Am I eligible for VA compensation
after serving at Camp Lejune
after serving at Camp Lejune
Am
You may be eligible for disability compensation payments on a presumptive basis if you meet all of these requirements. These requirements apply to Veterans, Reservists, and National Guard members.
Both of these descriptions must be true:
***********************************************************************************
Very Important information Contained in the below article
All Veterans are now eligible for VA Health Care and Nursing Home Services.All Veterans exposed to toxins and other
hazards during their military service -at home or abroad-will be eligible for VA health care beginning Mar 5,
You may be eligible for disability compensation payments on a presumptive basis if you meet all of these requirements. These requirements apply to Veterans, Reservists, and National Guard members.
Both of these descriptions must be true:
- You served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, North Carolina, for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and
- You didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge when you separated from the military
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
***********************************************************************************
Very Important information Contained in the below article
All Veterans are now eligible for VA Health Care and Nursing Home Services.All Veterans exposed to toxins and other
hazards during their military service -at home or abroad-will be eligible for VA health care beginning Mar 5,
All information on the Pact Act can be found on these pages
In addition to the latest Agent Orange information
Continue down for the Pact Act information
*******************************************************
AGENT ORANGE NEWSLETTER
INFORMATION FOR VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
2023
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE ARTICLE
1 Toxic Exposure Screening
1 Vietnam-era Veterans, the PACT Act and the Agent Orange Registry
3 Question: Can I be tested for Agent Orange exposure?
3 What is early-onset peripheral neuropathy?
4 Find your advocate for benefits with VA’s accredited list of Veteran Service Organizations
4 The Women’s Operational Military Exposure Network
5 VA holds annual Military Environmental Exposures Training Conference
TOXIC EXPOSURE SCREENING
As a Veteran, during your military
service, you may have been exposed
to environmental hazards, such as
Agent Orange. To learn more about
your exposures, you can have a
toxic exposure screen (TES) during a
routine health care appointment,
which will allow your exposures to
be documented in your record. The
TES includes a series of questions
that take about 5-10 minutes, and
the potential exposures to various
hazards are recorded. This screening
is not meant for diagnostic purposes
but can address concerns about
your health and deployment.
Following the screen, you will
receive information about benefits,
environmental health registry exams
and clinical resources to address any
concerns.
If you have any questions about the
TES, you can contact your local VA
health care team via Secure Message
or call 1-800-MyVA411 and press 8.
You can also inquire about the TES
during your next VA health care
appointment or contact your local
VA facility and ask to be screened
by the TES Navigator if you want to
be screened sooner. It is important
to note that you will be screened
at least once every five years, even
if you do not have any concerns at
present. We recommend that you
take advantage of this opportunity
better understand your health.
VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS, THE
PACT ACT AND THE AGENT
ORANGE REGISTRY
Do you know the difference between
the PACT Act and the Agent Orange
Registry? The PACT Act, more
formally known as the Sergeant First
Class Health Robinson Honoring our
Promise to Address Comprehensive
Toxics Act, was signed into law on
August 10, 2022. It expands health
care benefits for Veterans. The Agent
Orange Registry helps Veterans
understand possible long-term
health problems that may be related
to Agent Orange exposure. Learn
more about the difference between
these two initiatives.
The PACT Act
• The PACT Act is a law that
empowers VA to provide
expanded benefits and care to
Veterans who were exposed to
environmental hazards during
military service.
• It ensures that every Veteran
enrolled in VA health care can
receive an initial toxic exposure
screening at VA and follow-up
screening at least every 5 years.
continued on page 2
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV 2
• It solidifies VA’s process for
establishing presumptions of
service connection of toxic
exposure-related conditions.
Presumptive Conditions
The PACT Act added to the list of
health conditions that we assume (or
“presume”) are caused by military
exposures. If you have a presumptive
condition, you don’t need to
prove that your service caused the
condition. You only need to meet
the service requirements for the
presumption.
For Vietnam Veterans, the PACT Act
added the following presumptive
conditions:
• High blood pressure (also called
hypertension)
• Monoclonal gammopathy of
undetermined significance
(MGUS).
