What Does Agent Orange Do to the Body?
During the Vietnam war years, from 1962 to 1975, one of the most significant battle factors was the natural environment. Vietnam’s lush tropical jungles made ground movement difficult and provided the enemy countless hiding spots. To counter this advantage the U.S. military air-dropped herbicides, including one later discovered to have potentially lethal side effects on humans: Agent Orange. From 1965 to 1971 alone, the Department of Defense dropped 11.22 million gallons on Vietnam lands.
Of the 7.4 million Veterans who served in Vietnam during these years, roughly 2.8 million U.S. military personnel were exposed to Agent Orange. For some, tragically, a new type of battle would begin due to their exposure to the hazardous chemical agent.
Certain conditions have been linked to Agent Orange based on medical research. The VA maintains a list of these conditions, also known as “presumptive conditions.” These conditions are “presumptive” because if a Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange in service and now has one of these conditions, the VA will “presume” the condition is related to Agent Orange exposure. This provides the veteran an easier path to obtain service-connected benefits.
It is possible that Agent Orange exposure can cause or aggravate conditions that are not on the presumptive list. Just because a condition is not on the presumptive list, does not mean it is not related to Agent Orange exposure. If you have a cancer or illness that’s not on the list of presumptive conditions, but you believe it was caused by Agent Orange exposure, you can still file a claim for VA disability benefits, but you will likely need to submit more evidence.
What Cancers are Caused by Agent Orange Exposure?
Agent Orange is now known to cause several cancers. These presumptive cancers include bladder cancer, chronic B-cell leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers (including lung cancer), and some soft tissue sarcomas.
What Other Illnesses Can Agent Orange Exposure Cause?
There are many other health issues associated with Agent Orange exposure. These include AL amyloidosis, diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, Hodgkin’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, chloracne (or other types of acneiform disease like it), peripheral neuropathy (early onset), and porphyria cutanea tarda may be related to Agent Orange if the condition was at least 10% disabling within one year of herbicide exposure.
The 2022 signing into law of the Pact Act also added two new conditions: high blood pressure (also called hypertension), and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
The cancers and illnesses listed above are considered presumptive conditions. This means that if you have one of these conditions and meet the qualifying criteria for a VA disability claim, you won’t have to prove the link between your condition and your military service.
Additionally, if an Agent Orange-exposed veteran’s biological children suffer from birth defects, including spina bifida, those conditions may be related to Agent Orange and the child might be eligible for health care, compensation, and job training.
What Are the Requirements for Presumption of Exposure?
You have a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange if you meet at least one of the following service requirements. Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, you served any length of time in one of these locations:
- the Republic of Vietnam, or
- aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam, or
- on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia.
The PACT Act extended this list to include additional locations in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as well as additional Reserve locations. The Act also added provisions for veterans who were involved in transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange. Visit the VA website for a full list of locations and eligible date ranges.
Get the Benefits You Deserve
The adverse effects of Agent Orange exposure continue to impact the lives of many Veterans. It can take both expertise and perseverance to obtain the appropriate level of VA disability benefits. At Vets National Advocates, we help Veterans and their families get the support they need and deserve. We use our expert knowledge to navigate the complexity of disability claims and benefits. Contact us today for a free consultation using our online form or call 1 (877) 777-4021.
