An herbicide known equally Agent Orange came into play in the Vietnam War. U.s.a. military personnel used Agent Orange to clear trees and vegetation in fields known to hide enemies. Unfortunately, Agent Orange exposure has led to long-term health furnishings in many Vietnam era veterans, including multiple myeloma, Parkinson's Disease, and various types of cancer.

fifteen Diseases Caused by Amanuensis Orangish

  • AL Amyloidosis
  • Chronic B-Jail cell Leukemia
  • Chloracne
  • Diabetes Type 2
  • Hodgkin'southward Disease
  • Hormone Disruption
  • Ischemic Centre Disease
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin'due south Lymphoma
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Respiratory Cancers
  • Soft Tissue Sarcomas

United states military veterans use many tactics to fulfill military-related tasks. During the Vietnam War, fought between North and South Vietnamese and the South's ally, the Us, one of the most renowned tasks was the use of Agent Orangish to eliminate enemy hiding spots in dense, jungle-like leaf. Health officials have since linked the herbicide to several health conditions that many exposed veterans now have.

What Is Agent Orange?

Amanuensis Orangish is a herbicide originating during the Vietnam War between North Vietnam, with the help of the Viet Cong, and South Vietnam, with the United States as an ally. Although the United states of america armed forces knew the herbicide exposure could exist harmful to enemy troops, it wasn't aware that it could potentially harm each Vietnam War veteran that came in contact with it, too.

However, just short-term exposure of dioxin, a toxic chemical and byproduct of Agent Orangish, can cause wellness problems like type 2 diabetes, hormone disruption, and peripheral neuropathy. The herbicide is also connected to some built disabilities in children of Vietnam veterans, including spina bifida, heart defects, crevice palate, and crevice lip.

Since the tardily 1970s, Vietnam veteran groups have fought to seek compensation for Agent Orange victims. Many conditions the U.s.a. Department of Veterans Affairs connects to Agent Orange exposure may qualify for VA benefits. The VA volition often pay out VA disability benefits to victims of dioxin exposure under a presumptive service connection as part of the Agent Orange Act of 1991.

15 Diseases Caused by Agent Orange

Although in that location may be other conditions and Agent Orange side furnishings that stem from your exposure to the herbicide, the following are some of the virtually common ones that qualify for disability bounty with a presumptive connection from the VA. If you believe your awarding for disability benefits has been wrongly denied, you should contact a VA disability chaser for help.

AL Amyloidosis

AL amyloidosis is i form of amyloidosis, a protein disorder connected to Amanuensis Orange herbicide exposure. The condition causes the trunk to make too many lite chain proteins that enter organs and make them work less finer. Amyloidosis tin can bear upon almost any organ, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, tummy, and fifty-fifty the skin. Depending on the afflicted organs, you might experience symptoms like swollen legs and feet, breast hurting, carpal tunnel syndrome, bruising, constipation, and enlarged tongue. Various chemotherapy medications and steroids may exist office of your treatment form.

Chronic B-Jail cell Leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that affects the trunk'due south B-cells is known as chronic B-jail cell leukemia. This condition is a type of cancer that takes over the white blood cells responsible for keeping the immune system running potent. People with this condition experience a weakened immune arrangement that leaves them incapable of fighting infections and viruses effectively. Although CLL is the most mutual course of leukemia in adults, it still can be difficult to cure. Handling usually involves chemotherapy drugs, only a bone marrow transplant may be necessary in some cases.

Chloracne

In that location is a direct link betwixt exposure to herbicides similar Agent Orange and chloracne. This condition causes severe blemishes on the face, like nodules, cysts, and blackheads. Another areas of the body, similar the neck and groin, may also become affected. Symptoms of chloracne can go worse as a person gets older, and the pare gets thicker and drier. The nearly severe cases can atomic number 82 to various open up sores that tin get itchy, painful, and infected.

Diabetes Blazon 2

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the VA doesn't crave you to prove a service connection if yous have been diagnosed and served in the Vietnam State of war. Type ii diabetes can take severe symptoms if you don't manage it through exercise, a salubrious diet, and medications. This status prevents your body from using insulin properly to convert sugars to free energy. Without proper management, yous could experience issues with your anxiety, kidneys, fretfulness, eye, and eyes.

Hodgkin's Disease

Research has determined that dioxin is a carcinogen, and Hodgkin's Disease, besides known as Hodgkin's lymphoma, is a mutual lymphatic system cancer linked to the chemical. Hodgkin's Disease causes white blood cells to reproduce abnormally fast, throwing off the immune system and making it challenging to fight illnesses and infections. Bloated lymph nodes are a tell-tale symptom of this condition, simply people may also experience extreme fatigue, problem breathing, itchy skin, and random fevers. Medical professionals rate the disease on a scale from 1 to 4, with 4 beingness the most widespread and dangerous.

