Fighting for Vietnam Vets Suffering From Agent Orange

Issue Position

For too long, Vietnam veterans asserted that their exposure to the toxic chemicals in Agent Orange caused serious health problems, but their claims for benefits and healthcare were denied. After denying veterans harmed by Agent Orange benefits for decades, 16 diseases are now recognized as directly related to Agent Orange exposure and veterans suffering from these diseases can get the treatment and benefit they need.

Rick Larsen supported $13.4 billion in mandatory spending over the next 10 years to support the VA's recent decision to include B cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic heart disease to the list of "presumptive service connection" diseases. This will help veterans who were denied benefits in the past years cut through red tape and get the benefits they deserve.

86,000 veterans are likely to receive benefits as a result of this change.

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