Agent Orange & Diseases
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used a combination of herbicides and other chemicals (commonly called Agent Orange) to destroy foliage that the North Vietnamese were using as cover to conduct attacks and move supplies through the jungle. From 1962 to 1971, millions of gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed on vast areas of the country. Many Vietnam veterans were exposed to this chemical during the war, and a large number of them have suffered numerous health-related problems as a result.
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Diabetes
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A condition reportedly associated with Agent Orange has been diabetes. More than 9 percent of the 2.3 million Vietnam veterans have this condition. In 2001, the Veterans Administration began to accept diabetes as a common condition of exposure, after the Institute of Medicine proved a direct link between the chemicals used in Agent Orange and adult onset diabetes. In most cases, veterans who are suffering from this condition are entitled to compensation ranging from $100 to $2,100 per month.
Prostate Cancer
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This is the most common form of male cancer, found in one out of ten men. A direct cause of this cancer is exposure to Agent Orange. The disease affects nearly 600,000 veterans every year. It has been shown that many Vietnam veterans are dealing with prostate cancer because of Agent Orange exposure.
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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
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Commonly referred to as CLL, this disease was added to the list of Agent Orange-related ailments by the VA in 2003. After conducting an independent 10-year study, the Institute of Medicine determined that there was a direct link between veterans who were diagnosed with CLL and their exposure to Agent Orange. Consequently, the VA decided to extend benefits to veterans suffering from the condition.
Chloracne
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Chloracne is a skin disorder that is common in teenagers, involving skin eruptions such as cysts and pustules. The condition has also been shown to be a direct side effect of dioxin, one of the chemical ingredients of Agent Orange. Exposure to this chemical has been proven to be one of causes of chloracne in Vietnam veterans, and the disorder is covered under the Agent Orange benefits programs of the VA.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a form of cancer that causes swelling in the groin or neck. It usually enlarges the abdomen, as well. If left unchecked, the disease can spread and severely damage the immune system, eventually resulting in death. In 1993, the National Academy of Science found a direct link between several different chemicals used in Agent Orange and the disease. This would include: 24-D; 245-T; cacodylic acid; and picloram--all active ingredients in Agent Orange.
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