Hormone Disruption

Research has linked dioxin exposure to hormone imbalances, especially with the hormone Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA helps produce estrogen, testosterone, and other hormones that lend to male and female characteristics. Babies in Agent Orange contaminated areas of Vietnam had a much college supply of DHEA in their saliva than those in non-contaminated regions, suggesting that dioxin moves from mother to baby and affects hormone production. Vietnam veterans may as well be more at gamble for developing Graves' Disease, an autoimmune disorder that stems from an overactive thyroid gland.

Ischemic Heart Illness

Ischemic heart illness prevents the heart from receiving enough blood and oxygen, usually due to narrowed arteries leading to the heart. Some people may take no symptoms of the condition, while others experience dizziness, breast pain, and shortness of breath. Without handling, ischemic heart disease can pb to a heart attack. A Vietnam vet can go Agent Orange benefits for disability if they've received a diagnosis of a related condition, similar coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease, which falls under the umbrella of ischemic heart disease.

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is another form of cancer that affects the white blood cells, specifically the plasma cells. These cells are responsible for making blood plasma that fights infection and illness. Affected cells crowd within the os marrow and prevent good for you cells from remaining where they demand to. Mutual symptoms include fatigue, frequent illness, bone pain, and leg weakness or numbness. People who have multiple myeloma usually receive a diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) first. Nonetheless, the condition frequently escalates to multiple myeloma.

Non-Hodgkin'due south Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin'south lymphoma is similar to Hodgkin'south Disease except that the white claret cells afflicted in each are dissimilar. This type of lymphoma is more than common than Hodgkin's Disease, but it can also be more than challenging to care for. Afflicted cells in non-Hodgkin'southward lymphoma can appear in several parts of the body, while the cells afflicted by Hodgkin's Disease are commonly concentrated in the neck region. It's non until the advanced stages that professionals will usually discover non-Hodgkin'south lymphoma.

Parkinson's Affliction

Parkinson's Disease usually worsens over fourth dimension and causes symptoms similar uncontrollable shaking, coordination problems, and damage to nerve cells that can go far difficult to do tasks like walk and speak. The VA gives veterans with this disease a minimum of a 30 percent disability rating, which can increase, depending on the severity of symptoms you experience.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy may exist with a diabetes diagnosis, especially if diabetes is not well-managed in a patient. However, it tin also be alone or with other weather, similar rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Peripheral neuropathy too occurs with chemical exposure, similar that of dioxin. The condition causes pain and numbness in the torso, usually in the hands and feet. Heat intolerance, bowel and float problems, and muscle weakness can also be symptoms. Although the condition isn't necessarily reversible, early detection can assist your medical team determine a class of activity to manage your symptoms and care for underlying atmospheric condition.

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

Porphyria cutanea tarda (Percent) causes painful lesions on the peel stemming from a rare claret disorder. People with Per centum are often more sensitive to the lord's day than others, and they may develop the blisters after being in the sun for short periods. Sores tin can besides occur later minor injuries. Over time, the skin may become thicker, crusted, or scarred, but some areas may also go thinner and more than sensitive to injury. If this condition occurs inside 1 yr of Agent Orange exposure, you lot may be eligible for VA benefits.

Prostate Cancer

Enquiry has shown that veterans with Agent Orange exposure are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in addition to other cancers linked to the chemic. If your prostate cancer requires surgery, you may be eligible for a 100% disability rating, at least until after your surgery. Your disability rating may increase once more if other treatments get necessary.

Respiratory Cancers

Respiratory cancers can include cancer of the lungs, bronchus, trachea, and larynx. Whatsoever of these cancers tin can issue in disability benefits from the VA without the bidder needing to prove their service connection. With a proper diagnosis of respiratory cancer in a veteran with Agent Orangish exposure, the VA will provide a 100% disability rating as long every bit the cancer is agile and during treatment. This ways that the veteran will receive the highest compensation that fits their eligibility bracket.

Soft Tissue Sarcomas

A soft tissue sarcoma is a buildup of cancer cells in the torso'south soft tissues. They can occur anywhere in the torso, usually causing swelling or a lump in the area. Medical professionals diagnose the condition in grades, with a grade of 3 typically having the everyman prognosis and 1 having the best. Chemic exposure is a known cause of soft tissue sarcomas, and the VA readily links them to Agent Orange exposure for VA inability benefits.

