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If you served in Vietnam, Korea, or any of the other newly added locations where Agent Orange was used, your service may have put you in harm’s way for serious health conditions that don’t show up until years later.
If you were exposed to Agent Orange, you may qualify for VA disability benefits for one or more of the 50+ presumptive conditions associated with this herbicide.
In this blog post from VA disability expert Brian Reese, we’ll reveal and explain the updated list of Agent Orange presumptive conditions for 2025, explore the eligible service locations and qualifying time periods, and show you how to get presumptive disability benefits due to Agent Orange exposure.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- Agent Orange Exposure Risks: Veterans who served in Vietnam, Korea, or newly recognized locations under the PACT Act were potentially exposed to Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide that can cause serious health issues that may appear years after service.
- Updated VA Presumptive Conditions for Agent Orange: Veterans exposed to Agent Orange may qualify for VA disability benefits for more than 50 presumptive conditions, including certain cancers, heart conditions, and neurological disorders.
- Eligibility Requirements: To qualify, veterans must have a condition on the VA’s presumptive list and have served in eligible locations during specific timeframes where Agent Orange exposure is recognized.
- Streamlined Claims Process: Presumptive conditions are easier to win than standard VA disability claims because veterans don’t need to prove a direct “nexus” linking their condition to service. Instead, the VA automatically presumes the condition is service-connected, simplifying the path to benefits.
What is Agent Orange?
Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War to clear dense vegetation that could provide cover for enemy forces.
Named after the orange stripe on its storage barrels, Agent Orange was part of a larger group of “Rainbow Herbicides” sprayed heavily over Vietnam, parts of Korea, and other areas from the early 1960s through the 1970s.
Unfortunately, Agent Orange contained a dangerous chemical called dioxin, a highly toxic compound now known to cause serious health issues.
Veterans exposed to Agent Orange have faced a range of conditions, including various cancers, respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and more.
Because of these long-term health risks, the VA now recognizes a host of conditions as “presumptive” for veterans who served in areas with known Agent Orange exposure, making it easier for veterans to receive disability benefits without having to prove a specific “nexus” for service-connection.
What is a “Presumptive Disability” for Agent Orange Exposure?
A “presumptive disability” means the VA automatically assumes that certain conditions are service-connected, without requiring you to prove how they’re tied to your time in uniform. If you served in a qualifying location during a recognized timeframe and develop a listed presumptive condition, the VA presumes Agent Orange exposure caused it. That means a faster, easier path to getting the VA benefits you’ve earned.
Am I Eligible for Presumptive VA Disability Benefits Due to Agent Orange Exposure?
To qualify for presumptive VA disability benefits from Agent Orange exposure, you must meet both of these criteria:
- You have a diagnosed condition that appears on the VA’s Agent Orange presumptive conditions list, and
- You served in an eligible location during a qualifying time period where Agent Orange exposure occurred, as outlined by VA guidelines.
If both are true, you may be eligible for VA healthcare and VA disability compensation benefits due to exposure to Agent Orange.
List of Eligible Locations and Time Periods for Exposure to Agent Orange
If you served in any of these locations during the qualifying periods, you may be eligible for VA benefits related to Agent Orange exposure.
Vietnam Service
If you served at any time between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, in one of these places:
- Within the Republic of Vietnam
- On a U.S. military vessel in Vietnam’s inland waterways
- On a vessel within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese and Cambodian waters’ boundary line
Additional Locations Under the PACT Act
- Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand (January 9, 1962 – June 30, 1976)
- Laos (December 1, 1965 – September 30, 1969)
- Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province (April 16 – April 30, 1969)
- Guam or American Samoa, including their territorial waters (January 9, 1962 – July 31, 1980)
- Johnston Atoll or on a ship that stopped there (January 1, 1972 – September 30, 1977)
Korean DMZ and Other Specific Duties
- Serving near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971
- Active duty in a unit that operated or had regular contact with C-123 aircraft carrying Agent Orange residue
- Participation in transporting, storing, or handling Agent Orange in military duties
Reservists with Exposure at Specific Bases
- Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Base, Ohio (1969 – 1986): 906th/907th Tactical Air Groups or 355th/356th Tactical Airlift Squadrons
- Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts (1972 – 1982): 731st Tactical Air Squadron, 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, or 901st Maintenance Squadron
- Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania (1972 – 1982): 758th Airlift Squadron
Source List
The Updated Agent Orange Presumptive List
Here are the 50+ conditions (listed alphabetically) that make up the updated Agent Orange Presumptive List.
These conditions qualify for presumptive VA disability benefits if they develop at any time and to any degree:
- Adult fibrosarcoma
- AL amyloidosis
- Alveolar soft part sarcoma
- Angiosarcoma (hemangiosarcoma and lymphangiosarcoma)
- Bladder cancer
- Birth defects (such as spina bifida in children of certain Vietnam or Korean War veterans, related to Agent Orange exposure)
- Bronchial cancer
- Chloracne (or similar acneform disease)
- Chronic B-cell leukemias
- Chronic peripheral neuropathy
- Clear cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses
- Congenital and infantile fibrosarcoma
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- Ectomesenchymoma
- Epitheliod sarcoma
- Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma (malignant leiomyoblastoma)
- Extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Hypothyroidism (related to Agent Orange)
- Ischemic heart disease (does not include peripheral vascular disease or stroke)
- Larynx cancer
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Liposarcoma
- Lung cancer
- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
- Malignant ganglioneuroma
- Malignant giant cell tumor of tendon sheath
- Malignant glomus tumor
- Malignant granular cell tumor
- Malignant hemangiopericytoma
- Malignant mesenchymoma
- Malignant schwannoma
- Malignant soft tissue sarcoma (excluding osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, mesothelioma)
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Parkinsonism (related to Agent Orange)
- Peripheral neuropathy, early onset
- Pituitary carcinoma
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
- Primary amyloidosis
- Proliferating (systemic) angioendotheliomatosis
- Prostate cancer
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Soft tissue sarcomas (excluding osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, mesothelioma)
- Synovial sarcoma (malignant synovioma)
- Trachea cancer
- Type 2 diabetes (Type II diabetes mellitus)
How Do I Apply for VA Disability Benefits Due to Agent Orange Exposure?
