During the Vietnam War the United States military engaged in chemical warfare to cut off the enemy’s food supply. The military dumped almost 21 million gallons of Agent Orange on parts of rural Vietnam between 1961-1971. While this program was fairly successful and did in fact destroy a good portion of the enemy’s crops, it also had a lethal side effect on the military personnel who handled the compound.
The VA currently has a presumption of disability for anyone who has been diagnosed with one of 14 conditions and can prove they served on certain vessels or bases. The illness are:
Recently, the VA expanded the list of vessels presumptive to Agent Orange exposure. This will allow more veterans to easily apply for benefits. The vessels added are as follows:
Not only did the VA add these seven ships, it also increased the date range for those who served on the Fechteler. There were also adjustments made to several other service bases and locations.
The VA’s list of locations and dates is never set in stone, so it’s important for Vietnam veterans who think they may have been exposed to Agent Orange to regularly check to see if they qualify for Agent Orange benefits. The VA keeps an online list of service locations that qualify for benefits.
This latest list expansion is great news for Vietnam vets and there might be more good news coming. Several Congressmen have sponsored the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act which would also grow the Agent Orange list of locations and dates. If you think you might qualify for Agent Orange benefits or if you have questions about how VA presumptive benefits work, call Jan Dils Attorneys at Law.
