Agent Orange Exposure
The U.S. military used Agent Orange to clear plants and trees during the Vietnam War. If you served in Vietnam or in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during the Vietnam Era—or in certain related jobs—you may have had contact with this herbicide. We refer to this as having a presumption of contact. Find out if you can get disability compensation and other benefits for illnesses we believe are caused by Agent Orange.
You may have had contact with Agent Orange if you served in any of these ways:
On U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships or other vessels in or near Vietnam
Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
In testing and storage areas outside of Vietnam
Between 1944 and a yet-to-be-determined date
Source:
Can I get disability benefits from VA?
You may be able to get disability benefits if the below descriptions are true for you.
This must be true:
- You have an illness we believe is caused by Agent Orange (called a presumptive disease)
And at least one of these must also be true. You:
- Came into contact with Agent Orange while serving in the military, or
- Served in or near the DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or
- Served in the Republic of Vietnam for any length of time between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. This may include serving aboard a vessel on the inland waterways, or on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia (as detailed in Public Law 116-23, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019).
Review our list of diseases related to Agent Orange
Learn what kinds of service may have put you in contact with Agent Orange
Who’s covered?
- Veterans
- Qualified dependents
What kind of benefits can I get?
- Health care
- Compensation (payments)
- An Agent Orange Registry health exam
How do I get these benefits?
You’ll need to file a claim for disability compensation and submit your evidence (supporting documents).
If you have an illness we believe is caused by Agent Orange
You won’t need to show that the problem started during—or got worse because of—your military service.
This is because we believe that certain illnesses are the result of exposure to herbicides.
We refer to these as presumptive diseases.
When you file your claim, you’ll need to submit:
- A medical record that shows you have an Agent Orange‒related illness
- And you’ll need to submit a military record that shows you:
- Served in the Republic of Vietnam for any length of time between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or
- Served in or near the DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or
- Were aboard a U.S. military vessel that entered the inland waterways of Vietnam, or
- Served aboard a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia (as detailed in Public Law 116-23, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019), or
- Were exposed to herbicides in a location other than Vietnam or the DMZ
Get more information
Review the Veterans compensation benefits rate tables
Contact us if you have questions:
Call the Agent Orange help line at 800-749-8387, or
Send an email to GW/[email protected]
Note: Please be ready to give us your name, email address, telephone number, and VA file number or Social Security number.
If you think you may have had contact with Agent Orange or other herbicides while serving in the military, you can request a health exam.
Need Assistance?
If you are slightly overwhelmed, confused, require assistance in navigating through all the services & resources, or just need support with the process, then please feel free to contact us. We are hear to help you!
