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Physical Injuries
- Disabling Illnesses Common to the Gulf War Veteran (Part B)
- Disabling Illnesses Common to the Gulf War Veteran (Part A)
- How Department of Veterans Affairs Agent Orange Cases are Handled (Part B)
- How Department of Veterans Affairs Agent Orange Cases are Handled (Part A)
- Disabling Effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam Veterans (Part B)
How Department of Veterans Affairs Agent Orange Cases are Handled (Part A)
When the veterans of our U.S. military began developing several illnesses and conditions related to their time in service, it was time to act for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Agent Orange exposure has been found to be one of the many common problems related to service in Vietnam that veterans face later in life.
As awareness spreads of the effects of Agent Orange in Veterans Affairs, the VA is struggling to cope with new cases of Vietnam veterans with disabling conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure. The Veterans Administration sees Agent Orange cases more frequently now that the effects are better understood, which may qualify many more veterans for health care and disability benefits.
Department of Veterans Affairs' Agent Orange Explanation
As more of our Vietnam veterans develop disabling conditions as they age, more cases of illnesses are being linked to Agent Orange. Veterans Affairs has answered this surge in combat-related illnesses by developing an Agent Orange Registry program which provides veterans with an exposure and medical history, laboratory tests, and physical exam; however, it doesn't confirm exposure to Agent Orange.
Agent Orange has been linked to the development of many of the following conditions:
- chloracne and other acneform diseases;
- acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy;
- type 2 diabetes;
- porphyria cutanea tarda;
- AL Amyloidosis;
- Hodgkin's Disease;
- Parkinson's Disease;
- Ischemic Heart Disease;
- chronic B-cell leukemias;
- multiple myeloma;
- non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma;
- prostate cancer;
- soft tissue sarcoma; and
- several types of respiratory cancers.
For a veteran to obtain disability benefits or health care coverage for these conditions, they must be shown that they were caused by Agent Orange. The VA will determine a disability rating for those who apply, but it's often more beneficial for a veteran to have an Independent Medical Exam (IME).
Veterans advocacy groups, like Care for Veterans, make it a point to provide help for every veteran to get benefits he or she deserves by having resources to apply for an IME and for the American people to donate and support those who stand in the line of fire for us.
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Want to make a difference in a disabled veteran's life? Give a secure online donation to Care for Disabled Veterans. Or call 1-877-617-2170 to contact us directly. Order our free veterans and caregivers guide to learn more about who we are, what we do and why we care.
