Normally you have to prove the nexus — the link between your condition and service. But for certain conditions and certain veterans, Congress and the VA have already conceded that link. These are presumptive conditions, and they can remove the hardest hurdle in your claim.
How a presumption works
If you have qualifying service and a listed condition that appears within the required window, the VA presumes service caused it. You still have to show you have the condition and that your service qualifies — but you do not have to prove the medical link from scratch.
Common presumptive categories
- Agent Orange exposure (Vietnam and certain other service)
- Gulf War undiagnosed and chronic multisymptom illnesses
- Burn pit and airborne-hazard conditions expanded under the PACT Act
- Radiation, Camp Lejeune water, and certain chronic diseases within a year of discharge
The mistake I see most: veterans who were denied years ago, before their condition was added to a presumptive list. If the law changed, your old "no" is not the final answer. We re-file under the new rule.