VA Expands Recognized Diseases

Week of September 06, 2010

The Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded the list of health problems VA officials presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposure. The new health problems include Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease, and expanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia to include all chronic B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia. VA officials encourage Vietnam veterans with these three diseases to submit their applications for access to VA health care and compensation now so the agency can address their claims. Visit the VA website to learn how to file a claim and what evidence is needed to make a decision about disability compensation or survivors' benefits. Additional information about VA's services for Veterans exposed to Agent Orange is available at VA's Agent Orange webpage.