Veterans Benefits- Disabilities caused by Agent Orange
The Agent Orange Act of 1991, which directs VA to establish presumptions of service connection for any disease discussed in the Institute of Medicine’s biennial reports to VA for which the evidence shows a positive association. The institute’s most recent report, issued in July 2009, found sufficient evidence of a positive association between exposure to the Agent Orange herbicide and B-cell leukemia, the most common cancer of white blood cells, as well as Parkinson’s disease and heart disease.
The VA published final rules in August 2010 to add ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and B-Cell leukemias to the list of ailments presumed to be the result of military service in Vietnam veterans. As a result, beginning as early as Oct. 20, 2010, up to 250,000 Vietnam veterans will become eligible for veterans disability compensation and medical care.
Studies show a significant link between heart disease and the toxic defoliant Agent Orange. Six of nine rigorous studies reviewed by the agency showed strong associations between the herbicide and heart disease. tThe law requires the Veterans Affair agency to grant automatic benefits for diseases that are scientifically associated with Agent Orange.
The full list of presumptive diseases / illnesses associated with Agent Orange includes:
1. B cell leukemias;
2. Parkinson's disease;
3. ischemic heart disease;
4. Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy;
5. AL Amyloidosis;
6. Chloracne;
7. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia;
8. Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2);
9. Hodgkin’s Disease;
10. Multiple Myeloma
11. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
12. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
13. Prostate Cancer
14. Respiratory Cancers, and
15. Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)
The military used Agent Orange to defoliate plants and trees in which Vietnamese insurgents hid during the Vietnam War.
If you are suffering from a disability while in the military and are not receiving VA disability benefits or are not happy with the disability rating the VA has given your injuries, you should contact our office immediately and we will review your case, call 1-866-540-0677.
