Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
The children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange often suffer serious disabling health conditions. Many infants born in the 1960s and 70s following the Vietnam and Korean Wars suffered birth defects such as spina bifida due to their military parents’ exposure to the toxic herbicide.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes birth defects in children of veterans exposed to this toxin as qualifying for benefits.
To be eligible, the child must:
- Be a biological child of a Vietnam or Korean War veteran
- Have a birth defect that resulted in a permanent physical or mental disability
- Have proof that their parent or parents served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975, or in/near the Korean demilitarized zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971
- Have been conceived after the veteran parent first entered Vietnam or Korean demilitarized zone
Children of female Vietnam veterans may also be eligible if their mother served there between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975.
Conditions That May Meet The Criteria
Agent Orange has been documented to cause many serious health conditions including some birth defects in the children of the veterans that were exposed.
Spina bifida is one of the most common causes of birth defects in these children. Spina Bifida is presumed by the VA as a condition that is due to the veteran’s exposure to herbicides, like Agent Orange, during their service. Because of this presumption, the VA does not require any evidence linking the condition to service.
Other conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Achondroplasia
- Cleft lip and cleft palate
- Congenital heart disease
- Congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
- Esophageal and intestinal atresia
- Hallerman-Streiff syndrome
- Hip dysplasia
- Hirschprung’s disease (congenital megacolon)
- Hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis
- Hypospadias
- Imperforate anus
- Neural tube defects
- Poland syndrome
- Pyloric stenosis
- Syndactyly (fused digits)
- Tracheoesophageal fistula
- Undescended testicle
- Williams syndrome
Presently, there are now adult children of Vietnam veterans questioning life-long health conditions they believe are due to their parent’s exposure to Agent Orange. The VA currently considers cases of medical conditions present from birth and not health conditions that develop later in a veteran’s child’s life.
Help For Disabled Children Of Vietnam Veterans
If you have questions regarding your eligibility, contact the Disability Help Group to speak with one of our claims representatives and find the answers. Call today – 1-(800)-800-3332.
