Agent Orange Presumptive List

Agent Orange was a defoliant used by the military beginning in the 1960s. While it is unknown how many service members came in contact with the herbicide, the VA states millions may have been exposed.

The VA has continually conducted and reviewed research on the health effects Agent Orange exposure has had on veterans. When research consistently and sufficiently shows Agent Orange causes a health problem, the VA may add it to its Agent Orange presumptive list.

In this article, we share the up-to-date Agent Orange presumptive list, how each presumptive condition is rated, and what you can do if you believe Agent Orange exposure caused a condition that is not presumptive.

Agent Orange presumptive conditions

After years of research, the VA has formally acknowledged many serious health conditions are linked to exposure to Agent Orange. These conditions are presumptively service connected.

If you’re diagnosed with a presumptive condition and meet the VA’s eligibility criteria, you do not need to prove the nexus, or medical connection, linking your condition and your service for disability compensation. This may make getting benefits easier in many cases. 

Qualifying for Agent Orange presumptive conditions

Veterans are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange are those who served in:

• Vietnam: Service on land and on some vessels between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. This exposure includes those covered by the Blue Water Navy Act.
• C-123 Airplanes: Service in an Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, with repeated contact with this aircraft.
• Korea: Service in or near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between Sept. 1, 1967, and Aug. 31, 1971.
• Thailand: Service at any U.S. or Royal Thai military base between Jan. 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976. 
• Herbicide Test Sites and Storage: Exposure may have occurred at military bases in the U.S. or other countries, and also includes veterans who transported Agent Orange.
• Laos: Service between Dec. 1, 1965, and Sept. 30, 1969.
• Cambodia: Service at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province between April 16, 1969, and April 30, 1969.
• Guam or American Samoa (or in their territorial waters): Service between Jan. 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980.
• Johnston Atoll (or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll): Service between Jan. 1, 1972, and Sept. 30, 1977.

If you served in one of these locations during the listed timeframes, the VA may presume you were exposed to Agent Orange when reviewing your claim.

Reservists also have additional locations and service periods that can qualify them.

In addition to veterans, some children and surviving spouses of veterans exposed to Agent Orange may also be eligible for benefits.

Agent Orange cancer list

Cancers are diseases that cause uncontrolled cell growth that can start nearly anywhere and spread throughout the body.

The VA has acknowledged the following types of cancer are linked to Agent Orange:

• 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

The VA has also specified it does not include osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma or Kaposi’s sarcoma under soft tissue sarcomas for Agent Orange presumption. It also does not include mesothelioma under respiratory cancers.

If you have another type of cancer not listed here that you believe was caused by Agent Orange exposure, you can still apply for disability benefits.

However, you will need to be prepared to provide evidence supporting a link between your service, your exposure, and your cancer – the VA will not assume one.

Other illnesses caused by Agent Orange

AL amyloidosis

AL amyloidosis, also sometimes called primary amyloidosis, is a rare condition that causes abnormal mutations to light protein chains in the body. These protein chains gradually clump and gather on organs, causing damage. Most commonly, AL amyloidosis affects the heart or kidneys, but it can also affect your head, limbs, neck, and other organs, leading to a variety of symptoms.

Research has found AL amyloidosis may be tied to Agent Orange exposure. As a result, the VA has made the condition presumptive for qualifying Vietnam-era veterans.

Under diagnostic code 7717, AL amyloidosis will likely be awarded a VA rating of 100% in all cases.

Chloracne 

Chloracne is a rare skin condition that causes your skin to break out with blackheads, cysts, and nodules. It is more severe than everyday acne. 

Chloracne and other similar acneiform diseases have been linked to dioxin exposure, the toxic chemical found in Agent Orange and similar herbicides. Because of this connection, the VA has made chloracne an Agent Orange presumptive condition.

To qualify, your chloracne must have developed to meet at least the 10% rating criteria within a year of exposure to qualify as an Agent Orange presumptive condition.

Chloracne and similar acneiform diseases are typically rated using diagnostic code 7829 at 0%, 10%, 20%, or 30% disabling. 

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting 40 percent or more of the face and neck	30%	$552.47
Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting the intertriginous areas (the axilla of the arm, the anogenital region, skin folds of the breasts, or between digits)	20%	$356.66
Deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck; or deep acne affecting non-intertriginous areas of the body (other than the face and neck)	10%	$180.42
Superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) of any extent	0%	None

In cases where your condition results in scars, you may be rated using diagnostic criteria for disfigurement and scarring.

Diabetes mellitus type 2

Diabetes is a health condition that occurs when a person has too much sugar, or glucose, in their blood. Type 2 diabetes may be brought on when your pancreas doesn’t make as much insulin as it used to, and your body becomes insulin-resistant. 

The VA has formally recognized the association between diabetes and Agent Orange exposure, making diabetes an Agent Orange presumptive condition.

Diabetes is rated using diagnostic code 7913 as follows:

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
Requiring more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated	100%	$3,938.58
Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated	60%	$1,434.02
Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities	40%	$795.84
Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet	20%	$356.66
Manageable by restricted diet only	10%	$180.42

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood flowing through your arteries is too strong. While some individuals have few symptoms or none at all, hypertension can lead to a variety of serious health issues, like heart attack, aneurysm, and stroke when not properly treated.

Hypertension was made an Agent Orange presumptive condition after research identified a link between high blood pressure and herbicide exposure.

