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Veterans Crisis Line:988, press 1
Scenario
For: Service member separating with documented burn-pit or other PACT-listed exposure
A path for a Post-9/11 service member who is still in uniform and may have qualifying exposure under the PACT Act. The Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program may allow filing before separation, with a faster turnaround.
BDD allows a service member to file a VA claim 180 to 90 days before separation. Outside that window, the standard pre-discharge or post-separation paths apply. The transition guide explains both.
PACT-listed conditions are presumed service-connected for veterans with qualifying service in covered locations and dates. The decoder maps service era, exposure, and condition to presumptive eligibility.
In-service medical records are easier to gather while still on active duty than after separation. The records-request guide includes the active-duty path.
TAP-class VSOs and CVSOs can file the BDD claim with you. VBN does not file claims and is not accredited under 38 U.S.C. § 5904.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-25. Scenarios are illustrative. For your own case, work with a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or VA-accredited representative.