Top Five Presumptive Agent Orange Conditions

Here we present five of the most prominent presumptive Agent Orange conditions. The most important component of a VA disability claim is normally a service-related connection.
In most cases, Veterans must use a combination of service records, medical records, and buddy
statements to establish this connection. This process requires lots of work, as considerable
evidence must be produced.

Most Agent Orange cases are different. Generally, if the Veteran served in the Vietnam theater
between 1961 and 1971, and that Veteran later developed a certain illness, there is a conclusive
presumption that service-related Agent Orange exposure caused that illness. Other Veterans,
such as those who developed a non-presumptive illness, might be eligible for compensation, as
well, but they must provide direct evidence of link between their condition and exposure.

Depending on the nature and severity of the disability, a VA disability attorney can help a veteran obtain up to about $3,000 a month in cash benefits. Typically, these benefits are retroactive to the date the claim was filed, or an even earlier date. Furthermore, most disabled Veterans are entitled to free VA medical care for life.

Hodgkin’s Disease (HD)

HD is a form of lymphoma, a blood cancer which first develops in a person’s lymphatic system.
This part of the body purges waste from the immune system, and strengthens it against
infections. In addition to swollen lymph nodes under the arms, around the groin, and in the neck,
symptoms include fever, chills, and fatigue. A combination of chemotherapy, radiation
treatment, and surgery is often effective against HD.

Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)

This disease is sometimes called the hardening of the arteries. Plaque deposits prevent sufficient
amounts of blood and oxygen from reaching the heart. Symptoms could be mild, like fatigue, and
or could be extreme, like chest pain or a heart attack. IHD treatment usually involves a
combination of medication, surgery, and lifestyle adjustments.

Multiple Myeloma

Also known as Kahler’s disease is cancer in blood plasma cells. The genetically-altered cells multiply too quickly, damaging the immune system, bones, and kidneys, and reducing the patient’s red blood cell count. Symptoms are rather non-specific, and include loss of appetite and fatigue. Successful treatments usually feature some combination of steroids, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)

This condition, which is similar to HD, is also a form of lymphoma. But NHL triggers an
abnormally high white blood cell count. A person’s blood cell count must be perfectly balanced
in order to ward off infections. NHL symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, belly or chest pain,
and fever. However, some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation often puts NHL into
remission, provided doctors diagnose it early enough.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD)/Peripheral Neuropathy (PN), Early- Onset

Damaged nerve cells in the brain decrease dopamine levels, causing Parkinson’s Disease.
Symptoms often begin with tremors in one hand, and these effects spread to other parts of the
body. Medication controls PD symptoms, but there is no cure.

PN is essentially like Parkinson’s Disease, except the affected nerves are outside the brain in the
peripheral nervous system. However, instead of tremors, PN patients often experience a pricking
or tingling sensation in their fingers or toes, followed by throbbing, shooting, or burning pain
which is worse during the night. Once again, a combination of medication and therapy controls
the symptoms, but there is no cure.

Count on Experienced Attorneys

Agent Orange exposure could cause a number of serious illnesses later in life. For a free
consultation with an experienced Veterans disability lawyer, contact the Cameron Firm, P.C. at
800-861-7262 or fill out the contact box to your right. Because we are here to represent Veterans
nationwide.

This article is for educational and marketing purposes only. Consequently, it does not create an attorney-client
relationship.