Vietnam Veterans

If you’re a Vietnam Veteran these benefits are specific to you in addition to all the other benefits. If you haven’t done so already you should review them and see if you qualify for any of them.

Agent Orange Exposure:
The VA presumes Agent Orange exposure for veterans who served in certain locations or on specific aircraft, making them eligible for benefits for related conditions.

The Blue Water Navy (BWN) Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (PL 116-23) extended the presumption of herbicide exposure, such as Agent Orange, to Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. This provides service-connected disability benefits to many veterans who served in the offshore waters of Vietnam. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, Veterans who served as far as 12 nautical miles from the shore of Vietnam, or who had service in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides, such as Agent Orange, and may be entitled to service connection for any of the conditions related to herbicide exposure.

Herbicide Exposure Conditions:
1. Cancers (Bladder cancer, Chronic B-cell leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, Multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Prostate cancer, Respiratory cancers (including lung cancer), Some soft tissue sarcomas);
2. AL amyloidosis,
3. Chloracne,
4. Diabetes mellitus type 2,
5. High blood pressure (hypertension),
6. Hypothyroidism,
7. Ischemic heart disease,
8. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS),
9. Parkinsonism,
10.Parkinson’s disease,
11.Peripheral neuropathy,
12.Porphyria cutanea tarda.

Service Areas/Duties Includes: [Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975]
1. In the Republic of Vietnam
2. Aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam.
3. On a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia.
4. Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976. 
5. Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969.
6. Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969.
7. Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980.
8. Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977
9. You served in or near the Korean DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971.
10.You served in an Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated contact with this aircraft due to your flight, ground, or medical duties, or
11.You were involved in transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange during your military service.

Children of Veterans:
VA is also now able to extend benefits to children with spina bifida whose BWN Veteran parent may have been exposed while serving.

Evidence Required to Submit a Claim:
You’ll need to submit these records:
1. Military records to show how you were exposed to Agent Orange during your service (DD-214), and
2. A medical record that shows you have an Agent Orange-related health condition.

For claims related to C-123 aircraft submit one or more of these forms:
1. USAF Form 781 (aircraft maintenance duties)
2. USAF Form 2096 (unit where you were assigned at the time of the training action)
3. USAF Form 5 (aircraft flight duties)

For claims including support for dependents
Submit your dependency records. These may include your marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates.

Past Claim Denial:
Agent Orange related claims are now presumptive, so if the VA denied your claim related to Agent Orange in the past, they will automatically review your case again. You don’t need to file another claim. We’ll send you a letter to let you know we’re reviewing your case. However, if they denied your claim because they didn’t think it was caused or aggravated by service you will have to file a Supplemental Claim. If your claim is approved, you will get back pay back to the filing date of the original claim.

Do an Assessment for your claim

File A Claim
Download the current VA Form 21-526EZ
See an example of how to fill out the VA Form 21-526EZ and a Fully Developed Claim

Get Assistance Filing A Claim