What year did they start spraying Agent Orange in Vietnam?

About Agent Orange: Agent Orange was one of a class of color-coded herbicides that U.S. forces sprayed over the rural landscape in Vietnam from 1961 to 1971 to defoliate trees and shrubs and kill food crops that were providing cover and food to opposition forces.

When was Agent Orange first sprayed?

18, 1962. After a period of testing, on this day in 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave final approval to “Operation Ranch Hand” — a massive effort to defoliate the forests of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos with an herbicide known as Agent Orange.

Were all Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange?

For the purposes of VA compensation benefits, Veterans who served anywhere in Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides, as specified in the Agent Orange Act of 1991.

Who decided to use Agent Orange in Vietnam?

In December 1961, President Kennedy authorized the use of herbicides, and on January 12, 1962, the first U.S. Air Force herbicide missions of Operation Ranch Hand were flown over South Vietnam (Warren, 1968; MACV, 1972).

How much do Veterans get for Agent Orange exposure?

Of the 105,000 claims received by the Payment Program, approximately 52,000 Vietnam Veterans or their survivors received cash payments which averaged about $3,800 each.

Agent Orange (The Vietnam War)

Is Agent Orange a 100 disability?

With a proper diagnosis of respiratory cancer in a veteran with Agent Orange exposure, the VA will provide a 100% disability rating as long as the cancer is active and during treatment. This means that the veteran will receive the highest compensation that fits their eligibility bracket.

What are the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange?

What birth defects did Americans get from Agent Orange?

Spina bifida (except spina bifida occulta), a defect in the developing fetus that results in incomplete closing of the spine, is associated with Veterans' exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during qualifying service in Vietnam or Korea.

Can Agent Orange be passed from father to daughter?

There is currently no definitive evidence that a father's exposure to Agent Orange causes birth defects.

How many gallons of Agent Orange was used in Vietnam?

From August 1965 to 1971, DOD sprayed 11.22 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam, with about 3 gallons per acre sprayed undiluted. DOD has little information available on the number or extent of personnel exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

Which areas of Vietnam were most affected by Agent Orange?

Setting Priorities: Addressing the Heavily Sprayed AreasTwelve provinces were the most heavily sprayed with Agent Orange during the war. Ten of them cluster around one of the three air bases that became the most contaminate with dioxin: Da Nang, Phu Cat and Bien Hoa.

What is the lifespan of Agent Orange?

Agent Orange has a short half-life of days and weeks after application to vegetation, and has not been found to persist, after 50 years, in the water or soils of southern Vietnam.

What are survivor benefits for Agent Orange?

Survivors' benefits

Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service and died as the result of diseases related to the exposure may be eligible for health care, compensation, education, and home loan benefits.

How do I know if I was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam?

Unfortunately, there's no medical test or biological feature that can show that someone was exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides, so the health exam cannot confirm that you were (or were not) exposed.

How many deaths did Agent Orange cause?

Over almost five decades since its use in Vietnam, exposure to Agent Orange has killed or maimed approximately 400,000 US soldiers and affected an estimated 4 million Vietnamese. The chemical's reputation has permeated throughout Western and Vietnamese history.

How do you prove a veteran was in Vietnam?

To verify service in the RVN, review the veteran's DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to determine if appropriate service, such as “Foreign Service: Republic of Vietnam,” is shown.

Do spouses get Agent Orange benefits?

VA offers a wide range of benefits to surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and died as the result of diseases related to Agent Orange exposure. Benefits include compensation and health care benefits.

Does Agent Orange go through generations?

Changes in gene expression — whether a gene for a trait is turned on or off — can be passed from one generation to the next, research shows. A 2012 study, for example, showed that gestating female rats exposed to dioxin, a byproduct found in Agent Orange, passed mutations to future generations.

Do Veterans children get compensation for Agent Orange?

Children of Agent Orange Veterans May Qualify for Disability Compensation. If you are the child of a veteran who came into contact with Agent Orange, and you have serious birth defects, then you may be eligible for several VA benefits such as monthly disability payments, health care benefits, and vocational training.

Can Agent Orange be passed down to grandchildren?

Grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans are being born with birth defects and heart problems that could be connected to exposure to Agent Orange.

Can a child of a Vietnam veteran get benefits?

Your child may be eligible for disability benefits if they meet these requirements. One of these must be true: The child's biological mother or father served in the Republic of Vietnam or in Thailand for any length of time between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or.

How many Vietnam vets suffer from Agent Orange?

How many veterans have been exposed to Agent Orange? The VA estimates that 2.6 million veterans have been exposed to Agent Orange, but there are also other studies that indicate that the actual number of veterans exposed to Agent Orange is much higher than what the government is reporting.

What percentage rating is Agent Orange Veterans disability?

VA Ratings for Porphyria cutanea tarda due to Agent Orange exposure range from 10 percent to 60 percent with a break at 30 percent.

How much money do Vietnam veterans get?

For veterans who received VA's disability payments in addition to their other income, the average annual payment was $18,100. Those disability payments made their income higher than other veterans' income, on average.

How far back will the VA pay back pay?

The VA typically only pays disability compensation going back to the date of discharge to veterans who apply for their VA disability benefits within one year of being discharged. All of this underscores the need to submit your VA disability benefits claim as soon as possible.