Agent Orange Exposure: A must-read for all Vietnam-era veterans - Rep for Vets (2023)

Our full understanding of the health effects ofOrange agentit has expanded over the years. This also applies to the official VA position on what diseases are caused by Agent Orange and who is entitled to disability benefits. Yet 50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, some veterans are still hoping to reap the benefits of Agent Orange exposure.

In 2021 three new conditions:Bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and parkinsonism- have been added to Agent Orangelist of supposed benefits. This increased disability payments for thousands of Vietnam-era veterans. buthypertensionydementiathat researchers say are linked to Agent Orange exposure are not yet compensable conditions.

In 2020, legislation from Congress made Blue Water Navy veterans eligible for Agent Orange benefits. The VA had previously turned away these veterans who were operating along the waterways of Vietnam. Veterans who served in Thailand and reservists who manned Agent Orange at a handful of US air force bases are also said to have been exposed. A site of toxic exposure that is not yet recognized isGuam. Vietnam-era veterans stationed on Guam used Agent Orange to clear brush around bases. And while these veterans suffer from the same illnesses as their counterparts in Vietnam, they are not afforded the same presumption of service affiliation.

In this article, we take an in-depth look at the latest developments on the front lines of the fight for Agent Orange profits. If you need a refresher on what Agent Orange is, how it affects the body, etc., continue onfrequent questionssection at the end of the article.

Hypertension and exposure to Agent Orange

Health advocates have long claimed that there is a strong link between high blood pressure, more commonly known as high blood pressure, and Agent Orange exposure. But it's not on the putative list of illnesses and conditions automatically assumed to be service-connected in Vietnam. Right now, veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange and have high blood pressure must overcome an additional bureaucratic hurdle by proving a direct connection to the service.

The Real Cost of War Recognition Act, introduced by Congress in May 2021, aims to address the long-term effects ofburn wells, the Agent Orange of the post-9/11 generation. The bill would also help Vietnam veterans sufferinghigh blood pressure. If approved, the hypertension is presumed to be service-related, allowing for an estimate160,000 veterans to qualify for additional disability benefits.

There is no shortage of research showing a link between Agent Orange exposure and high blood pressure. VA officials say more testing is needed. One of the reasons hypertension was removed from the list of suspects could be the price. If high blood pressure is included on the list, the VA would pay up to $15 billion in new disability payments to veterans.

Bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and parkinsonism were added to the list of purported benefits

Most of the advances in Agent Orange benefits have been made through Congressional legislation rather than VA's internal processes. For that reason, we're optimistic that a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress last year that would completely change the way VA treats illnesses caused by toxic exposures. The Real Cost of War Recognition Act would make it easier for toxin-exposed veterans to receive purported disability benefits when there is scientific evidence of an association.

In 2021, bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and parkinsonism were added to the list of diseases believed to be related to Agent Orange (also known as the putative list). Parkinsonism was added to recognize the disabling effects of Parkinson's disease-like symptoms that do not meet full criteria for a diagnosis.

In addition to these three, the VA already recognizes 14 other conditions related to exposure to Agent Orange. Is it so:

• AL-Amyloidosis
• Chronic B-cell leukemias
• chloracne
• Diabetes mellitus type 2
• morbus hodgkin
• Ischemic heart disease
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Parkinson's disease
• peripheral neuropathy, early onset
• Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
• Prostate cancer
• respiratory cancer
• soft tissue sarcomas

Why is the service connection assumption so important?

A presumptive service connection is important because it allows the VA to bypass the "Nexus" requirement, which means you don't need a doctor to say that all of your symptoms stem from a specific event or events that occur during your assignment abroad. In other words, it goes through a layer of red tape. The requirements for a presumptive service connection for Vietnam Veterans are as follows:

• Do you qualify as a veteran of the Vietnam War?
• They have served in Vietnam or its waterways.
• Have a qualifying chronic disability
• The disability first arose during your active assignment abroad or at least 10% disability since your return from duty

If you believe you have been exposed to Agent Orange and have cancer or another serious illness that is not on the list of presumed benefits, you may still be entitled to benefits. Get in touch with aVA Certified Claims Specialist with Veterinary Representativetoday to help you get the benefits you deserve.

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Dementia and exposure to Agent Orange

As Vietnam-era veterans age, doctors and researchers are seeing more and more cases of dementia. Scientists have long known that several types of cancer—lung cancer, bladder cancer, and even brain cancer—are more common in people exposed to Agent Orange. The link between dementia and Agent Orange is a recent finding.

VA researchers have found that veterans exposed to Agent Orange are 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with a memory disorder such as dementia. Dementia is a serious condition that can leave you needyhelp and assistancefor help meeting your basic needs.

Dementia occurs in at least 4 unique forms, and symptoms range from cognitive effects to loss of muscle coordination.

• cognitive- Memory loss, mental confusion
• behave– Irritability, lack of control, restlessness
• state of mind– Anxiety, mood swings, nervousness
• psychological- Depression, hallucinations and paranoia
• muscular– Loss of coordination, unsteady gait

If you experience any of these symptoms, it's worth getting checked out by a VA doctor to determine if it could be related to your service in Vietnam or another country involved in the conflict.

