The VA will determine eligibility based on the facts of each Veteran’s claim. But they assume (or “presume”) that certain cancers and other illnesses are caused by Agent Orange. They call these presumptive conditions.

The VA will assume that Veterans who served in certain locations were exposed to Agent Orange. The VA refers to this as presumptive exposure.

The VA considers a condition presumptive when it’s established by law or regulation. If you’ve been diagnosed with one of these conditions, you don’t need to prove that it started during—or got worse because of—your military service.

The VA bases eligibility for disability compensation benefits, in part, on whether you served in a location that exposed you to Agent Orange. They call this having a presumption of exposure.

You have a presumption of exposure if you meet at least one of these service requirements.

Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, you must have served for any length of time in at least one of these locations:

• In the Republic of Vietnam, or

• Aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam, or

• On a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia

Or you must have served in at least one of these locations that we’ve added based on the PACT Act:

• Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976, or 

• Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969, or

• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969, or

• Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980, or

• Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977

Or at least one of these must be true for you:

• You served in or near the Korean DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or

• You served on active duty in a regular Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated contact with this aircraft due to your flight, ground, or medical duties, or

• You were involved in transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange during your military service, or

• You were assigned as a Reservist to certain flight, ground, or medical crew duties at one of the locations listed here.

Eligible Reserve locations, time periods, and units include:

• Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio, 1969 to 1986 (906th and 907th Tactical Air Groups or 355th and 356th Tactical Airlift Squadrons)

• Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, 1972 to 1982 (731st Tactical Air Squadron and 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, or 901st Organizational Maintenance Squadron)

• Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania, 1972 to 1982 (758th Airlift Squadron)

THe VA has added 2 new Agent Orange presumptive conditions based on the PACT Act:

• High blood pressure (also called hypertension)

• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)

They’ve also added 5 new Agent Orange presumptive locations. Keep reading to learn about these new locations.

Types of cancers caused by exposure to Agent Orange.

• Bladder cancer

• Chronic B-cell leukemia

• Hodgkin’s disease

• Multiple myeloma

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Prostate cancer

• Respiratory cancers (including lung cancer)

• Some soft tissue sarcomas

Note: The VA does not include osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma on their list of presumptive conditions.

Other Illnesses attributed by exposure to Agent Orange.

• AL amyloidosis

• Chloracne (or other types of acneiform disease like it)
  Note: Under our rating regulations, this condition must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of herbicide exposure.

• Diabetes mellitus type 2

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

• Hypothyroidism

• Ischemic heart disease

• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)

• Parkinsonism

• Parkinson’s disease

• Peripheral neuropathy, early onset
  Note: Under our rating regulations, this condition must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of herbicide exposure.

• Porphyria cutanea tarda
  Note: Under our rating regulations, this condition must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of herbicide exposure.

If you haven’t filed a claim yet for the presumptive condition

You can file a new claim online now. You can also file by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained professional.

CLICK HERE - To File for disability compensation online

Learn about other ways to file a disability compensation claim

Learn how to submit your intent to file

You’ll need to submit these records:

• A medical record that shows you have an Agent Orange-related health condition, and

• Military records to show how you were exposed to Agent Orange during your service

If your condition isn’t on the list of presumptive conditions, you’ll also need to provide at least one of these types of evidence:

• Evidence that shows the problem started during—or got worse because of—your military service, or

• Scientific or medical evidence stating that the condition you have is caused by Agent Orange. Scientific proof may include an article from a medical journal or a published research study.

CLICK HERE - To Get your VA medical records online

You’ll need to submit your discharge or separation papers that show your time and location of service. These may include your DD214 or other separation documents.

For certain claims, you may also need more supporting documents.

► For claims related to C-123 aircraft.

Submit one or more of these forms:

• USAF Form 2096 (unit where you were assigned at the time of the training action)

• USAF Form 5 (aircraft flight duties)

• USAF Form 781 (aircraft maintenance duties)

To learn more, download the:

Air Force specialty codes and units for affected C-123 aircraft (PDF)

C-123 Aircraft Agent Orange Exposure claims fact sheet (PDF)

► For claims including support for dependents.

Submit your dependency records. These may include your marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates.

You can file a Supplemental Claim. We’ll review your case again.

CLICK HERE - To Find out how to file a Supplemental Claim

Reach out to the Wardell Law Firm to consult with one of our Certified VA Disability Attorneys. Upon retention, we will help guide you through the process of filing your claim.

805 W. Azeele Street

Tampa, FL 33606

813-387-3333

info@wardelllaw.com

You can:

• Call the Agent Orange help line at 800-749-8387 (TTY: 711)

• Send an email to GW/AOHelpline@vba.va.gov

Note: Please be ready to give us your name, email address, telephone number, and VA file number or Social Security number.

We added these conditions to the presumptive condition list in 2021.

If we denied your claim for any of these conditions in the past, we’ll automatically review your case again. You don’t need to file another claim. We’ll send you a letter to let you know we’re reviewing your case.

If the VA denied your claim because they determined that your disability wasn’t caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, you can file a Supplemental Claim based on the change in the law.

In certain cases, if the VA approved your claim, they will pay you back to the date when you submitted your original claim. They refer to this as retroactive payment.

Find out how to file a Supplemental Claim

To learn more about this change in the law, and how it may affect you, download our:

• Blue Water Navy Veterans and Agent Orange fact sheet (PDF)

• Blue Water Navy Veterans and disability benefits FAQs (PDF)

This is a free health exam for Veterans who meet any of the above service requirements for presumption of contact. Even if you don’t have a known condition, the exam could alert you to conditions that may be related to contact with herbicides. By being part of this registry, you’re also helping your fellow Veterans by giving us information so we can better understand and serve those affected by Agent Orange-related conditions.

This exam isn’t a VA claim exam (also known as a compensation and pension, or C&P, exam). And you don’t need to have this exam to get other VA benefits. To get disability benefits, you’ll need to file a claim.

File a disability claim

To schedule your exam:

Contact your local VA environmental health coordinator (VA public health website)

To find out what to expect at your exam:

Learn more about the Agent Orange Registry health exam (VA public health website)

To learn if you’re eligible for an environmental health registry exam: 

Learn more about toxic exposures and registries on our VET-HOME website