy with histological classification; immunohistochemistry panel; flow cytometry; PET/CT staging scan; oncology treatment records. The histological classification matters for the rating as well as the diagnosis: 38 CFR § 4.117 evaluates Hodgkin lymphoma under DC 7709 and non-Hodgkin lymphoma under DC 7715, so this row carries no single diagnostic code. A presumption removes the requirement to prove a medical link to service. A current diagnosis and qualifying service are still required, and VA decides the claim.
Is there a filing deadline for Lymphoma of Any Type (PACT Act)?
No statutory deadline
VeteranHQ publishes VA rules and the citations behind them. It does not prepare, file, or represent claims, and nothing here is legal advice or a prediction of what VA will decide.