August 2, 2022 ---- Category: Uncategorized
Bladder Cancer is a now a recognized presumptive condition related to Agent Orange exposure.
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. For years, the VA denied their disability compensation claims and denied any link between Agent Orange and bladder cancer (also know as urothelial or transitional cell carcinoma).
Now, the times have changed and VA finally added bladder cancer as a presumptive condition related to Agent Orange / other herbicide exposure. The VA also added hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism to the list of presumptive conditions:
- 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:
- AL amyloidosis:
- Chloracne (or other types of acneiform disease like it)
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- Hypothyroidism
- Ischemic heart disease
- Parkinsonism
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy, early onset
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
Qualifying service includes:
Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, you must have served for any length of time in at least one of these locations:
- In the Republic of Vietnam, or
- Aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam, or
- On a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia, or
- On regular perimeter duty on the fenced-in perimeters of a U.S. Army installation in Thailand or a Royal Thai Air Force base. These bases include U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, or Don Muang.
Or at least one of these must be true:
- You served in or near the Korean DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or
- You served on active duty in a regular Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated contact with this aircraft due to your flight, ground, or medical duties, or
- You were involved in transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange during your military service, or
- You were assigned as a Reservist to certain flight, ground, or medical crew duties at one these locations:
- Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio, 1969 to 1986 (906th and 907th Tactical Air Groups or 355th and 356th Tactical Airlift Squadrons)
- Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, 1972 to 1982 (731st Tactical Air Squadron and 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, or 901st Organizational Maintenance Squadron)
- Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania, 1972 to 1982 (758th Airlift Squadron)
If you were exposed to Agent Orange and have a VA claim for bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, or Parkinsonism that was denied, contact us today for a free consultation on how to get your claim approved!