VA encourages veterans exposed to Agent Orange to apply for benefits

Benefits claims for Vietnam veterans who have certain medical conditions due to Agent Orange exposure have increased substantially since the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) added new conditions to its presumptive condition list last year. The VA encourages "all potentially eligible veterans to apply as soon as possible to preserve the most favorable effective date for payments." Potentially eligible veterans include those who were exposed based on duty or visitation in Vietnam or on its inland waterways between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975; exposed along the demilitarized zone in Korea between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971; or exposed due to herbicide tests and storage at military bases within and outside of the United States.

For more information:

• Information about the presumptive condition list and how to file a claim: Agent Orange Claims Processing System
• VA press release: Over $2.2 Billion in Retroactive Agent Orange Benefits Paid to 89,000 Vietnam Veterans and Survivors for Presumptive Conditions
• VA press release: VA Posts Online List of Ships Associated with Presumptive Agent Orange Exposure