VA Disability Benefits for Agent Orange

How exercise you authorize for Agent Orangish benefits? For the conditions above, you lot may not need to testify a service connection. However, you will need to provide the VA with medical show of your diagnosis and then it can evaluate your condition and give you a relevant inability rating.

The VA has a long list of illnesses and diseases related to Agent Orangish exposure that are eligible for disability bounty. The VA wants to make information technology easy for Veterans with an approved illness to get the disability compensation they deserve.

Update: In May, 2021, the VA made it even easier for veterans to get the help they need.

The VA has added 3 new presumptive conditions related to Amanuensis Orange exposure. Veterans and survivors with these presumptive conditions are at present also eligible for benefits:

  • Parkinsonism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Float cancer

The good news is that y'all don't take to file anything to claim these new benefits. If the VA denied your claim in the past for any of these conditions, you will receive a notification that your example is once over again under review.

Wellness Intendance Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

The passing of the Agent Orange Act in 1991 expanded the benefits available to Vietnam veterans exposed to defoliants, dioxin, and herbicides known as Agent Orange. The act allowed the National University of Sciences to gather and analyze data to learn more near presumptive military exposure to toxins during the Vietnam era.

As a consequence of this inquiry, veterans with Agent Orange exposure tin enroll in VA wellness intendance. To exist eligible, veterans must have served in the Vietnam War anytime during the period of January 9, 1962, through May 7, 1975, in Vietnam or on a vessel within 12 nautical miles of the demarcation line of Vietnam and Cambodia waters. Eligibility is besides based on income limits.

Applying for VA health care is a quick process. Typically, veterans will receive a decision within ane week. Veterans can apply online or by press out the VA form 10-10EZ and delivering it to a local VA dispensary in person or through the mail. Veterans can also apply over the phone.

Some basic information is needed to apply for VA health intendance. Be sure to have the post-obit data bachelor before beginning the awarding:

  • Military discharge papers (Class DD-214)
  • Social Security number
  • Medical insurance information (proper name, contact data, policy number)
  • Gross household income
  • Deductible expenses

Once enrolled in VA health intendance, Agent Orange veterans can receive treatment for medical conditions related to armed services exposures and service-continued disabilities.

Agent Orange Registry Wellness Test

The Agent Orange Registry Health Exam is offered to veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange. The exam provides a fashion for veterans to learn more most the potential health effects of exposure and it allows researchers to assemble data required to understand exposure illnesses better.

To authorize for the Amanuensis Orange Registry Health Examination, Vietnam veterans must have served between 1969 and 1971 in Vietnam, the DMZ in Korea, or select Thailand locations. Too, veterans who flew in a C-123 plane from 1969-1983 are eligible to receive the exam. Family members are not eligible.

The test consists of a physical exam along with a review of exposure history and medical records of any health concerns believed to be related to Agent Orangish exposure. A VA medical professional person will hash out the results with the veteran during a consultation subsequently the exam, and a written report will be mailed.

While information technology can assist provide supporting medical documentation, the Agent Orange Registry medical examination is not connected to any other veterans benefits offered by the Veterans Affairs. Veterans seeking disability bounty for presumptive disabilities such as bladder cancer, Parkinsonism, or hypothyroidism will still need to utilize for benefits regardless of participating in the Amanuensis Orange Registry health exam.

War Related Illness and Injury Study Heart (WRIISC)

Veterans who are having difficulty finding treatment for their medical symptoms can be referred to the State of war Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC). The WRIISC seeks to assist wartime veterans with illnesses that are hard to diagnose. The study center has a location in Washington, D.C., East Orange, NJ, and Palo Alto, CA.

To participate in the WRIISC, veterans must have a referral and must exist enrolled in VA health intendance. Referrals tin can exist obtained from their Primary Care Director or a VA Environmental Registry Coordinator. To submit a referral, providers will describe the unexplained systems and include any exam results received from outside the VA health care systems.

Eligibility requirements for the program are few. Veterans must exist physically and mentally stable. The veteran's unexplained symptoms must have lasted at to the lowest degree half-dozen months and must exist continued to military machine service.

Once the referral is approved, the veteran will receive an east-consult and future tests may be ordered. Whatsoever recommendations of the WRIISC will be sent to the referring primary care managing director.

The Side Effects of Agent Orange

Amanuensis Orange side furnishings are often long-term and can affect the daily quality of life of exposed veterans.

Veterans who worked with Agent Orange may exist more susceptible to various forms of cancer and could benefit from VA wellness care and inability benefits to go them through diagnoses and treatments and brand upwards lost income equally a consequence. Speak with a VSO or VA inability attorney if yous need guidance during this process.