Veterans have five main options to file a VA disability claim for benefits:
Option #1: Online
You can file your VA claim online at VA.gov!
This is the easiest and most preferred option right now:
Option #2: Mail
File your claim by mail using an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ):
Print the form, fill it out, and mail it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
Option #3: In-Person
Bring your completed application to a VA regional office near you:
Option #4: Fax
- If you’re in the U.S., fax your application to 844-531-7818
- If you’re outside the U.S., fax your application to 248-524-4260
Option #5: VA-Accredited Representative
You can work with a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney:
What Evidence Do I Need to Submit for My Agent Orange Presumptive Claim?
When submitting a VA claim for Agent Orange exposure, be sure to include these essential pieces of evidence:
- Medical Evidence: Medical records that confirm a diagnosis of a condition listed on the Agent Orange presumptive list. This can be in your military medical records, VA medical records, or private medical records.
- Military Service and Personnel Records: Your DD214, awards, decorations, or other personnel records that verify your service location and dates in areas where Agent Orange exposure may have occurred.
These documents will help the VA confirm your eligibility for presumptive disability benefits related to Agent Orange.
Related Agent Orange Blog Posts
Agent Orange, Skin Cancer, and VA Disability Benefits
2nd Generation Agent Orange Symptoms
20+ US Military Bases That Stored Agent Orange
US Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange
List of Agent Orange Exposure Locations
(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions
How does the VA define an herbicide agent?
According to 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6), the VA defines an herbicide agent as: “a chemical in an herbicide used in support of the U.S. and allied military operations in Vietnam during the Vietnam era, specifically 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram.”
Agent Orange is one of the most well-known of these herbicide agents, and it’s the primary focus of most VA presumptive disability claims tied to toxic exposure.
What is the average compensation for Agent Orange-related disabilities?
Disability pay for Agent Orange-related conditions depends on your combined VA rating. The average individual annual compensation is approximately $25,446, according to the 2024 Annual VBA Report. Veterans with more severe conditions may qualify for monthly compensation in excess of $3,700 per month (100% VA rating) plus additional amounts for dependents. View our VA Disability Pay Calculator HERE.
Can I get Agent Orange compensation back pay?
Yes. If the VA approves your claim, you may receive retroactive compensation going back to your effective date, typically the date your VA claim was filed. However, if your condition was added to the presumptive list after your initial denial, you may be entitled to additional retroactive pay.
Some veterans may qualify for back pay going back to the date of a prior claim denial, depending on how the VA implements changes under laws like the PACT Act.
How far back will the VA pay me?
Your effective date depends on when you filed your claim. If you apply within one year of a condition being added to the presumptive list, you may be eligible for back pay to the date the law changed. Otherwise, your effective date is typically the date your claim was received.
Do I need a Nexus Letter for Agent Orange presumptive conditions?
No. That’s the advantage of presumptive conditions—you don’t need to prove the link with a Nexus Letter if your service and diagnosis meet the VA’s criteria. But a Nexus Letter may still help if your claim was previously denied or involves a non-presumptive condition.
What if my condition is not on the presumptive list?
You can still file a VA claim, but you’ll need to provide a medical nexus and supporting evidence to show the condition is “at least as likely as not” caused by your service.
How do I know if I was exposed to Agent Orange?
If you served in a location and time covered by the Agent Orange presumptive list, you were likely exposed, even if you don’t remember it. If you have a condition on the list, that’s a strong indicator. The VA offers a free Agent Orange Registry exam to eligible veterans. It won’t confirm chemical exposure, but can identify related health issues. You don’t need to be enrolled in VA health care to get the exam—just contact your local VA Environmental Health Coordinator to schedule it.
How do you prove exposure to Agent Orange?
You don’t have to prove direct exposure if you qualify under the Agent Orange presumptive list. Just show you served in a covered location during the eligible dates and have a diagnosed presumptive condition. Submit your service records and medical documentation with your VA claim. If your exposure happened during testing or storage outside the listed areas, you’ll need documentation of that location and chemical use.
Is Agent Orange still present in Vietnam?
Yes. Even 50+ years after the war, dioxin from Agent Orange still contaminates soil, water, and food near former U.S. air bases in Vietnam—especially Bien Hoa. These areas continue to affect both the Vietnamese population and veterans through serious health conditions, including birth defects.
Can I get benefits if I was exposed outside Vietnam?
Yes, under the PACT Act, several locations beyond Vietnam—including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, and Johnston Atoll—are now covered for presumptive Agent Orange exposure.
Does Agent Orange affect dependents?
It’s possible. Children of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange may suffer certain birth defects, such as spina bifida. These dependents may be eligible for certain health care and monetary benefits through the VA. See our related post about Second Generation Agent Orange Symptoms.
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
