I Served in Vietnam, Am I Presumed to Have Been Exposed to Agent Orange?
If you served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, you are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not require you to have any specific evidence of exposure when applying for VA disability benefits other than your military records showing service in Vietnam during those years.
If you served in Vietnam and later developed a medical condition recognized as being associated with Agent Orange exposure, you can receive VA disability benefits on a presumptive basis as well.
VA Disability Benefits for Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
If you served “boots-on-the-ground” in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, you are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. However, VA does not grant disability benefits for exposure alone; you must also have an associated, disabling medical condition as a result of your exposure to Agent Orange. If you have any of the following conditions, VA presumes it resulted from your exposure during service in Vietnam:
- AL Amyloidosis
- Chronic B-cell Leukemias
- Chloracne
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset
- Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
- Prostate Cancer
- Respiratory Cancers (cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus)
- Soft Tissue Sarcomas
If your condition does not appear on this list, you will need to provide evidence demonstrating that it is likely caused by Agent Orange exposure. Your doctor can give a statement in support of this relationship. Lab test results may also be helpful to include. A veterans lawyer may also be able to help review your case and build a strong appeal that establishes a connection between Agent Orange and your condition.
Presumptive Service Connection Is Not Limited to Those Who Served in Vietnam
VA also recognizes veterans who served in the following capacities as having been exposed to Agent Orange:
- The Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971.
- C-123 aircraft used to transport and spray Agent Orange during the War that was later used by Reservists for cargo and medical evacuations after the War.
Your VA disability lawyer can review your service records and determine if you qualify for presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.
For a Free VA Disability Consultation With Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD, Call 800-544-9144 Today
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD is dedicated to helping disabled veterans pursue VA disability benefits. If you are a Vietnam veteran suffering from a disabling medical condition, we may be able to help. To get started with a free case evaluation with a member of our team, call us at 800-544-9144.
