If you are one of the 2.7 million US Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, your status as a Vietnam Veteran entitles you to benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition, servicemembers who were exposed to Agent Orange (a highly toxic herbicide used during the Vietnam War) are eligible to receive specific benefits.
While some Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange have reported difficulties accessing their VA benefits, the PACT Act has expanded benefits available to Veterans suffer from Agent Orange illnesses. Because of the new legislation, which added additional presumptive diseases, Veterans who had previously applied for benefits and had been denied can now reapply.
The VA website notes, “The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans — and their survivors — with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”
Are You Eligible for VA Compensation?
Veterans exposed to Agent Orange may be eligible for VA disability compensation if they meet both of these requirements:
- Have a diagnosed medical condition that is on the VA’s list of presumptive conditions for Veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
- Served in a location that exposed them to Agent Orange.
There are now two additional presumptive conditions recognized by the VA for those exposed to Agent Orange, thanks to the PACT Act:
- High Blood Pressure (hypertension)
- Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)
VA Benefits for Vietnam Veterans
How can the VA serve you? Among the various benefits the VA has available are:
- Disability compensation
- Pension
- Education and Training
- Healthcare
- Home Loans
- Insurance
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
- Burial
How to Apply for VA Benefits
To receive these benefits, you must apply for them in one of three ways: 1) Online, using eBenefits; 2) With an accredited representative; or 3) At a VA regional office (you can find your local office here).
Before you apply, you will need to gather some documents, which include:
- Social Security Numbers for you, your spouse, and your qualified dependents
- Your military discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents)
- Insurance card information for all insurance companies, including Medicare, that cover you and your spouse.
- Gross household income (total income before taxes and deductions) from the previous calendar year for you, your spouse, and your dependents
- Your deductible expenses for the past year, including certain health care and education costs.
If you are applying for disability related to Agent Orange exposure, you will need:
- A medical record that shows you have an Agent Orange-related health condition, and
- Military records to show how you were exposed to Agent Orange during your service.
AAFMAA Can Help
If you are an AAFMAA Member and have questions about your VA benefits, an AAFMAA Member Benefits Coordinator can help you get the answers you’re looking for. Email [email protected] or call 888-301-8572 option 2, then option 2 again for assistance today.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Photo By: Marine Corps Sgt. Nicholas Filca. Service members of Vietnamese descent, including four flag and general officers, attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, April 30, 2022. The ceremony marked the anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind, which evacuated South Vietnamese civilians at the conclusion of the Vietnam War in 1975.