Need help with your Agent Orange claim? Call us today at1-888-573-7838, or click the button below to schedule a free consultation.

Receive disability benefits for service-connected dementia

To receive dementia benefits, the veteran must have medical records showing that the dementia is service-connected.

If the veteran suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while on duty or was diagnosed with PTSD or depression upon return, their risk of developing dementia is much higher and therefore likely related to the service.

The link between Agent Orange exposure and dementia is less understood, but research shows a correlation. AStudy published in 2021in themAmerican Journal of Medicinediscovered that veterans are exposed to Agent Orangetwice as likely to develop dementia, compared to veterans who were not exposed. This is a very important new finding. If more research confirms these findings, it will be much easier for veterans who develop dementia as a result of Agent Orange exposure to assert their disability claims and receive the benefits they deserve.

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans are eligible for contingent benefits

By 2020, only Vietnam veterans who met VA's Boots on the Ground requirement were believed to have been exposed to the herbicide. That changed with the passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which expanded the presumption of exposure to the waters off Vietnam, making an estimated 62,000 more veterans eligible for benefits.

we wrote about itBlue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019if you are interested in learning more.

The truth about exposure to Agent Orange in Guam

While the use of Agent Orange is most commonly associated with Vietnam, tens of thousands of military personnel stationed on Guam may have been exposed to the toxic herbicide. Despite the official VA position that Agent Orange was not used on Guam, or was only used "commercially," evidence suggests that Agent Orange was used on Guam during the Vietnam War, particularly a 2020 report from the National Veterans Legal Services Program and Veterans Legal Services. Clinic at Yale Law School.

The clearest evidence that Guam veterans were exposed to Agent Orange is the fact that they suffer from the same cancers and diseases as their counterparts who served elsewhere.

One obstacle to the Agent Orange exposure claims for Guam veterans was the VA position that Agent Orange was used "commercially" there (to clear vegetation around bases), while in Vietnam it was used "tactically." "(to provide cover for the enemy and food supplies to destroy). . On that basis, a distinction without distinction, the VA denies Guam veterans a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange and entitlement to disability benefits.

If you believe you were exposed to Agent Orange while serving on Guam between 1958 and 1980, you are eligible for disability benefits. Securing these benefits can be more difficult, but they are worth fighting for. For now, Guam veterans must prove their direct connection to the service by providing medical evidence and presenting evidence.

The positive decisions by the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) awarding benefits to Guam veterans were based on consistent testimony from veterans about their exposure to Agent Orange while serving on Guam.

Here at Rep for Vets, we don't like the idea of ​​leaving some veterans behind. That's what we fight forAllVeterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam era are getting the benefits they deserve.

Call us today at(888) 573-7838for a free consultation on your Agent Orange-related claim, or complete this formquick shapeto start. We appreciate any help we can.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Agent Orange

What is Agent Orange?

Agent Orange is a herbicide used to destroy enemy cover and food supplies in mainland Vietnam, the Korean DMZ, and Guam. It was used to clear vegetation where Vietnamese fighters hid and to reduce the Viet Cong's food supply. Agent Orange contains a chemical called dioxin which is very harmful to the body in general.

How does Agent Orange affect the body?

The most destructive chemical in Agent Orange is dioxin. Dioxin affects several different organ systems. Once dioxin enters the body, it stays for a long time due to its chemical composition. Chemically, it is a very stable toxin. It is stored in adipose tissue and is then absorbed throughout the body. This is why Agent Orange/Dioxin exposure is so widespread in its destruction of the body, causing everything from cancer to respiratory and neurological diseases.

How many veterans were exposed to Agent Orange?

The VA estimates that 2.6 million veterans were exposed to Agent Orange, but other studies suggest that the actual number of veterans exposed to Agent Orange is much higher than government estimates.

We usually associate Agent Orange with those who fought in the jungles of Vietnam. But the new laws (Blue Water) and all kinds of work by veterans' organizations have made it known that there are US troops outside of mainland Vietnam who have been exposed.

US troops and reservists serving in the Korean DMZ, Army and Air Force bases in Thailand, and some US Air Force bases were exposed to Agent Orange. There is also lay evidence showing that Agent Orange was widely sprayed at bases in Guam.

What are the 14 Agent Orange diseases currently believed to be service-connected?

• AL-Amyloidosis
• bladder cancer -nuevo
• Chronic B-cell leukemias
• chloracne
• Diabetes mellitus type 2
• morbus hodgkin
• hypothyroidism -nuevo
• Ischemic heart disease
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Parkinson's disease
• Parkinsonism –nuevo
• peripheral neuropathy, early onset
• Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
• Prostate cancer
• respiratory cancer
• soft tissue sarcomas

What is the average salary of Agent Orange?

A single veteran who is totally disabled from Agent Orange-related illnesses is paid about $3,146 per month. If you have dependents, this monthly number increases. The VA uses a disability rating system to allocate benefits. Learnhow to calculate your degree of disabilityHere.

Photo above: Veteran of the 173rd Airborne Brigade | Credit:Robert Couse Bakervia Flickr