Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions

Below is the list of health conditions the VA recognizes as service-connected for Vietnam veterans based on exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides.

• AL Amyloidosis: A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs.
• B Cell Leukemias:  There are several different types of lymphoid leukemias. (B-cell chronic Lymphocytic leukemia/small Lymphocytic lymphoma; Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Mature B-cell type; B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia; Hairy cell leukemia) And, 14 kinds of lymphomas involving B-cells (Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; Follicular lymphoma; Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue lymphoma (MALT); Small cell lymphocytic lymphoma; Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL); Burkitt lymphoma; Mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma; Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia; Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (NMZL); Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL); Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma; Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma; Primary effusion lymphoma; & Lymphomatoid granulomatosis.
• Bladder Cancer: A type of cancer that affects the bladder where urine is stored before it leaves the body. The most common type of bladder cancer starts in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. This is called urothelial or transitional cell carcinoma.
• Chloracne: A skin condition that occurs soon after dioxin exposure and looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. The first sign may be excessive oiliness of the skin. This is accompanied or followed by numerous blackheads. In mild cases, the blackheads may be limited to the areas around the eyes extending to the temples. In more severe cases, blackheads may appear in many places, especially over the cheekbone and other facial areas, behind the ears, and along the arms. Under VA’s rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange.
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A disease that progresses slowly with increasing production of excessive numbers of white blood cells.
• Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2): A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin.
• Hodgkin’s Disease: A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.
• Hypertension: High blood pressure.
• Hypothyroidism: A condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone.
• Ischemic Heart Disease: (IHD) is a condition in which there is an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to a portion of the myocardium; it typically occurs when there is an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply & demand. It includes but is not limited to, acute, subacute, and old myocardial infarction; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease (including coronary spasm) and coronary bypass surgery; & stable, unstable, and Prinzmetal’s angina. (It does NOT include hypertension or peripheral manifestations of arteriosclerosis such as peripheral vascular disease or stroke.)
• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS): An abnormal protein — known as monoclonal protein or M protein — found in your blood. This abnormal protein is formed within your bone marrow, the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills in the center of most of your bones.
• Multiple Myeloma: A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in bone marrow.
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: A group of malignant tumors (cancers) that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue. These tumors are relatively rare compared to other types of cancer, and although survival rates have improved during the past two decades, these diseases tend to be fatal.
• Parkinsonism and/or Parkinson’s Disease: A motor system condition with symptoms that include trembling of the limbs and face and impaired balance.
• Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset: A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. This condition affects only the peripheral nervous system, that is, only the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. Under VA’s rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange.
• Porphyria Cutanea Tarda: A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA’s rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange.
• Prostate Cancer: Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.
• Respiratory Cancers: Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or Mesothelioma): A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues.

Conditions Recognized in Children of Vietnam Veterans

• Spina bifida (except spina bifida occulta): A neural tube birth defect that results from the failure of the bony portion of the spine to close properly in the developing fetus during early pregnancy.
• Certain other birth defects in the children of women Vietnam Veterans that served in Vietnam from February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975. These conditions must have resulted in permanent physical or mental disability, must be due to the herbicide exposure, and not inherited.

Presumptive Locations for Agent Orange Exposure

Vietnam – on land or on the inland waterways of Vietnam from Jan. 9, 1962 to May 7,1975, or on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia

Korea – served in a unit along the DMZ from September 1, 1967 to Aug. 31, 1971

Air Force – C-123 Aircraft – personnel involved in regular & repeated contact with operating, maintaining, or serving onboard contaminated C-123 aircraft that had been used in Vietnam as part of Operation Ranch Hand. This includes active duty AF & AF Reservists between 1969 to 1986.

Thailand – Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from 1/9/1962, through 6/30/1976 (PACT ACT).

Laos – from 12/1/1965, through 9/30/1969.

Cambodia – at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from 4/16/1969, through 4/30/1969 (PACT ACT).

Guam or American Samoa – or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from 1/9/1962, through 7/30/1980.

Johnston Atolla – or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from 1/1/1972, through 9/30/1977 (PACT ACT).

 

Veterans must show factual basis that they were exposed to herbicides during their military service as shown by evidence of daily work duties, performance evaluation reports, or other credible evidence.

 

Our office can assist you with applying for this benefit, or any of the benefits listed on these pages. Please call us at 910-253-2233 to schedule an appointment.