AGENT ORANGE
Approximately 20 million gallons of herbicides were used in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 to remove unwanted plant life and leaves which otherwise provided cover for enemy forces during the Vietnam Conflict. Shortly following their military service in Vietnam, some veterans reported a variety of health problems and concerns which some of them attributed to exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed a comprehensive program to respond to these medical problems and concerns. The principal elements of this program include quality health care services, disability compensation for veterans with service-connected illnesses, scientific research and outreach and education. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs would like to encourage any veteran with in-country Vietnam service and diagnosed diabetes mellitus to contact his or her local VA office for information and assistance on applying for benefits. Or you may apply on-line) http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp
Current Conditions Considered by VA Presumptive to AO Exposure:
These are the diseases which VA currently presumes resulted from exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. The law requires that some of these diseases be at least 10% disabling under VA's rating regulations within a deadline that began to run the day you left Vietnam. If there is a deadline, it is listed in parentheses after the name of the disease.
If you would like any additional information regarding the specific medical conditions listed below, please see the Agent Orange Briefing Fact Sheets Web Page .
Chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne. (Must occur within one year of exposure to Agent Orange).
Hodgkin's disease.
Multiple myeloma.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy. (For purposes of this section, the term acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy means temporary peripheral neuropathy that appears within weeks or months of exposure to an herbicide agent and resolves within two years of the date of onset.)
Porphyria cutanea tarda. (Must occur within one year of exposure to Agent Orange).
Prostate cancer.
Respiratory cancers (cancer of the lung, bronchus, larynx, or trachea).
Soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma)
Children of Vietnam veterans who were suffering from spina bifida (38 U.S.C. ยง1805)
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
(Source: United States Department of Veterans Affairs website, 2007)