Presumptive Locations
The PACT Act added 5 locations as
additional presumptive locations for
Agent Orange exposure:
• Any U.S. or Royal Thai military
base in Thailand from January 9,
1962, through June 30, 1976
• Laos from December 1, 1965,
through September 30, 1969
• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek,
Kampong Cham Province from
April 16, 1969, through April 30,
1969
• Guam or American Samoa or in
the territorial waters off Guam or
American Samoa from January 9,
1962, through July 31, 1980
• Johnston Atoll or on a ship
that called at Johnston Atoll
from January 1, 1972, through
September 30, 1977
Find additional locations and time
frames.
If you served on active duty in any of
these locations, VA will automatically
presume that you had exposure to
Agent Orange.
Health Care
If you served on active duty in any
of these locations during these time
periods, you are eligible to apply for
VA health care:
• The Republic of Vietnam
between January 9, 1962, and
May 7, 1975
• Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai
base between January 9, 1962,
and June 30, 1976
• Laos between December 1, 1965,
and September 30, 1969
• Certain provinces in Cambodia
between April 16, 1969, and April
30, 1969
• Guam or American Samoa (or
their territorial waters) between
January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980
• Johnston Atoll (or on a ship that
called at Johnston Atoll) between
January 1, 1972, and September
30, 1977
Learn more about health care
eligibility and about the PACT Act.
Agent Orange Registry
The Agent Orange Registry
provides eligible Veterans with a
free health evaluation related to
Agent Orange exposure.
• It alerts Veterans to possible
long-term health problems that
may be related to Agent Orange
exposure during their military
service.
• The registry data helps VA
understand and monitor the
potential for health problems
related to Agent Orange
exposure.
continued on page 3
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV 3
• It is not a disability evaluation or
required for other VA benefits.
• Enrollment in VA health care is
not required to join.
Agent Orange Registry
Elilibility
Veterans are eligible for the Agent
Orange Registry if they served in the
following locations and time frames:
• Vietnam - Veterans who served
in Vietnam anytime between
1962 and 1975, regardless of
length of time. This includes
“Brown Water” and “Blue Water”
Navy Veterans.
• Korea - Veterans who served
in a unit in or near the Korean
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any
time between September 1, 1967,
and August 31, 1971.
• Thailand
* U.S. Air Force Veterans
who served on Royal Thai Air
Force (RTAF) bases between
February 28, 1961, and May 7,
1975.
* Army Veterans who provided
perimeter security on RTAF
bases in Thailand between
February 28, 1961, and May 7,
1975.
* U.S. Army Veterans who
were stationed on some small
Army installations in Thailand
anytime between February
28, 1961, and May 7, 1975. The
Army Veteran must have been
a member of a military police
(MP) unit or was assigned a
military occupational specialty
whose duty placed him or her
at or near the base perimeter.
• C-123 Airplanes - Veterans
(including some Reservists) who
state that they flew on or worked
on a C-123 aircraft between 1969
and 1986.
• Veterans who served in
additional locations added by
the PACT Act
• Other Veterans - Veterans who
may have been exposed to
herbicides during a military
operation or as a result of
testing, transporting, or spraying
herbicides for military purposes.
To schedule a registry evaluation,
contact your local VA Environmental
Health Coordinator.
QUESTION: CAN I BE TESTED
FOR AGENT ORANGE
EXPOSURE?
As a Vietnam-era Veteran, you may
wonder if there is an examination or
medical test to find out if you have
been exposed to Agent Orange.
Perhaps you want to know your level
of exposure.
If you served during certain times and
at particular locations, VA presumes
that you were exposed to Agent
Orange or other herbicides. If you
have a presumptive disease and
served during the designated time
and location, you will automatically
be considered eligible for VA benefits.
If you feel that you were exposed to
Agent Orange or herbicides and have
a health condition other than those
listed that you believe is related to
your exposure, VA encourages you to
submit a claim for disability benefits.
