Agent Orange
Agent Orange was a tactical herbicide used by the U.S. military for control of vegetation. It was named for the orange band around the storage barrel. The military sprayed Agent Orange and other tactical herbicides during the Vietnam War. Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange include Veterans who served in different locations, including Vietnam, the Korean Demilitarized Zone, on Thai Air Force bases, at other locations, and who flew on or worked on C-123 Aircraft.
VA offers eligible Veterans a free Agent Orange Registry health exam for possible long-term health problems related to exposure. VA also offers health care, disability compensation, and other benefits to eligible Veterans for certain disease conditions, as well as benefits for children of Vietnam Veterans who have spina bifida. Dependents and survivors may also be eligible for other benefits.
Agent Orange
One of several blends of tactical herbicides [equal amounts of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), which contained traces of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)] the U.S. military sprayed to remove trees and dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover.
The U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides on trees and vegetation during the Vietnam War. For detailed information on who may have been exposed as a result of the use, testing, or storage of Agent Orange, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/locations/index.asp.
Southeast Asia, USA, Canada
TCDD, the most toxic component of tactical herbicides, has been classified as a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.
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 benefits for these diseases. Please visit https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/index.asp for the most up-to-date information on the diseases that have been given presumptive service-connection.
- AL Amyloidosis: A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs.
- Chronic B-cell Leukemias: A type of cancer which affects white blood cells.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hodgkin's Disease: A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.
- Ischemic Heart Disease: A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart, that leads to chest pain.
- Multiple Myeloma: A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in bone marrow.
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue.
- Parkinson's Disease: A progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects muscle movement.
- Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset: A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness.
- 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.
- Prostate Cancer: Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.
- Respiratory Cancers (includes lung cancer): Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
- 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.
- Spina bifida (except spina bifida occulta): A defect in the developing fetus that results in incomplete closing of the spine, is associated with Veterans' exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during qualifying service in Vietnam or Korea.
Certain birth defects in the offspring of women Vietnam Veterans are associated with their service in Vietnam, but not necessarily related to Agent Orange exposure. For more information on these conditions, visit: https://www.nap.edu/read/21845/chapter/12.
- VA Agent Orange webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/index.asp
- ATSDR - Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) FAQs
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts104.pdf
Selected National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reports
- IOM - Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure (2011)
- https://www.nap.edu/read/13026/chapter/1
- NASEM - Veterans and Agent Orange, Update 11 (2018)
- https://www.nap.edu/read/25137/chapter/1
- IOM - Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft (2015)
- https://www.nap.edu/read/18848/chapter/1
Get a Registry Evaluation
- VA Environmental Health Coordinator
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp
- Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND) Team
- https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp
Contact your local https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp, https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp, or VA Primary Care Team about getting a registry evaluation.
WRIISC Link
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC)
- https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp
For evaluation for difficult-to-diagnose conditions, contact your local https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
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.
1900 2100 1910 2110 All Conflicts Southwest Asia
Agent Orange
- https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/claims-postservice-agent_orange.asp
VA presumes that Veterans were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides if they served:
- On land in Vietnam, on a vessel operating on 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 as defined in Public Law 116-23 (Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act 2019) between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975
- In or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime between Sept. 1, 1967 to August 31, 1971
- Where herbicides were tested, disposed of, or stored outside of Vietnam if there was direct contact.
- As crew members on C-123 planes flown after the Vietnam War.
*For more information, visit: https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/claims-postservice-agent_orange.asp
1962 1975 Vietnam War Southwest Asia
Birth Defects
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/birth-defects/children-women-vietnam-vets.asp
Certain birth defects in the offspring of women Vietnam Veterans are associated with their service in Vietnam, but not necessarily related to Agent Orange exposure. For more information on these conditions, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/birth-defects/children-women-vietnam-vets.asp
1962 1975 Vietnam War Southwest Asia
Case-by-Case Compensation
When no presumed service connection has been established by law, Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to their exposures during military service. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis.
1900 2100 All Conflicts All Locations
Healthcare - Basic Eligibility
If you served in the active military service and were separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health benefits as well. Most Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible.
1900 2100 All Conflicts All Locations
Healthcare - Enhanced Eligibility
Certain Veterans may be afforded enhanced eligibility status when applying and enrolling in the VA health care system. Veterans who:
1900 2100 All Conflicts All Locations
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
When a Veteran of any period of service receives a valid diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), service connection may be granted if the illness is associated with an in-service stressful event.
1900 2100 All Conflicts All Locations
Agent Orange Registry
- https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/
- http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/action-plan.asp
VA's Agent Orange Registry health exam alerts Veterans to possible long-term health problems that may be related to Agent Orange exposure during their military service. The following Veterans are eligible for the Agent Orange Registry health exam:
Vietnam
- Veterans who served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975, regardless of length of time.
- Veterans who served aboard smaller river patrol and swift boats that operated on the inland waterways of Vietnam (also known as \"Brown Water Veterans\").
- “Blue Water Navy” Veterans who served on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia as defined in Public Law 116-23.
Korea
- Veterans who served in a unit in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) anytime between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971.
Thailand
- U.S. Air Force Veterans who served on Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases near U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the air base perimeter anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
- U.S. Army Veterans who provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
- U.S. Army Veterans who were stationed on some small Army installations in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. However, the Amy Veteran must have been a member of a military police (MP) unit or was assigned a military occupational specialty whose duty placed him or her at or near the base perimeter.
Other Potential Agent Orange Exposures
- Veterans who may have been exposed to herbicides during a military operation or as a result of testing, transporting, or spraying herbicides for military purposes.
For more information, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/benefits/registry-exam.asp
1961 1975 Cold War, Vietnam War USA, Canada, Southeast Asia
