Legacy of Our Veterans' Military Exposures
Justice - social, environmental, human
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Vietnam War Veterans Diseases

Presumptive Diseases
VA assumes that certain diseases can be related to a Veteran’s qualifying military service. We call these "presumptive diseases." VA has recognized certain cancers and other health problems as presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. Veterans and their survivors may be eligible for disability compensation or survivors' benefits for these diseases.
Children with Birth Defects
VA presumes certain birth defects in children of Vietnam and Korea Veterans associated with Veterans' qualifying military service. Learn More
Veterans with ALS
VA presumes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosed in all Veterans who had 90 days or more continuous active military service is related to their service, although ALS is not related to Agent Orange exposure.
  • AL Amyloidosis

    A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs. Learn More
  • Chronic B-cell Leukemias

    A type of cancer which affects white blood cells. Learn More
  • Chloracne (or similar acneform disease)

    A skin condition that occurs soon after exposure to chemicals and looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure to herbicides. Learn More
  • Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

    A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin. Learn More
  • Hodgkin’s Disease

    A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia. Learn More
  • Ischemic Heart Disease

    A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart, that leads to chest pain. Learn More
  • Multiple Myeloma

    A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in bone marrow. Learn More
  • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

    A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue. Learn More
  • Parkinson’s Disease

    A progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects muscle movement. Learn More
  • Peripheral Neuropathy, Acute and Subacute

    A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. Currently, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of herbicide exposure and resolve within two years. VA proposed on Aug. 10, 2012, to replace "acute and subacute" with "early-onset" and eliminate the requirement that symptoms resolve within two years. Learn More
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

    A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure to herbicides. Learn More
  • Prostate Cancer

    Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men. Learn More
  • Respiratory Cancers (includes lung cancer)

    Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus. Learn More
  • Soft Tissue Sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma)

    A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues. Learn More

LIBRARY

Agent Pink

Agent Pink is the code name for a powerful herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military in its herbicidal warfare program during the Vietnam War Vietnam War. The name comes

Agent White

Agent White is the code name for a herbicide used by the U.S. military in its herbicidal warfare program during the Vietnam War. The name comes from the regulatory requirements of

Agent Green

Agent Green is the code name for a powerful herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military in its herbicidal warfare program during the Vietnam War. The name comes from the

Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft – 1972 to 1982

According to the report, from 1972 to 1982, approximately 1,500 to 2,100 Air Force Reserve personnel trained and worked on C-123 aircraft that previously had been used to spray

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