Agent Orange Lingers After War

Recently, the VA asked the Institute of Medicine to investigate whether Agent Orange residues left on C-123 Aircrafts could be hazardous. Between the years of 1972 and 1982 Air Force Reserve personnel trained and worked on the Post-Vietnam C-123 Aircrafts that sprayed Agent Orange herbicides during the Vietnam War. According to the Institute of Medicine, “It is plausible that, at least in some cases (which cannot be associated with specific individuals), the reservists’ exposure exceeded health guidelines for workers in enclosed settings. Thus, some reservists quite likely experienced non-trivial increases in their risks of adverse health outcomes.”

To download a full PDF on Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft use this link: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18848/post-vietnam-dioxin-exposure-in-agent-orange-contaminated-c-123-aircraft 

The VA has an extremely strict policy on who can receive benefits relating to Agent Orange exposure. There are two specific guidelines that the VA presumes veterans were exposed to these herbicides and do not have to show service connection to receive benefits.

1. In Vietnam anytime between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, including brief visits ashore or service aboard a ship that operated on the inland waterways of Vietnam.
2. In or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971.

 The VA has a list of presumptive diseases they believe to be connected to Agent Orange exposure; these include: 

• AL Amyloidosis
• Chronic B-cell Leukemia
• Chloracne
• Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
• Hodgkin’s Disease
• Ischemic Heart Disease
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
• Prostate Cancer
• Respiratory Cancers
• Soft Tissue Sarcomas

If you applied for benefits regarding exposure to Agent Orange and were denied, call our experienced veteran disability lawyers 866-866-8387.