VETERANS BENEFITS
AGENT-ORANGE PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS
Congress directed V.A. to respond to multiple studies and reports from the Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine (IOM). The final report, February 2016, approved and recommended adding – 5 – conditions that met the rigorous requirements for inclusion as ‘presumptive conditions: 1) Bladder Cancer; 2) Hypothyroidism, 3) Parkinson-like conditions, 4) Stroke and 5) Hypertension. V.A. Secretary promised a decision by “end-of-Summer” 2016.
Agent-Orange exposures have been reported from the following veterans: Vietnam in-country, Blue Water, Guam, Thailand, Cambodia, Korea, USAFR C- 123 crews, logistics related personnel.
In May 2021, the V.A. finally accepted and included – 3 of the 5 – new recommended conditions to the list of ‘approved presumptive conditions’:
1) Bladder Cancer 2) Hypothyroidism 3) Parkinsonism
To qualify for Agent-Orange related benefits, a veterans must demonstrate diagnosis of one or more presumptive conditions:
- Chloracne
- Diabetes Melitus Type 2
- Parkinson’s Disease
- schemic Heart Disease
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Chronic B-Cell Leukemia
- Multiple Myeloma
- Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy
- AL Amyloidosis
- Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
- Prostate Cancer
NEW 2021 ISSUES
- Respiratory Cancers
- Bladder Cancer
- Soft Tissue Sarcomas
- Hypothyroidism
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinsonism
NEW 2022 ISSUES
- Hypertension
What happened to Stroke and Hypertension which were also recommended? This is reported to be a budget-based decision that will just cost too much; and so, are not considered essential at-this-time. Should we consider joining other veterans organizations seeking/ encouraging reconsideration?
Send in YOUR information & PICS, we’ll post and share in CNMA “Gold Miner”.
Submit YOUR INFO, Suggestions, Problems, Ideas, Requests to AmVetNet@yahoo .com