The VA typically rates hypertension under diagnostic code 7101, for hypertensive vascular disease, as follows:

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more	60%	$1,434.02
Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more	40%	$795.84
Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more	20%	$356.66
Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or; minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control	10%	$180.42

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid, is a condition that occurs when your thyroid gland doesn’t produce and release enough thyroid hormone. This can disrupt several key body functions, including heart rate, metabolism, and temperature regulation.

The VA has identified hypothyroidism as a presumptive condition for eligible Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.

The VA rates hypothyroidism using diagnostic code 7903 at either 30% or 100%, depending on the severity of your condition.

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
Hypothyroidism manifesting as myxedema (cold intolerance, muscular weakness, cardiovascular involvement (including, but not limited to hypotension, bradycardia, and pericardial effusion), and mental disturbance (including, but not limited to dementia, slowing of thought and depression))	100%	$3,938.58
Hypothyroidism without myxedema	30%	$552.47

This rating will last six months from either “crisis stabilization” in severe, advanced cases, or from the time you are diagnosed,  for veterans without myxedema. Once that period ends, you’ll instead be evaluated based on residual effects of the disease and its treatment.

Ischemic heart disease

Ischemic heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is a condition that occurs when fat or cholesterol builds up in the arteries. This buildup can narrow the arteries and restrict blood flow to and from the heart.  If left untreated, it may block these passageways entirely.

Limited amounts of oxygenated blood returning to the heart can cause symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. If arteries become fully blocked, this can lead to a heart attack. 

The VA has formally recognized the association between Agent Orange exposure and ischemic heart disease, making it an Agent Orange presumptive condition.

The VA rates ischemic heart disease under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart between 10% and 100%.

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms	100%	$3,938.58
Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms	60%	$1,434.02
Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging)	30%	$552.47
Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or continuous medication required for control	10%	$180.42

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) occurs when your body produces altered plasma cells. It isn’t a disease, but it does increase your risk of developing multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other related conditions. 

Agent Orange exposure can increase the risk of MGUS, and as such, the VA has made MGUS a presumptive condition for qualifying veterans.

You may learn you have MGUS from a blood test. MGUS can be service connected but you will likely not receive compensable VA disability benefits for it. However, already having this service connection may be helpful if you later develop multiple myeloma.

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
Symptomatic multiple myeloma	100%	$3,938.58
Asymptomatic, smoldering, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)	0%	None

Parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that worsens over time and impacts how you move. The disease causes tremors, stiffness, and weakness of the muscles. Although symptoms may start out mild, they typically become progressively worse over time.

Parkinsonism is different from Parkinson’s disease. The term refers to multiple conditions which cause tremors, slowness, and stiffness.

Both conditions can be presumptively service connected for qualifying Vietnam veterans, and both are rated using diagnostic code 8004 for paralysis agitans. 

Under this criteria, a veteran will likely be awarded at least 30% VA disability. Your rating will depend on the severity of your condition and could be as high as 100% based on residuals..

Peripheral neuropathy, early onset

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when peripheral nerves, those found outside the brain and spinal column, are damaged. This can result in tingling, weakness, numbness, or pain, and can even result in other disruptions to your body’s processes, depending on the specific nerve affected.

Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange have a presumptive service connection for early-onset peripheral neuropathy. The condition must also be at least 10% disabling within a year of exposure to qualify.

The VA rates peripheral neuropathy based on which peripheral nerves and parts of the body are affected. Ratings also depend on whether you experience paralysis, neuralgia, or neuritis in the nerve.

Porphyria cutanea tarda

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a disorder that causes skin to thin, blister, and scar after exposure to the sun, among other potential symptoms. It is the most common type of porphyria.

Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange have a presumptive service connection for PCT. The condition must also be at least 10% disabling within a year of exposure to qualify.

PCT is rated using the General Rating Formula for the Skin as follows:

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
At least one of the following: Characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or	60%	$1,434.02
Constant or near-constant systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light (PUVA), or other immunosuppressive drugs required over the past 12-month period	60%	$1,434.02
At least one of the following: Characteristic lesions involving 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or 20 to 40 percent of exposed areas affected; or Systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12-month period	30%	$552.47
At least one of the following: Characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body affected; or at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of exposed areas affected; or intermittent systemic therapy including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of less than 6 weeks over the past 12-month period	10%	$180.42
No more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period and at least one of the following: Characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body affected; or characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected	0%	None

Continuing research on Agent Orange illnesses

Even though Agent Orange was used by the U.S. military more than 50 years ago, research continues to investigate the long-term health consequences exposed veterans face.

Many now-presumptive Agent Orange conditions were not added to the list until the PACT Act was passed in 2022, and it’s likely over time, more conditions will be added.

For example, a 2026 study for the Sylvester Comprehensive Care Center suggested there is a link between aggressive bone marrow cancers and Agent Orange. While the VA does not currently formally recognize this connection, it highlights the ways research is still developing on the herbicide’s effects. 

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What can I do if my condition isn’t presumptive, but I think it’s linked to Agent Orange?

Even if your condition is not presumptively connected to Agent Orange by the VA, you can still apply for disability. 

However, the VA will not automatically assume Agent Orange exposure during service was the cause of your condition. This means you will need to be prepared to provide your own evidence supporting this connection.

If you believe Agent Orange caused your health condition, you can speak to a doctor about whether this is possible and whether they are willing to write a nexus letter.

How Woods & Woods can help

Our TDIU lawyers have helped thousands of veterans nationwide who can no longer work because of their service-connected conditions. Call us today for your free, confidential TDIU case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we win your claim.

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