These disabilities are called "service-related" or "service-connected." For the purposes of disability compensation, VA presumes that Veterans were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides if they served: In Vietnam anytime between January 9, 1962 . Request an Appointment. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Single veterans are . Because the plaintiff class was so large (an estimated 10 million people), the Fund was distributed to class members in the United States through two separate programs designed to provide maximum benefits to Vietnam Veterans and their families most in need of assistance: This plan for distributing the Settlement Fund was unprecedented: it employed mechanisms not previously adopted in class action lawsuits in order to maximize benefits to class members and to respond to the complex needs expressed by the class during a series of "Fairness Hearings" held in six different locations in the country. Competent medical evidence that the disease began within the deadline (if any). Between 1989 and 1996 it distributed, through a series of Requests for Proposal, $74 million to 83 social services organizations throughout the United States. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Agent Orange exposure is presumed if a Veteran was in Vietnam from January 9, 1962 until May 7, 1975. An attorney can help you to determine how much money you would likely receive based on your symptoms and conditions. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. A new law would expand the Agent Orange presumptive list, making easier for vets to qualify for disability compensation related to exposure during service. This includes: If eligible, you must prove that you were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during your military service to be eligible for service-connection for disease VA presumes are related to Agent Orange exposure. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. Therefore, the amount of your next monthly payment will likely be the figure above that corresponds with your VA assigned disability rating. Go over this list of presumptive conditions if you served during the Vietnam War and are seeking compensation and health care benefits from the effects of Agent Orange. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process of getting the compensation you deserve. Additional amounts are paid to certain Veterans with severe disabilities ("special monthly compensation") and certain Veterans with dependents. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. Efforts in Congress last year to add hypertension to a list of diseases linked to Agent Orange at the Department of Veterans Affairs failed, keeping Vietnam-era veterans from accessing care for high blood pressure connected to the toxic exposure. These benefits are tax-free. Read about Agent Orange claim. Most of us know about the "automatic" 100% service-connected Agent Orange disability compensation for vets who have a dozen or so assorted medical conditions (such as ALS and prostate cancer). The exact payments are as follows: 10 percent disability rating: $144.14 per month. During its operation, the Settlement Fund distributed a total of $197 million in cash payments to members of the class in the United States. Note that the special Nehmer effective dates apply only to Vietnam veterans who served on the landmass of republic of Vietnam or its inland waterways (hopefully soon to include Da Nang Harbor ). Filing for benefits can be daunting. You have a presumption of exposure if you meet at least one of these service requirements. For more information about service qualifications and other eligibility criteria, visit our Agent Orange C-123 web page. Contact the appropriate VA Regional The same applies to veterans who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone between 1968 and 1971. The VA does not consider these dates to be effective dates. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. Attention A T users. The U.S. program, codenamed . Berry Law Firm works with veterans nationwide who do not receive proper Agent Orange-related disability benefits. The Road to VA Compensation Benefitswill help break down the claims process from start to finish. She enjoyed being part of the legislative process, but she has always wanted to use her law degree to help people and has welcomed the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of veterans with her colleagues at Hill & Ponton. The specific amount of compensation is based on disability rating (between one and 100% disabled) with those who have serious conditions entitled to more annual benefits. VA survivors' benefits. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, We help them to appeal and reopen claims in order to raise their VA disability ratings and increase their monthly benefit. Unfortunately, Agent Orange causes a number of serious medical conditions. As a result, those who did not already qualify for disability benefits may now be eligible. "Agent Orange" refers to a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed in the jungles of Vietnam and around the Korean demilitarized zone to remove trees and dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover. If your health condition is not on the list or you did not serve in a qualifying location, we will have to do some research to establish a link, but our attorneys are qualified to do so. The VA will calculate and pay out any retroactive VA disability back pay owed. As a result, the process can take some time. Urinary Incontinence. The Veterans Health Administration's Public Health website lists these diseases VA presumes are associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service: If you are seeking service connection for one of the diseases VA presumes is associated with exposure to herbicides during service, VA requires the following: If you believe that you have a disease caused by herbicide exposure, but that disease is not on the list of diseases associated with Agent Orange, you may still apply for service-connection. Please switch auto forms mode to off. This is also known as VA Disability back pay. