In addition to improving access to benefits for post-9/11 veterans exposed to burn pits, the sweeping toxic exposure legislation approved 84-14 by the Senate on Thursday will add two new conditions to the Department of Veterans Affairs' list of Agent Orange-related illnesses and expand benefits for veterans sickened by radiation or poisoned water in certain geographic locations.
The bill adds hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS, to the list of illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure, allowing affected veterans to apply for health care and disability benefits with the VA without having to prove that their condition was caused by their service.
So if you are a Vietnam veteran and have hypertension or have been exposed to burn pits, You can file a claim with the VA for S/C. Plus, if you have a disease secondary to hypertension such as renal disease, it can be directly related to Agent Orange. It's sad that many have had hypertension and diseases associated with HTN but have already passed away without benefits.
The bill adds hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS, to the list of illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure, allowing affected veterans to apply for health care and disability benefits with the VA without having to prove that their condition was caused by their service.
So if you are a Vietnam veteran and have hypertension or have been exposed to burn pits, You can file a claim with the VA for S/C. Plus, if you have a disease secondary to hypertension such as renal disease, it can be directly related to Agent Orange. It's sad that many have had hypertension and diseases associated with HTN but have already passed away without benefits.