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Principles relating to service connection.

(d) Postservice initial diagnosis of disease. Service connection may be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. Presumptive periods are not intended to limit service…

Disease subject to presumptive service connection.

§ 3.309. Disease subject to presumptive service connection. (a) Chronic diseases. The following diseases shall be granted service connection although not otherwise established as incurred in or aggravated by service if manifested to a compensable degree within the applicable time limits under §…

Presumptive service connection; peacetime service before January 1, 1947.

§ 3.308. Presumptive service connection; peacetime service before January 1, 1947. (a) Chronic disease. There is no provision for presumptive service connection for chronic disease as distinguished from tropical diseases referred to in paragraph (b) of this section based on peacetime service…

Presumptive service connection for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

§ 3.318. Presumptive service connection for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis manifested at any time after discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space service is sufficient…

Presumptive service connection for tuberculous disease; wartime and service on or after January 1, 1947.

§ 3.371. Presumptive service connection for tuberculous disease; wartime and service on or after January 1, 1947. (a) Pulmonary tuberculosis. (1) Evidence of activity on comparative study of X-ray films showing pulmonary tuberculosis within the 3-year presumptive period provided by § 3.307(a)(3)…

Presumptive service connection for chronic, tropical, or prisoner-of-war related disease, disease associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents, or disease associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune; wartime and service on or after January 1, 1947.

(d) Rebuttal of service incurrence or aggravation. (1) Evidence which may be considered in rebuttal of service incurrence of a disease listed in § 3.309 will be any evidence of a nature usually accepted as competent to indicate the time of existence or inception of disease, and medical judgment…

Presumptive service connection for leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myelofibrosis.

§ 3.320b. Presumptive service connection for leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myelofibrosis. (a) Presumption of exposure. A covered veteran as defined in § 3.320a(c) shall be presumed to have been exposed to certain toxic substances, chemicals, and airborne hazards…

Presumptive service connection for bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers.

§ 3.320a. Presumptive service connection for bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers. (a) Presumption of exposure. A covered veteran as defined in paragraph (c) of this section shall be presumed to have been exposed to certain toxic substances, chemicals, and airborne hazards…

Presumptive Service Connection (SC)

December 21, 2023

Presumptive Service Connection (SC) for Infectious Disease Under 38 CFR 3.317

January 29, 2024 ### VIII.ii.1.D.1.a. Qualifying Service for Presumptive SC of Infectious Diseases Under 38 CFR 3.317 Qualifying service for the purpose of presumptive service connection (SC) for infectious diseases, means the Veteran served on active duty · in the Southwest Asia theater of…

General Information on Presumptive Service Connection (SC) for Persian Gulf Veterans

VIII.ii.1.A.1.j. Signs and Symptoms of Undiagnosed Illnesses or MUCMIs [38 CFR 3.317](<http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9f0ce8e46464a943446b3eabce7d0edb&node=se38.1.3_1317&rgn=div8>) specifies the following 13 categories of signs or symptoms that may be manifestations of an undiagnosed…

Rating Presumptive Service Connection (SC) Claims for Persian Gulf Veterans

June 6, 2025 ### VIII.ii.1.C.1.a. Deciding SC for an Undiagnosed Illness or MUCMI The following information is required to determine whether service connection (SC) under [38 U.S.C. 1117](<http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00001117----000-.html>) for an undiagnosed illness…

Developing Presumptive Service Connection (SC) Claims from Persian Gulf Veterans

VIII.ii.1.B.2.g. Example: Gulf War Examination Not Necessary With Known Clinical Diagnosis _Facts_ : A Persian Gulf Veteran claims SC for “sleep disturbance.” Service Treatment Records (STRs) do not show any relevant treatment or diagnoses. Private medical evidence reveals the Veteran…

Dependents' educational assistance; certification.

(c) Service connection. For purpose of this section, the term “service-connected disability” encompasses combinations of disabilities of paired organs or extremities treated as if service-connected under the provisions of § 3.383(a) of this part. The standards and criteria for determining…

Developing Claims for Service Connection (SC) for Disabilities Resulting from Ionizing Radiation Exposure Under 38 CFR 3.309

April 3, 2023 ### VIII.iii.4.A.1.a. Presumption of SC Based on Participation in Certain Radiation-Risk Activities A Veteran may be eligible for presumptive service connection (SC) under [38 CFR…

July 29, 2021 ### VIII.iii.1.1.a. Considering SC for a Tropical Disease When deciding any claim for service connection (SC) for a tropical disease included in [38 CFR 3.309(b)](<https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=5337a38c17613b76e09582ea36283496&mc=true&node=se38.1.3_1309&rgn=div8>), it is…

General Information on Claims Based on Herbicide Exposure

VIII.i.1.A.1.f. Presumptive Herbicide Disabilities The table below lists the disabilities that qualify for presumptive service connection (SC) due to herbicide exposure and the relevant authority that establishes the presumption.| Disability| Authority · Chloracne or other acne-form…

Developing Claims for Service Connection (SC) for Disabilities Resulting From Exposure to Mustard Gas or Lewisite

5. Presumptive Full-Body Mustard Gas or Lewisite Exposure During WWII This topic contains guidance on presumptive full-body mustard gas or Lewisite exposure during WWII, including · presumptive full-body exposure based on service in a known location during WWII · confirmed locations where…

Ratings for Disabilities Associated With Herbicide Exposure

VIII.i.1.C.1.a. Deciding Presumptive SC Based on Herbicide Exposure When deciding service connection (SC) for a disability due to herbicide exposure, consider if the evidence establishes · in-service exposure to an herbicide agent · the Veteran has a qualifying disability as listed in [M21-1…

Developing Claims for Service Connection (SC) Based on Herbicide Exposure

VIII.i.1.B.2.d. Reviewing Service Records for Proof of Service in a Presumptive Herbicide Location Certain documents within the claims folder may show proof of duty or visitation in a qualifying location. See the table below for guidance on reviewing documents that may show qualifying service…