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Are you sure you want to rest your choices? Bar Admissions: Why Are Poverty and Homelessness Treated Like Crimes? The Agent Orange Act of 1991 comes with a presumption of service connection for all veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and suffered from the medical conditions listed above. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Florida Bar Veterans . How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need? 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month. Contact the attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD for a free consultation. Essentially, Congress bypassed VA to add these conditions to the presumptive conditions list and, by statute, determined that there is a link between Agent Orange exposure and bladder cancer, Parkinsons-like symptoms, and hypothyroidism. Birth defects and conditions such as spina bifida, cleft lip, congenital heart disease, hip dysplasia, Hallerman-Streiff syndrome, neural tube defects, Poland syndrome, and others may also be caused by Agent Orange exposure in children. A lawyer could also assist you if you need to appeal an unfavorable decision. Determining average compensation isnt possible or useful since your compensation will be based on how severely you were affected by exposure. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. Check VA's Guide to Agent Orange Claims to learn more about how to establish eligibility to disability compensation and how much VA pays. Today, veterans who receive financial assistance as a result of Agent Orange connected medical issues generally get their compensation in the form of disability benefits. VA currently presumes that some diseases resulted from exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. Agent Orange is an herbicide mixture that contains a chemical called dioxin. VA and federal law presumes that certain diseases are a result of exposure to these herbicides. In order to qualify, the children must be: Depending on the severity of your disability, you can receive as much as$3,621.95 per month as a single person. However, if you are considering filing an initial claim, or even if you are interested in learning about the appeals process, we offer a free ebook to get you started on the right foot! Veterans interested in applying for disability compensation under one of the three new Agent Orange presumptives should click here or call (800) 827-1000. The Nehmer class action came after the Agent Orange Act was passed by Congress. Submit a Disability Benefits Questionnaire completed by your physician, or attend a VA claim exam, if needed, before submitting your claim. Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant, one of the "tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides.It was used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. They include, but are not limited to: This list is not exhaustivemore is being learned about the long-term effects every day, and some conditions mimic others and may not be attributed to Agent Orange exposure. Agent Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to kill trees and shrubs providing cover and destroy food crops. that the Veteran served in Vietnam as a member of the Armed Forces between 1962 and 1972 (the period during which Agent Orange was used in Vietnam); that the applicant was either a totally-disabled Vietnam Veteran or the survivor of a deceased Vietnam Veteran; that based upon the circumstances of the Veteran's service (including location of service and particular experiences during service), the Veteran met a test of probable exposure to herbicides; that death or disability was not caused by a traumatic or accidental occurrence; and. Many Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and other related herbicides in Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, or other locations later developed bladder cancer due to their service. A 2016 study found an association between people with high levels of dioxin in their blood and the development of chronic kidney disease. 7 Things Every Veteran Should Know About Agent Orange Video, This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Along with a multitude of back and forth policy changes, there were also cases in which veterans received less Agent Orange compensation back pay than they were entitled to. VA Ratings for Agent Orange range from 10% to 100% depending on the disability and the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms (i.e., "severity of symptoms"). Click the button below to get more information. Importantly, the exam isnota Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. Exception: Blue Water Veterans with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be granted service-connection without showing inland waterway service or that they set foot in Vietnam. Korea DMZ Veterans . Our attorneys are ready to start building your case. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange can receive a presumptive service connection for hypothyroidism. Crystal A. Davis was born into a family of attorneys and was raised with a strong sense of justice. For questions regarding VA benefits, call the VA toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000. 7031 Koll Center Pkwy, Pleasanton, CA 94566. While Agent Orange was widely used during the Vietnam War era, VA requires veterans to have served in specific locations at specific time periods to be eligible for presumptive service connection. The total amount payable is $1824.71. We will do our best to respond within a reasonable amount of time (usually 3 to 10 workdays). yet assertive representation for our clients.
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