In 1994, based upon the IOM’s findings, the VA officially recognized respiratory cancers (including laryngeal cancer, and cancer of the lung, bronchus and trachea) as a presumptive condition caused by exposure to Agent Orange.
What did Agent Orange do to veterans?
United States military personnel used Agent Orange to clear trees and vegetation in fields known to hide enemies. Unfortunately, Agent Orange exposure has led to long-term health effects in many Vietnam era veterans, including multiple myeloma, Parkinson’s Disease, and various types of cancer.
What happened to some soldiers who were exposed to Agent Orange?
Through this process, the list of ‘presumptive’ conditions has grown since 1991, and currently the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has listed prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, multiple myeloma, type II diabetes mellitus, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, chloracne, porphyria …
How do I apply for Agent Orange exposure?
There are three ways to apply for VA disability benefits based on Agent Orange exposure:
- Online, using the VA.gov website.
- Over the phone, with the help of a VA representative or agent.
- In person at a regional VA office.
How do they test you for Agent Orange?
A physical exam. A discussion of your service history, including any suspected contact with Agent Orange or other herbicides. Your medical history, including major illnesses and surgeries. If necessary, medical tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or blood tests.
Where was Agent Orange tested during the Vietnam War?
Veterans who served on or near the perimeters of military bases in Thailand during the Vietnam Era. Veterans who served where herbicides were tested and stored outside of Vietnam. Veterans who were crew members on C-123 planes flown after the Vietnam War.
Can a veteran get lung cancer from Agent Orange?
However, Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange in service and later developed lung cancer do not need to prove as much. This is because lung cancer is a presumptive condition for Agent Orange exposure. What is a presumptive condition?
When did Agent Orange start to affect veterans?
Once a disease is put on the list, it is easier to get disability compensation for it because the VA presumes the disease is a result of exposure to Agent Orange for veterans who served in Vietnam or its inland waterways between 1962 and 1975. The same applies to veterans who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone between 1968 and 1971.
Are there diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange?
VA currently presumes that some diseases resulted from exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. The Veterans Health Administration’s Public Health website lists these diseases VA presumes are associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service:
