Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (2026): Enrollment, Health Exam, and How It Interacts With PACT

Statutory basis: The PACT Act — Pub. L. 117-168, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 — is the underlying statute for every rule on this page.

The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR), jointly run by VA and DoD, is a voluntary registry that documents exposure to open burn pits, particulate matter, and other airborne hazards during service. Registry enrollment is not required to file a PACT Act claim — but for veterans with credible exposure, enrolling is strongly recommended for three reasons: it creates an official record, it unlocks a free VA health exam, and it strengthens later PACT claims.

What the registry is

AHOBPR was created by Congress in 2013 (Pub. L. 112-260) to document exposure to open-air burn pits and other airborne hazards during Post-9/11 deployments to Southwest Asia. The registry is a self-reported questionnaire plus, optionally, an in-person VA health exam. Data collected informs VA research and helps establish exposure history that can be cited in PACT-era claims.

Who can enroll

Any veteran or currently-serving member who deployed to a designated location:

• Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Uzbekistan, or Yemen — Post-9/11 era.
• Southwest Asia — Gulf War era (1990–present).
• Certain deployments to Somalia, Djibouti, and expanded PACT locations.

How to enroll

1. Go to veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry and sign in with your ID.me or Login.gov credential.
2. Complete the online questionnaire — deployment history, symptoms, health concerns. Allow 30-45 minutes; you can save and return.
3. Submit. The registry emails an enrollment confirmation.
4. Optionally, schedule a free Airborne Hazards Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (AH-ILER) health exam at any VA medical center.

The registry health exam

The AH-ILER exam is a comprehensive workup — vital signs, blood tests, chest x-ray, pulmonary function testing when indicated, and a physician review. There is no cost. Findings are documented in the veteran's VA medical record and become available for later claim purposes.

Interaction with PACT claims

Registry enrollment is not a prerequisite for a PACT claim. The presumption regulations do not condition presumptive coverage on prior registry enrollment. However:

• Registry enrollment records establish acknowledged exposure — helpful if a claim adjudicator questions whether your unit or location qualified.
• The AH-ILER exam findings can supply the diagnosis or symptom record that a claim needs.
• Registry participation does not, by itself, file a claim. If you have (or suspect) a presumptive condition, file separately on VA Form 21-526EZ.

How to update your entry

The registry allows updates whenever your health changes or new deployments are added. Log back in with the same credential, add new symptoms or deployments, and re-submit. Updates are timestamped, so a running history is preserved.

FAQs

Does enrolling harm my VA benefits?

No. Registry participation is separate from claims and does not affect existing ratings.

Can I enroll if I'm still on active duty?

Yes — active-duty service members qualify.

Does the exam replace a C&P exam?

No. The AH-ILER exam informs your medical record, but a claim still requires a standard C&P exam unless the presumption removes that requirement.

Related

See the PACT Act 2026 tracker, PACT Act eligibility 2026, and PACT Act appeals process.