Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions and Locations

Agent Orange was a herbicide used heavily during the Vietnam War to clear vegetation. Decades later, the toxins in it, including dioxin, were linked to a range of serious illnesses. The VA has long maintained a presumptive list for Agent Orange, and the PACT Act expanded it, adding conditions and widening the locations that qualify beyond Vietnam. This guide covers the presumptive conditions, the qualifying locations, and how to file.

If you served in a covered location and have a listed condition, you do not have to prove Agent Orange caused it. The claim is presumptive, which makes it one of the cleaner paths to service connection for Vietnam era veterans.

01
What Agent Orange was

Agent Orange was one of several herbicides sprayed during the Vietnam War. It contained dioxin, a highly toxic compound that persists in the body and the environment. Exposure has been associated with several cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and neurological conditions, which is why the VA presumes a connection for veterans who served where it was used.

02
Qualifying locations

Exposure is presumed for service in specific locations. The PACT Act expanded this list beyond mainland Vietnam.

• Vietnam and its inland waterways during the war
• The Korean demilitarized zone during qualifying dates
• Certain bases in Thailand
• Additional locations added by the PACT Act, including some previously excluded areas

03
Presumptive conditions

The Agent Orange presumptive list is broad and has grown over time. It includes several cancers, ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson disease, and peripheral neuropathy, among others, with hypertension and additional conditions added more recently. If you have one of these and qualifying service, the claim is presumptive.

04
The hypertension addition

Hypertension is a notable addition to the Agent Orange presumptive list. Because high blood pressure is so common, this change affects a large number of Vietnam era veterans. If you have hypertension and qualifying Agent Orange service, it may now be presumptive where a prior claim was denied for lack of a nexus.

05
No nexus needed

As with other presumptive claims, you do not have to prove Agent Orange caused your condition. You establish qualifying service in a covered location and a current diagnosis of a listed condition, and the VA supplies the connection. This removes the hardest element of the claim.

06
What you need to show

• Proof of service in a qualifying location during the covered period
• A current diagnosis of a presumptive condition
• Service records establishing where and when you served
• Medical records documenting the condition and its severity

07
The secondary cascade

Agent Orange conditions often lead to valuable secondary claims. Type 2 diabetes, for example, can cause peripheral neuropathy, kidney problems, and eye conditions, each potentially ratable. Once your presumptive condition is granted, the conditions it causes can add significantly to your combined rating.

08
If you were denied before

Many Agent Orange claims, especially for conditions added later like hypertension, were denied before those conditions became presumptive. If your condition is now on the list, refiling can result in an automatic grant. Reviewing old denials against the current list is well worth the effort.

09
Where to go from here

Confirm your service location and period, check your condition against the presumptive list, and file with your service and medical records. Then look at the secondary conditions your primary may have caused.

See the presumptive conditions list, learn how to file, and review the full PACT Act guide.

10
Frequently Asked Questions

VA Claims US Editorial Team

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The VA Claims US editorial team helps veterans and their families understand and navigate the VA disability system. Our content is reviewed for accuracy against current VA regulations and updated whenever rates or policies change. Have a question? Contact our team.