Agent Orange
During the Vietnam War, herbicides were used to defoliate trees in order to remove cover for the enemy. The most common was called "Agent Orange." There are many health conditions, many of which are life-threatening, which have been linked to Agent Orange exposure. Many of these illnesses did not appear until years after the Veteran left the military. Many Veterans do not even realize that their current illness has been linked to Agent Orange exposure while serving. Veterans who were exposed to the herbicide during their service, and now have certain illnesses and/or disabilities are eligible for benefits from the VA.
Details
Harmful exposure to Agent Orange is presumed to have affected veterans who had their "boots on the ground" in Vietnam. Those aboard certain Navy ships were also considered to have been exposed. Exposure also occurred in Thailand, the demilitarized zone in Korea, and in some other sites.
Remember - the key is to prove you were in Vietnam during the war, or in one of the specified areas. Your service and personnel records from the National Records Center should prove this, but if your records were lost in the devastating VA fire in the 1970's which destroyed many records, you will need to look for an alternative source. Affidavits from service colleagues, photos, and items may help prove the Veteran served in Vietnam. Generally, your discharge does not reflect that you were in Vietnam, but it could.
Illnesses Presumed by the VA to be Service-Connected for Agent Orange Veterans
Note that some of these disorders, such as type II diabetes, ischemic heart disease (insufficient blood supply to the heart likely due to cardiovascular disease), and Parkinson's disease are fairly common among the elderly. The number of claims for Agent Orange are expected to go up considerably because of the aging population of Vietnam Era veterans.
Details
Harmful exposure to Agent Orange is presumed to have affected veterans who had their "boots on the ground" in Vietnam. Those aboard certain Navy ships were also considered to have been exposed. Exposure also occurred in Thailand, the demilitarized zone in Korea, and in some other sites.
Remember - the key is to prove you were in Vietnam during the war, or in one of the specified areas. Your service and personnel records from the National Records Center should prove this, but if your records were lost in the devastating VA fire in the 1970's which destroyed many records, you will need to look for an alternative source. Affidavits from service colleagues, photos, and items may help prove the Veteran served in Vietnam. Generally, your discharge does not reflect that you were in Vietnam, but it could.
Illnesses Presumed by the VA to be Service-Connected for Agent Orange Veterans
- AL amyloidosis
- chloracne or other acneform disease similar to chloracne
- prophyria cutanea tarda
- soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma or mesothelioma)
- Hodgkin's disease
- multiple myeloma
- respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea)
- non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- prostate cancer
- acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy
- diabetes mellitus (Type 2)
- all chronic B-cell leukemias (including, but not limited to, hairy-cell leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
- Parkinson's disease
- ischemic heart disease
Note that some of these disorders, such as type II diabetes, ischemic heart disease (insufficient blood supply to the heart likely due to cardiovascular disease), and Parkinson's disease are fairly common among the elderly. The number of claims for Agent Orange are expected to go up considerably because of the aging population of Vietnam Era veterans.
Southern California VA Benefits Attorney Jane M. McNamara - McNamara Law Firm, PC - (661) 287-3260
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Nothing on this website is intended to create an attorney/client relationship. Information on this site is subject to change, and you should always discuss your matter with a qualified professional.
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