Agent Orange Exposure
Agent Orange Exposure
During the Vietnam War, an herbicide known as Agent Orange was used to eradicate the heavy jungle forest to make it easier for troops to avoid being ambushed. Veterans who had boots on the ground service in Vietnam, Thailand, or the DMZ in Korea during certain presumptive time periods were susceptible to exposure and thus qualify for disability benefits.
Presumptive Conditions
VA has conceded that certain diseases are presumed to be due to the chemicals in Agent Orange and has formed a list that you can find here. This means that if VA acknowledges a Veteran served in an area where he or she was exposed to Agent Orange, their claim for service connection is granted on a presumptive basis.
Unfortunately, VA has not yet recognized that many conditions, such as certain types of cancers, may be the result of Agent Orange exposure. These are referred to as “non-presumptive” conditions and can make obtaining service connected benefits extremely challenging.
Other Conditions – Cancer
One specific disease, Glioblastoma Multiforme, is a type of malignant brain tumor, often found in Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during service. However, VA has not yet acknowledged that these tumors are due to Agent Orange exposure and therefore they are not on VA’s presumptive list. Sadly, when a Veteran passes away from a non-presumptive condition such as Glioblastoma, their surviving spouse is often unable to obtain benefits on their own.
Appeal Your Denial
Bergmann & Moore specializes in cases of non-presumptive Agent Orange exposure in both service connection claims as well as surviving spouse (DIC) claims. We are dedicated to fighting VA until these conditions are deemed presumptive. You can read about our success with winning service connection for Glioblastoma here.
Please contact us for a FREE consultation on Agent Orange exposure claims.
