Recent Changes for the Vietnam Veteran and Agent Orange Conditions

In late 2010 the Veteran’s Affairs made some radical additions to the presumptive conditions list for Vietnam veterans suffering from ailments, or diseases, relating to Agent Orange and other chemicals. The pre-2010 list includes:

• Chloracne 
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Soft tissue sarcoma- cancer that develops from certain tissues
• Hodgkin’s disease
• Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) Multiple myeloma
• Acute and sub acute peripheral neuropathy
• Prostate cancer
• Respiratory cancers (cancers of the lung, bronchus, larynx and trachea)
• Type 2 diabetes (also known as Type II diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) 

The new additions include:

• hairy cell and other B-cell leukemias
• Parkinson's disease, and 
• ischemic heart disease

What does this mean for Vietnam veterans? Well, it means great news because it will be easier for our veterans that served during the Vietnam era to get their claim approved. However, the recent news has also caused an influx of new claims that are clogging the system. It is highly advisable to file your claim, or your loved ones, in to the VA immediately. Here is a link for our Vietnam Veterans to get started.

If your claim is denied, which happens often, do not fret! Thankfully, the VA now allows attorneys to advocate for our veterans to navigate the rules and regulations to more effectively. The best part is that fees are on a contingency basis—you do not pay attorney fees. Your attorney will get a regulated percent of your claim if appealed and approved. You will pay nothing out of pocket.

If you have any questions concerning this article, VA claims, or VA benefits please feel free to contact our trusted team of benefits specialists. Our team not only has experience in veterans' issues and government benefits, but also, with Attorneys versed in elder law and civil litigation, pursues legal remedies from a position of strength and integrity. Our Attorneys and Benefits Specialists tap a wealth of experience and industry contacts to advocate on behalf of veterans, whether they served 40 years or 4 days ago.

Rick Cross
Government Benefit Specialist
Plachta, Murphy & Associates, P.C.
(616) 458-3994