Learn more about submitting a claim
for disability benefits at www.
benefits.va.gov/benefits or call 1-800-
827-1000.
WHAT IS EARLY-ONSET
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition
in which nerves that are outside
of the brain or spinal cord are
damaged. Signs and symptoms of
early-onset peripheral neuropathy
include:
• Tingling, prickling, or numbness
in the fingers or toes
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV 4
• Burning, throbbing, or shooting
pain that is greater at night and
may extend to the hands or feet
• High sensitivity to touch
• Muscular weakness
• Pain that is evenly distributed
on both sides of the body (for
example, in both hands and feet)
If you are concerned about
symptoms of early-onset peripheral
neuropathy, consult with your health
care provider. If you have early-
onset peripheral neuropathy that
presents within 1 year of herbicide
exposure to a degree that is at least
10% debilitating, VA presumes that
your condition is connected to your
exposure to Agent Orange or other
herbicides during service. You may
qualify for disability benefits and
medical care.
Learn more about peripheral
neuropathy and Agent Orange.
Learn about filing a claim for
disability benefits at www.benefits.
va.gov/benefits or by calling 1-800-
827-1000.
THE WOMEN’S OPERATIONAL
MILITARY EXPOSURE
NETWORK
The War-Related Illness and Injury
Study Center in Palo Alto, CA,
formed the Women’s Operational
Military Exposure Network (WOMEN)
with a mission to combine a
comprehensive clinical care program
with cutting-edge research to assess
and study the effects of military
exposure on women who served.
WOMEN’s vision is to enhance,
educate and promote women
Veterans’ health by continually asking
questions, studying possibilities with
proven research techniques, and
disseminating findings to scientific
and Veteran communities.
Although WOMEN has a strong
interest in post-9/11 women Veterans
as well as Gulf War era Veterans, it
serves women Veterans from all eras.
The WOMEN team acknowledges
that although women were not
authorized to serve in combat during
the Vietnam War, most women were
exposed to the same trauma and
combat environment as their male
peers. As it related to Vietnam-era,
Find your advocate for
benefits with VA’s accredited
list of Veteran Service
Organizations
Veteran Service Organizations
(VSOs) are private groups that
advocate for Veterans, service
members, dependents, and
survivors. A VA-accredited VSO can
help you understand and apply
for VA benefits, or request further
review or appeal of an unfavorable
VA benefits decision. VA’s Office of
General Counsel has a search tool
to help you find VA-recognized
organizations and VA-accredited
individuals that you can contact for
help with VA benefits claims. Find
the tool at https://www.va.gov/ogc/
apps/accreditation/index.as
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV
INFORMATION FOR VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
2023
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE ARTICLE
1 Toxic Exposure Screening
1 Vietnam-era Veterans, the PACT Act and the Agent Orange Registry
3 Question: Can I be tested for Agent Orange exposure?
3 What is early-onset peripheral neuropathy?
4 Find your advocate for benefits with VA’s accredited list of Veteran Service Organizations
4 The Women’s Operational Military Exposure Network
5 VA holds annual Military Environmental Exposures Training Conference
TOXIC EXPOSURE SCREENING
As a Veteran, during your military
service, you may have been exposed
to environmental hazards, such as
Agent Orange. To learn more about
your exposures, you can have a
toxic exposure screen (TES) during a
routine health care appointment,
which will allow your exposures to
be documented in your record. The
TES includes a series of questions
that take about 5-10 minutes, and
the potential exposures to various
hazards are recorded. This screening
is not meant for diagnostic purposes
but can address concerns about
your health and deployment.
Following the screen, you will
receive information about benefits,
environmental health registry exams
and clinical resources to address any
concerns.
If you have any questions about the
TES, you can contact your local VA
health care team via Secure Message
or call 1-800-MyVA411 and press 8.
You can also inquire about the TES
during your next VA health care
appointment or contact your local
VA facility and ask to be screened
by the TES Navigator if you want to
be screened sooner. It is important
to note that you will be screened
at least once every five years, even
if you do not have any concerns at
present. We recommend that you
take advantage of this opportunity
better understand your health.
VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS, THE
PACT ACT AND THE AGENT
ORANGE REGISTRY
Do you know the difference between
the PACT Act and the Agent Orange
Registry? The PACT Act, more
formally known as the Sergeant First
Class Health Robinson Honoring our
Promise to Address Comprehensive
Toxics Act, was signed into law on
August 10, 2022. It expands health
care benefits for Veterans. The Agent
Orange Registry helps Veterans
understand possible long-term
health problems that may be related
to Agent Orange exposure. Learn
more about the difference between
these two initiatives.
The PACT Act
• The PACT Act is a law that
empowers VA to provide
expanded benefits and care to
Veterans who were exposed to
environmental hazards during
military service.
• It ensures that every Veteran
enrolled in VA health care can
receive an initial toxic exposure
screening at VA and follow-up
screening at least every 5 years.
continued on page 2
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV 2
• It solidifies VA’s process for
establishing presumptions of
service connection of toxic
exposure-related conditions.
Presumptive Conditions
The PACT Act added to the list of
health conditions that we assume (or
“presume”) are caused by military
exposures. If you have a presumptive
condition, you don’t need to
prove that your service caused the
condition. You only need to meet
the service requirements for the
presumption.
For Vietnam Veterans, the PACT Act
added the following presumptive
conditions:
• High blood pressure (also called
hypertension)
• Monoclonal gammopathy of
undetermined significance
(MGUS).
Presumptive Locations
The PACT Act added 5 locations as
additional presumptive locations for
Agent Orange exposure:
• Any U.S. or Royal Thai military
base in Thailand from January 9,
1962, through June 30, 1976
• Laos from December 1, 1965,
through September 30, 1969
• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek,
Kampong Cham Province from
April 16, 1969, through April 30,
1969
• Guam or American Samoa or in
the territorial waters off Guam or
American Samoa from January 9,
1962, through July 31, 1980
• Johnston Atoll or on a ship
that called at Johnston Atoll
from January 1, 1972, through
September 30, 1977
Find additional locations and time
frames.
If you served on active duty in any of
these locations, VA will automatically
presume that you had exposure to
Agent Orange.
Health Care
If you served on active duty in any
of these locations during these time
periods, you are eligible to apply for
VA health care:
• The Republic of Vietnam
between January 9, 1962, and
May 7, 1975
• Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai
base between January 9, 1962,
and June 30, 1976
• Laos between December 1, 1965,
and September 30, 1969
• Certain provinces in Cambodia
between April 16, 1969, and April
30, 1969
• Guam or American Samoa (or
their territorial waters) between
January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980
• Johnston Atoll (or on a ship that
called at Johnston Atoll) between
January 1, 1972, and September
30, 1977
Learn more about health care
eligibility and about the PACT Act.
Agent Orange Registry
The Agent Orange Registry
provides eligible Veterans with a
free health evaluation related to
Agent Orange exposure.
• It alerts Veterans to possible
long-term health problems that
may be related to Agent Orange
exposure during their military
service.
• The registry data helps VA
understand and monitor the
potential for health problems
related to Agent Orange
exposure.
continued on page 3
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV 3
• It is not a disability evaluation or
required for other VA benefits.
• Enrollment in VA health care is
not required to join.
Agent Orange Registry
Elilibility
Veterans are eligible for the Agent
Orange Registry if they served in the
following locations and time frames:
• Vietnam - Veterans who served
in Vietnam anytime between
1962 and 1975, regardless of
length of time. This includes
“Brown Water” and “Blue Water”
Navy Veterans.
• Korea - Veterans who served
in a unit in or near the Korean
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any
time between September 1, 1967,
and August 31, 1971.
• Thailand
* U.S. Air Force Veterans
who served on Royal Thai Air
Force (RTAF) bases between
February 28, 1961, and May 7,
1975.
* Army Veterans who provided
perimeter security on RTAF
bases in Thailand between
February 28, 1961, and May 7,
1975.
