VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
Malaria Presumptive Reference
Official presumptive service rules for Malaria, including listed locations, dates, criteria and sources.
VA lists the following pathways for Malaria. Each row retains its own dates and limitations. Listing a condition does not decide an individual award.
| Condition | Exposure | Listed Service Locations | Service Dates | Criteria And Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaria | Gulf War | Southwest Asia theater, including specified waters and airspace | On or after August 2, 1990, during the Persian Gulf War | Must become manifest to at least 10% within one year after separation, or at a time when accepted treatises establish that incubation began during qualifying service. Regulatory rebuttal exceptions apply. The theater includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, and the airspace above those locations. 38 CFR 3.317(c). Verified 2026-10-25. Source 1 · Source 2 · Source 3 |
| Malaria | Gulf War | Afghanistan for infectious-disease presumptions | On or after September 19, 2001 | Must become manifest to at least 10% within one year after separation, or at a time when accepted treatises establish that incubation began during qualifying service. Regulatory rebuttal exceptions apply. Qualifying active service in Afghanistan; VA does not include its airspace in this pathway. |
Read The Exposure Rules
Official Sources
Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
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