Most veterans know that if they served in Vietnam, they are eligible for disability compensation if they have any of the presumptive conditions listed by the Veterans Administration (VA) as caused by Agent Orange exposure.

However, according to Carter County Veteran Services Officer David Batchelder, over the last few years, the VA has recognized other areas where veterans may have been exposed to Agent Orange.

“Veterans that were stationed at certain bases in Thailand anytime between February 1968 and May 1975 may have been exposed to Agent Orange depending on their duties at the base,” said Batchelder. “Veterans that were stationed in Korea on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) anytime between April 1968 and August 1971 may have also been exposed to Agent Orange and also be eligible for compensation based on this exposure.”

He also said some Air Force veterans that served on C-123 aircraft between 1969 and 1986 may have been exposed to Agent Orange, depending on their duties, and they could be eligible for compensation if they have one of the qualifying conditions.

The conditions considered to be caused by Agent Orange exposure are AL Amyloidosis, Chronic B-cell Leukemias, Chloracne, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Hodgkin’s Disease, Ischemic Heart Disease, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Parkinson’s Disease, Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Prostate Cancer, Respiratory Cancers (includes lung cancer), Soft Tissue Sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma).

“If you have one of these conditions and believe you were exposed to Agent Orange in one of these areas, you should file a claim for service connected disability,” said Batchelder.

Contact him at (423)542-1824 for assistance with questions.