Can I Get VA Disability for My Cancer?
You may qualify for VA disability for cancer if you can show that your cancer is service-connected. The best approach to demonstrating a connection between your cancer and your military service will depend on the type of cancer you have, when and where you served in the military, and even your job during military service.
The best way to get accurate, personalized information about qualifying for VA disability is to talk to an experienced disability benefits advocate as early in the process as possible. To learn more about how Veterans Help Group assists veterans and their families in securing the benefits they deserve, call us today at 855-855-8992. In the meantime, the information below will help you understand how cancer may be connected to military service and how the VA rates cancer.
When is Cancer Considered Service-Connected?
Some cancers are presumed service-connected, but that is generally a very specific analysis. Certain types of cancer are presumed service-connected for veterans who served in specific places at specific times, or who held specific roles. In other circumstances, the veteran will be responsible for establishing a service connection.
Presumptive Service Connections for Cancer
Agent Orange
The following cancers are presumed service-connected for veterans exposed to Agent Orange during their military service:
- Bladder cancer
- Chronic B-cell leukemia
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer and other respiratory cancers
- Some soft tissue sarcomas
A veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange if they served:
- In the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975
- On a military vessel that operated on the inland waterways of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975
- On a military vessel within 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line between VIetnam and Cambodia between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975
- On a U.S. or Royal Thai military base between January 9, 1962 and June 30, 1976
- In Laos between December 1, 1975 and September 30, 1969
- In Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province between April 16, 1969 and April 30, 1969
- In Guam or American Samos between January 9, 1962 and July 31, 1980
- In the territorial waters off of Guarm or American Samoa between January 9, 1962 and July 31, 1980
- At Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called there between January 1, 1972 and September 30, 1977
- In or near the Korean DMZ between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971
- In a regular Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated duty-related contact with the plane
Others who are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange include:
- Veterans who worked with Agent Orange during their military service, including transporting, testing and storing Agent Orange
- Reservists assigned to certain flights, ground and medical crew duties at Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Base between 1969 and 1986
- Reservists assigned to certain flights, ground and medical crew duties at Westover Air Force Base between 1972 and 1982
Burn Pits
Many types of cancers in the following categories are presumed service-connected for veterans exposed to burn pits during their military service:
- Brain and head
- Neck
- Nervous system
- Gastrointestinal
- Genitourinary
- Reproductive
- Respiratory
- Lymphatic
- Hematological
- Lymphomas
- Melanoma
- Pancreatic
Burn pit exposure is presumed for veterans who served in the following times and places.
On or after August 2, 1990 in:
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
On or after September 11, 2001 in:
- Afghanistan
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Syria
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
The airspace over all listed locations is also included.
Camp LeJeune
Veterans who served at Camp LeJeune or MCAS New River, North Carolina for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 have a presumptive service connection for the following cancers:
- Adult leukemia
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Other Presumptive Service Connections for Cancer
A veteran may also have a presumptive service connection for cancer if they served in certain locations or roles that involved exposure to radiation.
The following cancers are presumed service-connected based on radiation exposure:
- Most forms of leukemia
- Thyroid cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Cancer of the pharynx
- Stomach cancer
- Cancer of the small intestine
- Pancreatic cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Most lymphomas
- Cancer of the bile ducts
- Cancer of the gall bladder
- Primary liver cancer w/out cirrhosis or hepatitis B
- Cancer of the salivary gland
- Cancer of the urinary tract
- Bone cancer
- Brain cancer
- Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma
- Colon cancer
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
Proving a Service Connection without a Presumption
If your type of cancer isn’t listed or you haven’t served in a location or role that makes exposure presumptive, don’t worry. You may still be able to establish a service connection for cancer. An experienced VA disability benefits advocate can help you determine whether your cancer may be service-connected and how to prove the connection.
VA Disability Ratings for Cancer
When you receive VA disability for cancer, your monthly monetary benefits will depend on your VA disability rating. In most cases involving active service-connected cancers, the VA will automatically award a disability rating of 100%.
In 2025, 100% disability rating means a monthly monetary benefit of $3,831.30. The veteran may also be entitled to a small additional monetary benefit for each eligible dependent. A veteran with a 100% VA disability rating also qualifies for a number of non-monetary benefits, including broad healthcare services.
However, the 100% disability rating is temporary. In most cases, the veteran will be reassessed six months after completing cancer treatment and assigned a new disability rating. The new disability rating will be based on any residual effects of the cancer, so may be very different depending on the type of cancer and the extent of the recovery. If the veteran has fully recovered with no remaining symptoms or limitations, VA disability benefits will typically be terminated.
Talk to An Experienced VA Disability Benefits Advocate
If you’re seeking VA disability for cancer or for some other service-connected medical condition, it’s in your best interest to talk to an experienced advocate as soon as possible. Your advocate can help ensure that your claim is complete, correct, and as strongly-documented as possible.
If you’ve already filed a claim and have been denied or received a disability rating that seems too low, we can help with that, too. Call us today at 855-855-8992 to learn more, or fill out our contact form here.
