VA recognizes veterans' respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea) as associated with exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides during military service.

Learn more:

• About Respiratory Cancers
• Research on Respiratory Cancers and Herbicides Used in Vietnam
• VA Benefits for Respiratory Cancers
• Contact VA about Benefits

About Respiratory Cancers

Respiratory cancers are cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms vary, depending on the location of the cancer:

• Lung cancer - Include a new cough or cough that doesn’t go away, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness.
• Cancer of the trachea - Include dry cough, hoarseness, breathlessness, difficulty swallowing.
• Cancer of the larynx, which is at the top of the trachea - Include hoarseness, voice changes, sore throat or earache, feeling of a lump in the throat.
• Cancer of the bronchus - Include cough, chest pain, coughing blood.

back to top

Research on Respiratory Cancers and Herbicides Used in Vietnam

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) concluded in its 1993 report on Veterans and Agent Orange – Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam and in future updates that there is limited/suggestive evidence of an association between exposure to herbicides (2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram) and respiratory cancers. In updates to this report, NAS noted that associations linking development of respiratory cancers and exposure to dioxin were found consistently only when herbicide exposures appeared to be high and prolonged.

Read NAS Institute of Medicine Reports on Veterans and Agent Orange.*†

back to top

VA Benefits for Respiratory Cancers

Veterans with respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea) who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service may be eligible for:

• Health care benefits
• Agent Orange registry health examination, a cost-free, comprehensive examination
• Disability compensation benefits, a monthly payment

back to top

Contact VA about Benefits

By Telephone

• Toll-free Helpline: 1-800-749-8387
• Health Care: 1-877-222-8387 (Ask to speak to the Environmental Health Coordinator or Patient Care Advocate)
• Disability Benefits and Other Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
• TDD (for hearing impaired): 1-800-829-4833

In Person

• Health Care: Go to your nearest VA medical facility.
• Disability Benefits and Other Benefits: Go to your nearest VA benefits office.

back to top