SGT Mark Stevens 1047864 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) recently introduced the Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015, which extends the original deadline issued by the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to ensure that Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange receive just compensation and care.<br /><br />The Agent Orange Act of 1991 (AOA) established a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure, relieving Vietnam veterans from the burden of providing evidence that their illness was a result of military service. This bill directed the VA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to periodically research and review diseases that might be associated with Agent Orange exposure.<br /><br />The VA is required to add diseases the NAS finds to have a positive association to Agent Orange exposure to the VA’s list of presumptive service connected diseases. Since the enactment of the AOA, the NAS has issued reports that have led to the presumption of service connection for diseases such as Parkinson’s, B-cell leukemia and early onset peripheral neuropathy. Without these studies, thousands of Vietnam era veterans would have gone without the benefits they greatly deserve. <br /><br />The NAS is expected to publish their final report on Agent Orange exposure in March 2016, but the AOA expires on September 30, 2015. If the AOA expires before the final report is issued, the VA would no longer be obligated to review the NAS report or add any new diseases to the presumption of service list, in the process denying thousands of veterans their right to compensation. In order to fulfill the intent of the original law, the Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015 extends AOA by two years, thus allowing for the VA to add any new diseases released in the next NAS report. 2015-10-17T20:59:16-04:00 SGT Mark Stevens 1047864

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) recently introduced the Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015, which extends the original deadline issued by the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to ensure that Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange receive just compensation and care.<br /><br />The Agent Orange Act of 1991 (AOA) established a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure, relieving Vietnam veterans from the burden of providing evidence that their illness was a result of military service. This bill directed the VA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to periodically research and review diseases that might be associated with Agent Orange exposure.<br /><br />The VA is required to add diseases the NAS finds to have a positive association to Agent Orange exposure to the VA’s list of presumptive service connected diseases. Since the enactment of the AOA, the NAS has issued reports that have led to the presumption of service connection for diseases such as Parkinson’s, B-cell leukemia and early onset peripheral neuropathy. Without these studies, thousands of Vietnam era veterans would have gone without the benefits they greatly deserve. <br /><br />The NAS is expected to publish their final report on Agent Orange exposure in March 2016, but the AOA expires on September 30, 2015. If the AOA expires before the final report is issued, the VA would no longer be obligated to review the NAS report or add any new diseases to the presumption of service list, in the process denying thousands of veterans their right to compensation. In order to fulfill the intent of the original law, the Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015 extends AOA by two years, thus allowing for the VA to add any new diseases released in the next NAS report.

2015-10-17T20:59:16-04:00 2015-10-17T20:59:16-04:00 SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL 1047867

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="170140" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/170140-sgt-mark-stevens">SGT Mark Stevens</a> this is great to know, I know a lot of Vietnam Vets and will be sure to pass on privilege information.

2015-10-17T21:01:19-04:00 2015-10-17T21:01:19-04:00 Sgt Private RallyPoint Member 1047969

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thank you for posting this Sgt Mark Stevens! I was exposed to Agent Orange, so it is good news that the deadline was extended. I will be interested to see if any new diseases are added to the list.

2015-10-17T22:11:34-04:00 2015-10-17T22:11:34-04:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 1048740

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Still waiting for high blood pressure to be added, it has been a hell of a fight.

2015-10-18T12:20:00-04:00 2015-10-18T12:20:00-04:00 Cpl Lawrence Lavictoire 1095254

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Mark: Great. If you get wind of this report in March 2016, Please post it here for us old-vets; if God is willing! Again, great news an thanks for this info.

2015-11-08T10:48:03-05:00 2015-11-08T10:48:03-05:00 SSgt Patrick Pein 3192550

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Did this pass? Where do we Thailand vets stands as of December, 2017?

2017-12-22T14:04:41-05:00 2017-12-22T14:04:41-05:00 SPC Randolph Heinsohn 8114149

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My Husband served at Phu Bai VietNam in 1971. He was tested but never told the results. He would just like to know. He was notified that there was Agent Orange at that space and time. We need to know for his health and how it might affect his future heath. After 51 years he deserves to know. Thank you.

2023-02-02T11:28:36-05:00 2023-02-02T11:28:36-05:00 2015-10-17T20:59:16-04:00