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This is because VA also recognizes non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as related to service in Vietnam or the waters offshore of Vietnam during the Vietnam Era. No matter where you are, our claims agents can help you secure the benefits (and backpay) you've earned. have hearing loss, Chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne, Respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, or trachea), Acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, now classified as early-onset peripheral neuropathy. 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. Bladder Cancer is a now a recognized presumptive condition related to Agent Orange exposure. Perhaps the most complicated issue when it comes to Agent Orange exposure and herbicide exposure-related claims is the special effective date rules (found in 38 C.F.R. Even if many decades passed between your exposure in military service and medical diagnosis of an associated condition, it is not too late to file a claim. Agent Orange exposure is associated with a number of medical conditions, some of which are. Urinary Incontinence. Call us at (888) 573-7838 or use fill out a quick contact form to talk about how Agent Orange exposure has impacted your long-term health. Below is a brief history. The ongoing use of the toxic chemical meant that many U.S. service members were exposed to it regularly. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, 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. Will the VA Pay Back to My Effective Date? A lawyer could also assist you if you need to appeal an unfavorable decision. If you have recently received a favorable decision from the VA on your Agent Orange claim, you may think that the long fight with the department of veterans affairs is over. Getting Veterans (VA) Disability for Agent Orange Diseases, Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) of 2021. Unfortunately, Agent Orange causes a number of serious medical conditions. Personal Note: $612.40 (Veteran with 1 Parent and 1 Child) + $29.35 (additional child 1) + $29.35 (additional child 2). A veteran benefits attorney can help you sort through all the paperwork so that you can get your benefits sooner. Our attorneys are ready to start building your case. 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 ). For more information on how to apply and for tips on making sure your claim is ready to be processed by VA, visit our How to Apply page. . This Act added to the list of presumptive health conditions caused by Agent Orange and other toxic substances. University of Denver, B.A. Attention A T users. Herbicides were also used by the U.S. military to defoliate military facilities in the U.S. and in other countries as far back as the 1950s. As a result, those who did not already qualify for disability benefits may now be eligible. 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. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) The right combination of evidence, medical and service records, lay testimony, and legal argument could win your case. Agent Orange exposure is presumed if a Veteran was in Vietnam from January 9, 1962 until May 7, 1975. The rates range from $144.14 a month for 10 percent disability to $3,146.42 per month for 100 percent disability. We can interview medical doctors and experts, examine scientific studies, and perform other steps to build the strongest case that Agent Orange caused your condition. When a Nehmer class member dies prior to receiving retroactive payments under this section, VA will pay the amount to an identified payee in . Additional amounts are paid to certain Veterans with severe disabilities ("special monthly compensation") and certain Veterans with dependents. 3. Agent Orange was stored at U.S. military bases in addition to being sprayed. For questions regarding VA benefits, call the VA toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000. If youdeveloped cancer or another health condition after being exposed to Agent Orange, get an experienced veterans advocate on your team to help you get the benefits you deserve. We will do our best to respond within a reasonable amount of time (usually 3 to 10 workdays). pays for service-related disabilities depends on how comprehensive the disability is. As of December 1st, 2022 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows: 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month. To be eligible for compensation under the Payment Program, Vietnam Veterans or their survivors had to establish the following: The Payment Program operated over a period of 6 years, beginning, after appeals, in 1988 and concluding in 1994. Our office is located at 6940 O St, Suite . Agent Orange is a mix of herbicides that was used as a weapon by the United States to kill enemy crops in Vietnam and Korea during the 1960s and 70s. 2. Importantly, the exam isnota Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. You will also need a medical opinion letter to verify your claims and fill out several applications for benefits. If you think you were exposed to Agent Orange during your military service and now have a qualifying medical condition or diagnosis you believe to be caused by exposure, do not miss out on the benefits you deserve. AGENT ORANGE IN KOREA. Prior Employment: For example, Blue Water Navy Veterans and those who served on or near the Demilitarized Zone in the Korean Conflict between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971 are also presumed to have been exposed. In recognition of the damage Agent Orange caused, the U.S. military created a settlement fund and payment program that distributed $197 million in cash payments to eligible veterans. Unfortunately, many military members were exposed prior to the ban and have developed various medical conditions including many types of cancer as a result. However, if you have dependents, this amount will be even higher. To calculate additional compensation, use the respective "additional" rows at the end of each table. Copyright 2023 Los Angeles Post-Examiner You can become eligible for compensation for Agent Orange exposure if you have a record of specific types of military service. exposure to herbicides in a location other than the Vietnam or the Korean demilitarized zone. 275 S Worthington St #113, Spring Valley, CA 91977. Agent Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to kill trees and shrubs providing cover and destroy food crops. The amount of money the V.A. than 20 million gallons of Agent Orange were used by US troops in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, resulting in excessive amounts of the toxic dioxin in fields, forests, and military bases . Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Perhaps the most complicated issue when it comes to Agent Orange exposure and herbicide exposure-related claims is the special effective date rules (found in 38 C.F.R. Unfortunately, research later showed the herbicide was highly toxic to anyone who came in proximity to it. She realized that she can make her voice heard to the masses through legal journalism. Of the 105,000 claims received by the Payment Program, approximately 52,000 Vietnam Veterans or their survivors received cash payments which averaged about $3,800 each. Why Are Poverty and Homelessness Treated Like Crimes? You will need to file a disability compensation claim if you wish to recover compensation due to Agent Orange exposure. Office of Accountability & Whistleblower Protection, Training - Exposure - Experience (TEE) Tournament, Military Exposure Related Health Concerns, War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, Clinical Trainees (Academic Affiliations), https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/locations/thailand.asp, https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/agentorange-c123.asp, How To File A VA Disability Claim | Veterans Affairs, Get Help Filing Your Claim Or Appeal | Veterans Affairs (va.gov), Bile Duct Cancer and Liver Fluke Infection, Call TTY if you Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. For instance, which pages you go to most. Our experienced legal team is committed to helping Veterans exposed to Agent Orange receive full compensation for their service-connected disabilities. there must be a significant amount of scientific evidence linking the illness to Agent Orange exposure. Competent medical evidence of an actual connection between herbicide exposure and the current disability. Learn how this affects your VA disability claim. If you have a health condition caused by exposure to Agent Orange during military service, read this page to find out if you may be eligible for . However, even if VA does not presume a connection to service, we can help you recover benefits if you served somewhere else. 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. MLS # NJOC2013144 It is important to note that if further disease or disability results from one of the presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure, you canfile a claim for secondary service connection. 3.816 ) that apply to some veterans as a result of the Nehmer v. u.s. department of veterans affairs class-action lawsuit filed in the northern district of California (n.d. cal) by the national veterans legal services program. Veterans interested in applying for disability compensation under one of the three new Agent Orange presumptives should click here or call (800) 827-1000. As of December 1st, 2022 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows: If your diagnosis is active cancer, VA assigns an automatic disability rating of 100 percent. For example, various cancers are a common consequence of exposure. The Road to VA Compensation Benefitswill help break down the claims process from start to finish. Filing for benefits can be daunting. The exam is also not required to receive VA benefits. Canada's Secret War: Vietnam . Below is a brief history. Research has demonstrated that it can remain toxic in the soil for decades. For example, if you served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7,1975 or on a ship in inland waters or within 12 miles of Vietnamese or Cambodian demarcation lines, you are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 3518, the Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2021, in the House of Representatives. pays for service-related disabilities depends on how comprehensive the disability is. The new decision addressed that 2002 policy change and decided that Agent Orange presumptive condition back pay should indeed be extended to Blue Water Navy veterans. Single veterans are . Some reports indicate the U.S. military was aware Agent Orange could be harmful but did not take precautions to limit exposure. These conditions, or diseases, are classified aspresumptive. . There is a host of medical conditions that are typically associated with Agent Orange. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. (b) Amounts. The United States has been involved for more than two decades in a controversy over the military use of herbicides in Vietnam during the Vietnam era. The most important part of our job as your VA disability attorneys is establishing that exposure to Agent Orange caused your medical condition. Under the special Nehmer effective date rules, it does not matter, thanks to the Nehmer class members, when the VA adds a disease to the presumptive list. For example, a Veteran with a 30% disability rating, a spouse and three children under 18 would receive $671.10 each month. In addition, if the veteran dies before his initial claim is re-decided under Nehmer, the VA still must decide the claim and pay, in priority order, his spouse, children of any age, his parents, or his estate. In order for a Veteran who served in Vietnam to qualify for disability compensation benefits for a presumption based on exposure to Agent Orange, he or she should have: A qualifying medical diagnosis, and. In order for a Veteran who served in Vietnam to qualify for disability compensation benefits for a presumption based on exposure to Agent Orange, he or she should have: Veterans without a qualifying medical diagnosis must show a connection between the disease and herbicide exposure during military service to receive disability compensation. The VA bases eligibility forVA disability compensation benefits, in part, on whether you served in a location that exposed you to Agent Orange. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced they will put into effect legislation to provide health care and benefits for veterans who served in the military in Southwest Asia with Parkinsonism related to Agent Orange exposure. The same applies to veterans who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone between 1968 and 1971. The average compensation for Agent Orange is a 100 percent service connected VA disability rating, which is worth a minimum of $3,332.06 per month in 2022. Crystal is honored to follow and report on any legal case. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam have put up a long hard fight trying to get the VA disability benefits they deserve. The office of Sean Kendall, Attorney-at-Law, is committed to . B. 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. For years, the VA denied their disability compensation claims and denied any . Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. yet assertive representation for our clients. 2. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 Even if you did not serve in Vietnam or the Korean demilitarized zone during the specified time periods, you can still apply for disability compensation if you were exposed to an herbicide while in the military and believe it led to the onset of a disease. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Also covered by this presumption are veterans who were in or near the Korean demilitarized zone from April 1, 1968 to August 31, 1971. VA notes that these exams can help [VA] understand and respond to these health problems more effectively. Through the program, veterans may receive free lab tests and referrals to medical specialists for their conditions related to Agent Orange exposure. VA uses a disability rating system to assign benefits. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange may also be eligible to receive anAgent Orange Registry Health Exam. 3. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. 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 . At that time, VA requires you undergo another evaluation to determine the current status of your diagnosis. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. Homes similar to 121 Orange Ave #78 are listed between $75K to $279K at an average of $130 per square foot. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process of getting the compensation you deserve. Local: (303) 449-4773. . Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? we represent clients nationwide. In simplest terms, if a veteran filed his first claim for an Agent Orange-related diseasebeforethe VA added the disease to the presumptive list, the effective date of his claim (provided the disease eventually gets added to the list) is usually the date of the first claim. While that claim was still pending, a 1998 diagnosis ofischemic heart diseasewas added to the veterans C-File. Vietnam Veterans may be eligible for disability compensation benefits because of exposure to Agent Orange. VA currently presumes that some diseases resulted from exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. OK'd for Agent Orange Compensation. Applications for the Payment Program had to be submitted prior to December 31, 1994. It is also important to note some other particularities about Nehmer claims. VA adds new conditions to the list periodically. During the past decade, the Department of Veterans Affairs has received many inquiries regarding the Agent Orange Settlement Fund. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. Click the button below to get more information. Agent Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to clear leaves and vegetation for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. What is the average compensation for Agent Orange? The active ingredient, dioxin, proved to be dangerous and the substance was banned. If you are intending toappeal a denied claim, you can contact us for an evaluation and we can help you with this process. This could potentially lead to more conditions being added to the list in the future. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). You must have a diagnosed medical condition to be eligible for VA disability benefits. For example, say a veteran filed a claim for service connection for arthritis in 1995. Thepurposeis to alert Veterans to possible long-term health problems that may be related to Agent Orange exposure during their military service.. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. The Agent Orange Act of 1991 implemented under VA regulations requires duty or visitation within the Republic of Vietnam, including its inland waterways, between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, to establish a presumption of Agent Orange exposure. 1-888-5-REPVET. the mixture of herbicides produced trace amounts of the dioxin TCDD the most toxic and dangerous dioxin. Those conditions are . Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Area of Practice: The VA does not consider these dates to be effective dates. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. The stipulation and order provided that whenever the VA adds a covered herbicide disease to the presumptive list, the VA must identify all veterans (and their surviving spouse and dependents) who were previously denied service connection for that disease or had claims pending in district court between September 25, 1985 and the publication date of the regulation adding the disease. 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. Request an Appointment. A common misconception is that the VA will grant back pay all the way to the date of your injury or when your disability began. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange can receive a presumptive service connection for hypothyroidism. Veterans without a qualifying medical diagnosis must show a connection between the disease and herbicide . These are the 2021 pay rates and increases since 2020. However, you will not be presumed to qualify for benefits. An attorney can help you to determine how much money you would likely receive based on your symptoms and conditions. With this, Congress has demonstrated that it has the power to use the NDAA to add conditions to the presumptive list. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links. Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Agent Orange Lawsuit. (Special Monthly Compensation). (iv) The class member's estate. It was not until later that the U.S. Army realized the potency of the product and discovered the direct link between Agent Orange and the debilitating sickness that many Vietnam War vets were mysteriously experiencing. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 However, over the years, she has become a strong advocate for VA rights and made it her mission to help veterans seek justice. The herbicide was primarily used in the Vietnam War, although it was also used in other military operations as well. Two years later, in 1991, the parties reached a final stipulation as to how the VA would treat class members if the VA added new regulations in the future which added diseases to the presumptive list. See: Other Veterans whose duty outside of Vietnam involved the direct handling of Agent Orange. We know the system and will fight for your interests and dignity. Additionally, in July 2022, the PACT Act added hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (abnormal protein in the blood) to VAs presumptive Agent Orange list.
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