During the Vietnam War, U.S. military forces used herbicides in Vietnam and Laos to remove forest cover, destroy crops, and clear vegetation from the perimeters of U.S. bases. Since that time, the VA has determined that a positive association exists between exposure to Agent Orange and the subsequent development of certain cancers and illness and they are categorized as Presumptive Conditions.
When a condition has “Presumptive” status, that means that the VA process presumes that active-duty service caused these conditions. It is then up to the VA to disprove the connection. If your health condition is due to exposure to Agent Orange during your service, you may be eligible for VA Disability compensation.
Who May Qualify for Agent Orange VA Disability Benefits
To receive VA disability compensation based on Agent Orange, 1) you must have a health condition related to exposure to Agent Orange and 2) you must have served in a location that exposed you to Agent Orange.
Requirements for Agent Orange Presumptive Health Condition
The VA has determined that certain cancers and certain illnesses are linked to Agent Orange and have designated them as Presumptive Status.
Presumptive Agent Orange Cancers
- Bladder cancer
- Chronic B-cell leukemia
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Prostate cancer
- Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer
- Some soft tissue sarcomas
Presumptive Agent Orange Other Illnesses
- AL amyloidosis
- Chloracne, or other types of acneiform disease like it
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- High blood pressure, hypertension
- Hypothyroidism
- Ischemic heart disease
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, MGUS
- Parkinsonism
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy, early onset
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
Requirements for Agent Orange Presumption Location
If you have one of the listed cancers or illnesses, you must also meet at least one the Presumptive Location requirements. Initially, veterans had to have served between certain dates in Vietnam or Cambodia. This was expanded to include serving certain dates in other foreign locations such as Korea, Laos, Thailand and others; certain Air Force locations; and certain U.S locations where Agent Orange was transported, tested or stored.
In 2019, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 expanded the eligibility list. And on March 5, 2024, the VA again expanded benefits as called for under The PACT Act.
What to Do If Your VA Disability Claim Is Re-Rated
If your service-related cancer goes into remission, the VA is required to re-rate you. Often, the re-rating does not take into account Secondary conditions. Quatrini Law Group can help evaluate your rating or if the VA missed Secondary Conditions.
How Quatrini Law Group Helps Veterans With Disability Claims
Meet Our Veterans’ Disability Attorneys
Michael V. Quatrini | (724) 552-2757
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Frequently Asked Questions About Agent Orange Veterans’ Disability Benefits
Who is eligible to claim benefits for Agent Orange exposure?
Veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, in or near the Korean DMZ between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971, or in certain other locations where Agent Orange was stored or tested may be eligible. The VA has established a list of “presumptive” diseases. If you served in these areas and developed one of these conditions, the VA automatically assumes it was caused by Agent Orange, so you don’t need to prove direct exposure.
What diseases or conditions are covered under Agent Orange presumptive service connection?
The VA recognizes a long list of presumptive conditions linked to Agent Orange, including several cancers, Type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and AL amyloidosis, among others. If you’ve been diagnosed with any VA-recognized presumptive condition and meet service requirements, you can file a claim without needing to establish a direct link between your illness and your exposure.
What evidence do you need to file an Agent Orange Claim?
Because Agent Orange conditions are Presumptive, you do not need to prove Agent Orange caused your condition. You will need Proof of your military records; Medical Evidence of your diagnosis; and confirmation of your location during active service.
Speak With a Veterans’ Disability Lawyer in Pennsylvania
As with all of our work at the Quatrini Law Group, we offer a free consultation to review your VA claim. We want to help you decide which claims are ready to appeal, and which appeal options may be right for you. Please contact our office at 1-888-534-6016 or email us to schedule your free telephone, video or in-person appointment.