Agent Orange was an herbicide sprayed on Southeast Asia during the Vietnam Era. Although no amount of money can truly compensate our losses, VA claims should be asserted for the money these victims are entitled to.
The VA will presume that a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange if the veteran served in Vietnam, or in the waters offshore, between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. If the veteran later develops any disease on a list of presumptive Agent Orange diseases, the VA will grant presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure. The diseases that can be presumptively service connected based on herbicide exposure are chloracne, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, porphyria cutanea tarda, some respiratory cancers (lung, larynx, bronchus, and trachea), prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus (Type II), acute or subacute peripheral neuropathy, and many soft-tissue sarcomas.
We know that the biological children of veterans who served in Vietnam may also be entitled to benefits, if they were born with spina bifida. Today, other claims asserted by the children of Vietnam veterans’ may be difficult. However, asserting the claim is a way to raise your voice to build the attention this deserves. I agree that our goal is to have Congress expand presumptive exposure to include these descendants. Congress has extended presumptive connection to some Gulf War veterans.
A Veterans Administration accredited attorney will fight for you. This is what I do. It may take many more years, but the possibility of compensation eventually being awarded to these young victims makes it worth the effort.
