Were you exposed to Agent Orange as a result of your service in Vietnam? Are you the child of a Vietnam veteran who suffers from Agent Orange-related birth defects? If so, the advocates at Disabled Vets want to hear from you.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notes on its website that the U.S. military used Agent Orange to clear plants and trees during the Vietnam War. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health stated that the United States and Republic of Vietnam forces sprayed over 20.2 million gallons of military herbicides, which were nicknamed according to the colored stripes on their 55-gallon drums.
Agent Orange was a mixture of butoxyethanol esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), and herbicides containing 2,4,5-T were contaminated with dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin [TCDD]). TCDD was not well understood until the 1970s when 2,4,5-T was banned from most domestic uses in the United States.
A veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange during service may be eligible for multiple VA benefits. If you are a veteran or the child of a veteran dealing with the consequences of Agent Orange exposure, you deserve to know what you are entitled to. Contact an experienced advocates right away to discuss your situation and learn about your rights.
Disabled Vets helps veterans nationwide. You can have our VA benefits advocates provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case when you call us or contact us online now to receive a free consultation.
Agent Orange Claims Eligibility
The VA states the Agent Orange Act of 1991 establishes that Vietnam veterans who served between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, are assumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange for the purposes of VA compensation benefits. Such veterans do not need to prove they were exposed to Agent Orange to recover disability compensation.
Service in Vietnam is defined as service on land in Vietnam or on the inland waterways of Vietnam, and includes veterans who set foot in Vietnam, including brief visits ashore or serving on a ship in the waterways.
Veterans who served on a Blue Water Navy ship are not presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange unless they were aboard ships on the inland waterways or if they went ashore in Vietnam. These veterans can qualify for benefits if they have one or more illnesses believed to be caused by Agent Orange and either their military record shows they were aboard a U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship in an inland waterway or if they went ashore in Vietnam.
Children of Vietnam veterans with specific birth defects can also be entitled to VA benefits. Surviving spouses, dependent parents, and dependent children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange could also be eligible for benefits.
Diseases Related to Agent Orange
The VA lists the following cancers as being believed to be caused by contact with Agent Orange:
- Chronic B-cell Leukemia
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Respiratory Cancers (Including Lung Cancer)
- Prostate Cancer
- Soft Tissue Sarcomas (Except for Mesothelioma, Kaposi’s Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma)
Other illnesses that the VA says are believed to be caused by contact with Agent Orange include:
- AL Amyloidosis
- Chloracne
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Peripheral Neuropathy, Early Onset
- Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
A veteran could also qualify for benefits if chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, or early-onset peripheral neuropathy becomes noticeable to a degree of 10% or more within one year of the last date of exposure to Agent Orange. No time limit exists for the other listed diseases.
Filing Claims Based on Agent Orange Exposure
A veteran who believes they had contact with Agent Orange or the child of a veteran who had contact with Agent Orange can request a VA Agent Orange Registry health exam. Veterans must have served in at least one of the following capacities:
- Served in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975 (for any length of time)
- On the inland waterways of Vietnam (“Brown Water Veterans”) on swift boats or river patrol boats
- In Korea in a unit in or near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971
- In Thailand between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975
- In other locations that involved contact with Agent Orange during a military operation or while testing, transporting, or spraying herbicides for military purposes
The VA Agent Orange Registry health exam will include your history of contact with Agent Orange and other herbicides as well your health history, a physical exam, and any other medical tests that could be needed such as X-rays or blood tests. The VA Agent Orange Registry health exam is not a VA disability claim, so you will still need to file a VA disability claim separately.
With an Agent Orange claim, it is always helpful to make sure that your application includes the necessary supporting documentation or other material documenting your history of Agent Orange exposure. Claims may be filed online, in person, or by mail.
How Can Disabled Vets Help Me?
Are you a veteran or the child of a veteran struggling with a disease caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam? If so, be sure to quickly contact Disabled Vets.
Our team understands what you are going through, and we have the skill and knowledge necessary to help you pursue the benefits you need and deserve. Call us or contact us online now to schedule a free consultation with a qualified Agent Orange exposure advocates.
