Exposure To Agent Orange May Cause Cancer And Other Diseases In Veterans

Individuals that serve their country are considered to be selfless and brave; unfortunately, that courage also comes with many sacrifices. One major sacrifice, especially during combat, is putting your health and your life on the line. If you served during the Vietnam War, you may have been exposed to Agent Orange. Agent Orange was an herbicide that was sprayed to kill foliage that the enemy was using to hide. You may have been exposed to Agent Orange if you were on land in Vietnam or on a ship in Vietnam’s inland waterways between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. It is also possible that you may have come in contact with this herbicide elsewhere because it was tested and stored at military bases in the United States and other countries.

Agent Orange was not the type of thing that would necessarily hurt you right away. The exposure, however, could cause many different diseases to form and take shape over time in your body. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, veteran’s suffer from many diseases that were caused by exposure to Agent Orange:

• Cancer, including Chronic B-cell Leukemias, Hodgkin’s Disease, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Prostate Cancer, Respiratory (lung, larynx, trachea, bronchus) Cancer, and Soft Tissue Sarcomas
• Ischemic Heart Disease, which is characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart
• Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to hormone insulin
• Parkinson’s Disease, a progressive disorder of the nervous system
• Porphyria CutaneaTarda, which is characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas

If you were in Vietnam during this time and you think your injuries or disabilities may be related to Agent Orange exposure, you could be entitled to Veterans’ disability benefits. The Texas disability attorneys at the Dallas office of Morgan &Weisbrod can help—call today for a free consultation at 1-800-800-6353.

by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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