* U.S. Army Veterans who
were stationed on some small
Army installations in Thailand
anytime between February
28, 1961, and May 7, 1975. The
Army Veteran must have been
a member of a military police
(MP) unit or was assigned a
military occupational specialty
whose duty placed him or her
at or near the base perimeter.
• C-123 Airplanes - Veterans
(including some Reservists) who
state that they flew on or worked
on a C-123 aircraft between 1969
and 1986.
• Veterans who served in
additional locations added by
the PACT Act
• Other Veterans - Veterans who
may have been exposed to
herbicides during a military
operation or as a result of
testing, transporting, or spraying
herbicides for military purposes.
To schedule a registry evaluation,
contact your local VA Environmental
Health Coordinator.
QUESTION: CAN I BE TESTED
FOR AGENT ORANGE
EXPOSURE?
As a Vietnam-era Veteran, you may
wonder if there is an examination or
medical test to find out if you have
been exposed to Agent Orange.
Perhaps you want to know your level
of exposure.
If you served during certain times and
at particular locations, VA presumes
that you were exposed to Agent
Orange or other herbicides. If you
have a presumptive disease and
served during the designated time
and location, you will automatically
be considered eligible for VA benefits.
If you feel that you were exposed to
Agent Orange or herbicides and have
a health condition other than those
listed that you believe is related to
your exposure, VA encourages you to
submit a claim for disability benefits.
Learn more about submitting a claim
for disability benefits at www.
benefits.va.gov/benefits or call 1-800-
827-1000.
WHAT IS EARLY-ONSET
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition
in which nerves that are outside
of the brain or spinal cord are
damaged. Signs and symptoms of
early-onset peripheral neuropathy
include:
• Tingling, prickling, or numbness
in the fingers or toes
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV 4
• Burning, throbbing, or shooting
pain that is greater at night and
may extend to the hands or feet
• High sensitivity to touch
• Muscular weakness
• Pain that is evenly distributed
on both sides of the body (for
example, in both hands and feet)
If you are concerned about
symptoms of early-onset peripheral
neuropathy, consult with your health
care provider. If you have early-
onset peripheral neuropathy that
presents within 1 year of herbicide
exposure to a degree that is at least
10% debilitating, VA presumes that
your condition is connected to your
exposure to Agent Orange or other
herbicides during service. You may
qualify for disability benefits and
medical care.
Learn more about peripheral
neuropathy and Agent Orange.
Learn about filing a claim for
disability benefits at www.benefits.
va.gov/benefits or by calling 1-800-
827-1000.
THE WOMEN’S OPERATIONAL
MILITARY EXPOSURE
NETWORK
The War-Related Illness and Injury
Study Center in Palo Alto, CA,
formed the Women’s Operational
Military Exposure Network (WOMEN)
with a mission to combine a
comprehensive clinical care program
with cutting-edge research to assess
and study the effects of military
exposure on women who served.
WOMEN’s vision is to enhance,
educate and promote women
Veterans’ health by continually asking
questions, studying possibilities with
proven research techniques, and
disseminating findings to scientific
and Veteran communities.
Although WOMEN has a strong
interest in post-9/11 women Veterans
as well as Gulf War era Veterans, it
serves women Veterans from all eras.
The WOMEN team acknowledges
that although women were not
authorized to serve in combat during
the Vietnam War, most women were
exposed to the same trauma and
combat environment as their male
peers. As it related to Vietnam-era,
Find your advocate for
benefits with VA’s accredited
list of Veteran Service
Organizations
Veteran Service Organizations
(VSOs) are private groups that
advocate for Veterans, service
members, dependents, and
survivors. A VA-accredited VSO can
help you understand and apply
for VA benefits, or request further
review or appeal of an unfavorable
VA benefits decision. VA’s Office of
General Counsel has a search tool
to help you find VA-recognized
organizations and VA-accredited
individuals that you can contact for
help with VA benefits claims. Find
the tool at https://www.va.gov/ogc/
apps/accreditation/index.as
AGENT ORANGE | 2023 | WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV