The Playbook › Toxic exposure guides
Agent Orange was a herbicide used by the U.S. military to clear vegetation, mainly during the Vietnam War. VA presumes that veterans who served in certain places and times were exposed, and that a specific list of diseases was caused by that exposure.
If you have one of the conditions and served in one of the locations, you do not need to prove you were sprayed or that Agent Orange caused your illness.
The short version
- 19 conditions are presumptive, including type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and high blood pressure.
- Qualifying service includes Vietnam, ships within 12 nautical miles, the Korean DMZ, Thailand bases, and several other locations.
- There is no time limit for most of these conditions to appear.
- Survivors can claim benefits if a veteran died of a presumptive condition.
- Previously denied? File again. The list and the locations have both expanded.
On this page
Agent Orange presumptive conditions
Cancers
- Bladder cancer
- Chronic B-cell leukemia
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Prostate cancer
- Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer
- Some soft tissue sarcomas
Other illnesses
- AL amyloidosis
- Chloracne, or similar acneform disease
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Hypothyroidism
- Ischemic heart disease
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
- Parkinsonism
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy, early onset
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
A few of these have timing conditions. Chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, and early-onset peripheral neuropathy must have appeared to a degree of at least 10% within one year of exposure.
Hypertension and MGUS were added by the PACT Act in 2022. Bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism were added in 2021. If you were denied for any of these before they were added, you have grounds to file again.
Qualifying service for Agent Orange exposure
| Location | Dates |
|---|---|
| Republic of Vietnam, including brief visits ashore | January 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975 |
| U.S. military vessels on Vietnam’s inland waterways | January 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975 |
| Vessels within 12 nautical miles seaward of the Vietnam and Cambodia demarcation line (Blue Water Navy) | January 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975 |
| In or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone | September 1, 1967, to August 31, 1971 |
| Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand | January 9, 1962, to June 30, 1976 |
| Laos | December 1, 1965, to September 30, 1969 |
| Cambodia, at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province | April 16 to April 30, 1969 |
| Guam or American Samoa, or their territorial waters | January 9, 1962, to July 31, 1980 |
| Johnston Atoll, or a ship that called there | January 1, 1972, to September 30, 1977 |
| Regular contact with C-123 aircraft that had carried herbicides | Active duty and Reserve crews with repeated contact |
If you served somewhere not on the list where herbicides were tested or stored, you can still claim exposure. You will need to show it with evidence rather than relying on the presumption.
What you need to file an Agent Orange claim
- A current diagnosis of a presumptive condition.
- Proof of qualifying service. Your DD214, deployment orders, unit records, ship deck logs, travel vouchers, performance reports, or buddy statements placing you there.
- Medical evidence of severity, so VA can assign the correct rating.
You do not need a nexus letter.
File on VA Form 21-526EZ. See the filing guide. Submit an Intent to File first if you are still gathering records.
Proving where you served
For Vietnam ground service, a DD214 showing a Vietnam Service Medal or Vietnam Campaign Medal helps but is not always conclusive, because those were also awarded for service nearby. Supporting evidence can include:
- Orders, pay records showing combat or hostile fire pay
- Unit histories and morning reports
- Ship logs showing the vessel’s position or port calls. VA keeps a list of ships known to have operated in qualifying waters.
- Letters, photographs, and statements from fellow service members
For Thailand, the PACT Act removed the earlier requirement to show duty on the base perimeter. Service on any qualifying base in the date range is enough.
How the conditions are rated
The presumption settles the link. The rating depends on severity under the usual schedule. Examples:
| Condition | How it is typically rated |
|---|---|
| Type 2 diabetes | 10% to 100%, based on whether it requires diet control, oral medication, insulin, and regulation of activities |
| Ischemic heart disease | 10% to 100%, based on exercise capacity (METs) and heart function |
| Prostate cancer | 100% during active disease and treatment, then rated on residuals such as urinary problems |
| Hypertension | 10% to 60%, based on blood pressure readings and need for continuous medication |
| Parkinson’s disease | Minimum 30%, with separate ratings for each affected function |
See the hypertension rating guide, or look up any condition in the conditions A to Z.
Secondary conditions matter here
Many Agent Orange conditions lead to others, and those can be rated too:
- Diabetes: peripheral neuropathy in each limb, kidney disease, eye disease, erectile dysfunction, heart disease
- Heart disease: related complications
- Cancer treatment: lasting side effects of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation
See secondary conditions and SMC-K.
If you were denied before
File a Supplemental Claim. For veterans and survivors with earlier Agent Orange denials, special court-ordered rules can allow an effective date going back to the original claim, which can mean substantial retroactive pay. These rules are complex. Have an accredited representative review your history. See who can help.
Survivors and children
- A surviving spouse, child, or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation if the veteran died from a presumptive condition, even decades after service.
- VA provides benefits for certain birth defects, including spina bifida, in the biological children of exposed veterans.
Health care
Veterans with qualifying service are eligible for VA health care and a free Agent Orange Registry health exam. The exam is not required for a claim, but it documents your health and exposure history.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.