More cancers now presumptive for service connection
The VA has announced several new cancers that will now be presumptive for Gulf War Veterans and Post 9/11 Veterans. This expansion of benefits will provide more veterans with the care and benefits they deserve. The conditions added are acute and chronic leukemia, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers.
What are the service requirements to qualify?
Post 9/11 Veterans: Veterans who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Uzbekistan and the airspace above these locations during the Gulf War on or after Sept. 11, 2001. This includes Veterans who served at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001.
Gulf War Veterans: Veterans who served in Somalia or the Southwest Asia theater of operations (which includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations) during the Persian Gulf War on or after Aug. 2, 1990.
When will this go into effect?
The presumptions for urinary bladder, ureter and related genitourinary cancers already went into effect on January 2, 2024. The presumptions for acute and chronic leukemia, multiple myelomas, and myelodysplastic syndromes will go into effect on January 10, 2025.
What does it mean when a condition is considered “presumptive” by the VA?
Presumptive service connection means VA automatically assumes service connection for the disease and provides benefits to eligible Veterans who have submitted claims with evidence of a diagnosis. It’s also possible you may be eligible for special monthly compensation.
As a veteran, what cancer treatment resources are available to me?
For more information about VA cancer care, visit cancer.va.gov.
What if I had filed these claims in the past and been denied?
Here at the Rep For Vets, we fight to get disabled veterans and their dependents the compensation they earned when they signed up to serve. Our VA-accredited claims agents will meticulously review your file, looking for VA errors and generally ensuring you’re not leaving any disability compensation on the table—to include new presumptive conditions that that you may be eligible for.
Whether it’s appealing a rejected claim, reopening a claim due to worsened conditions, or navigating the complexities of backpay, our team is here to provide guidance and support. If you believe you may be owed backpay or need assistance with your appeal, call us at (888) 573-7838 for a free consultation. We are dedicated to advocating for veterans. This is what we do, this is all we do. We look forward to learning about your unique experience and helping out in any way we can.