If you served boots on the ground in Vietnam, in or near the Korean DMZ, or on or near the perimeter of a Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand and developed specific conditions, the US government may compensate you for Agent Orange-related disabilities.
Hiring an Attorney Is an Option for Ailing Veterans
Veterans dealing with the fallout of Agent Orange exposure face many challenges. Securing fair VA disability benefits is just one of those challenges, but it is one that you don’t have to face alone. Hiring an attorney to handle the decision review process for you could provide great relief.
For example, hiring an attorney that you trust may:
- Spare you from spending significant time and effort on your claim: As you may already know, completing a VA disability claim is anything but cut-and-dry. Though benefits are worth going through the process, the decision review process may require a serious investment of time and effort. When you hire an attorney, you pass off most—if not all—of the responsibility to your lawyer.
- Allow you to focus all necessary attention on your recovery: A benefit of having your lawyer handle your claim denial is that you’ll have more time. For many veterans dealing with health issues, they’ll spend that additional time on aspects of their recovery. Nothing should come before your health, and hiring an attorney is a health-conscious decision.
- Provide you several valuable resources: When you hire an attorney for your denied or undervalued VA disability claim, you get more than just the attorney. You’ll also gain the benefit of that firm’s resources—investigators, paralegals, experts in VA disability issues, litigation teams, and other assets. These perks generally come at no additional cost to you.
- Result in the outcome that you seek: There is no guarantee that hiring a lawyer will result in a certain outcome. However, testimonials show that many veterans credit their attorney for securing a positive case outcome.
Countless veterans before you have reached out to an attorney for help with their VA disability claim. You can do the same.
For a free legal consultation, call 1-888-392-5392
Determining Whether a Veteran Was Exposed to Agent Orange
To determine whether you may have been exposed to Agent Orange, you must consider where and when you served. If any of the scenarios below apply to you, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may assume that you were exposed to Agent Orange. Eligible service regions, types, and dates generally include:
- Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
- The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971
- A military base in Thailand between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975
- A C-123 plane after the war
- On an open sea ship off the coast of Vietnam during the war
- Aboard Coast Guard or US Navy ships in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
- Any military base used for storing Agent Orange
If you served in or near these locations, you may be eligible for Agent Orange-related disability benefits.
Medical Problems Linked to Agent Orange Exposure
Of the many effects of exposure to Agent Orange, some of the most common include:
- Prostate cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Ischemic heart disease (including Coronary artery disease)
- Diabetes mellitus (type 2)
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Respiratory cancers
- Chloracne
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Soft Tissue sarcomas
- Chronic B-cell leukemia
- AL amyloidosis
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
If you believe that exposure to Agent Orange has caused you to develop one or more of the above conditions, you may qualify for a service connection for such condition(s).
Even today, veterans of the Vietnam War are receiving new diagnoses of cancers and other potentially life-threatening conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure. Call to get help from a VA disability lawyer today.
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Agent Orange Exposure: Presumed Service Connection
Any veteran who served under qualifying circumstances and suffers from an Agent Orange-linked condition may not need to prove a link to a specific in-service event. VA regulations presume service connection in many of these cases.
If Your Condition Is Not Listed, You Might Still Qualify for Benefits
Your service records will help a VA disability lawyer determine whether you were likely exposed to Agent Orange. Although the conditions listed above are most commonly linked to exposure, you may still qualify to receive benefits if you are suffering from an unlisted condition. Under these circumstances, however, VA’s presumed service connection may not apply.
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Other Benefits Related to Agent Orange Exposure
The federal government may also provide compensation to children with certain birth defects who are the biological offspring of qualifying veterans. These children may be eligible for VA compensation and vocational training.
Survivors of veterans who died from a condition linked to Agent Orange exposure may also qualify for VA benefits. In addition to compensation for medical expenses, survivors may be entitled to home loan benefits and compensation for educational expenses.
Agent Orange Registry Exam
The VA Agent Orange Registry health exam is a free exam offered by VA that can determine if you are suffering from a medical condition(s) related to herbicide exposure. This exam is not required to obtain benefits, however.
What a VA Disability Appeal Lawyer Can Do for You
Regardless of where you sit in the VA disability claims process, an attorney can assist you. For example, your attorney can:
- Obtain the latest documentation of your ailments: Your lawyer can work with your physicians, their own medical experts, and other informed parties to document your conditions.
- Determine the proper ratings for your Agent Orange-related conditions: Knowing the right ratings for your ailments is necessary to launch an effective decision review.
- Oversee all case-related paperwork, including the appeal: Your attorney will oversee all case-related paperwork, which is crucial to the decision review process. They will even draft and file these documents for you.
- Deal with VA representatives: Communicating with VA officials may not always be easy, and this is another aspect of your claim that your attorney will handle. If you must interact with VA representatives in any way, your attorney will protect your rights.
- Exhaust all options for obtaining fair benefits: A lawyer does not simply give up if they hit a roadblock. Your attorney will use all available options as they seek the benefits you deserve.
Your lawyer will also be an advisor, answering all questions that you have throughout the process.
Contact a VA Disability Lawyer Today for Help With Agent Orange Injuries
If you are suffering from a medical condition linked to Agent Orange exposure, you may have a right to receive compensation for your injuries.
Even if your initial claim is denied—which frequently occurs—you can request a decision review. A VA disability lawyer will help you to navigate this process so that you can focus on healing. Call for VA disability legal help today.
Call or text 1-888-392-5392 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
