By: Susan Paczak

The Veterans Administration periodically reviews its list of Agent Orange disease to decide if new diseases should be added. If a disease is added, a veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange will be eligible for benefits for that disease. The VA is currently considering adding hypertension, also known as high blood pressure to the list. Additionally, based on scientific evidence, various veteran groups are pushing he VA to add bladder cancer and certain thyroid conditions.

If disease are added, veterans can file claims for those conditions. If the veteran was previously denied, that claim can be reopened, with veterans receiving benefits back to the date of their initial application.

The criteria for obtaining benefits is complicated. Don’t try to navigate the process alone. Contact an Abes Baumann attorney for help.