VA Claims for Kidney Disease Caused By Agent Orange Exposure

Veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange are at an increased risk for developing a range of health issues, including kidney disease. Agent Orange is a herbicide that was used extensively during the Vietnam War, but we now know exposure to it comes with lasting and devastating health issues.

If you are living with kidney disease following exposure to Agent Orange during your military service, you may be entitled to compensation. A disability claim is possible, but they are not always successful. Let a kidney disease VA disability attorney from Gang & Associates help you following the denial of your claim.

Health Effects of Agent Orange Exposure

Decades have passed since the Vietnam War, where thousands of Americans and Vietnamese people were exposed to a herbicide known as Agent Orange. This substance was used to clear large swathes of jungle foliage, but it was soon discovered to be extremely toxic. The consequences of exposure are both severe and long-lasting, due to the chemical nature of its primary ingredient.

Agent Orange includes dioxin, a hazardous chemical that is capable of quickly killing foliage in an effort to clear jungles in combat zones. It was later discovered that dioxin remains in the body long-term, leading to a host of medical problems. Dioxins are also referred to as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) because they take so long to break down once they are in the body.
The ways that Agent Orange harms the body can vary. It dramatically increases the risk of cancer, damages organs, interferes with the immune system, and can lead to reproductive issues.

Because of the well-documented ties between Agent Orange exposure and certain health issues, the VA has created a presumptive list of medical conditions which are assumed to be caused by exposure to herbicide. When qualifying veterans suffer from diseases on this list, they can go through an expedited process to get disability benefits. Some of the diseases on the presumptive list include the following:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Ischemic heart disease
• Prostate cancer
• Hodgkin’s disease
• Bladder cancer
• Diabetes

How Agent Orange Can Lead to Kidney Disease

There are documented links between exposure to Agent Orange and various kidney diseases. While many of the diseases linked to this substance have obtained presumptive status over the years, kidney disease has not. This herbicide can damage the kidneys in a number of ways. Some of the types of kidney diseases that have been linked to Agent Orange include:

Acute Kidney Disease

Acute kidney disease occurs when the kidneys can no longer fulfill their primary purpose, which is filtering the blood for waste. Fluid can build up quickly in the body, as acute kidney disease can take hold in a matter of days. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, permanent kidney damage, and death.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease is different in that it occurs slowly over time instead of all at once. This disease can develop without symptoms for a while, but it is generally detectable once symptoms begin to develop. Complications can impact your entire body, including your heart and immune system.

Kidney Cancer

While there are many types of cancer that are presumptively linked to exposure to Agent Orange, that is not the case with kidney cancer. Despite not being on the list, this condition has the potential to be fatal.

Diabetic Nephropathy

Complications regarding the kidney can arise among people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This condition, known as diabetic nephropathy, can cause the filtering system within the kidney to degrade over time. Diabetic nephropathy can require additional diabetes medication and lead to swelling in the hands, feet, and ankles. Over time, it can also develop into kidney disease.

Secondary Service Connection: Conditions Contributing to Kidney Problems

Many veterans exposed to Agent Orange develop conditions that can later contribute to kidney disease, allowing for potential service connection on a secondary basis. These conditions include:

• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Exposure to Agent Orange has been linked to hypertension, which is now a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to this herbicide. Hypertension can cause long-term damage to the kidneys, leading to chronic kidney disease or other complications.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Also presumptively linked to Agent Orange, type 2 diabetes is a common cause of diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease. Managing blood sugar levels is critical to preventing kidney damage.
• Ischemic Heart Disease: Reduced blood flow due to ischemic heart disease—another presumptive condition—can affect kidney function over time, leading to complications.
• Peripheral Neuropathy: Early-onset peripheral neuropathy caused by Agent Orange exposure can result in reduced physical activity, indirectly exacerbating conditions like diabetes and hypertension that damage kidney function.

By understanding these secondary connections, veterans can strengthen their claims for kidney disease related to Agent Orange exposure. Proper documentation of these conditions and their impact on kidney health is critical when pursuing benefits.

How Does the VA Evaluate Claims Related to Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease may not have presumptive status with the VA, but that does not mean disability benefits are out of the question. You could still secure a VA disability rating based on kidney disease that has been linked to Agent Orange exposure. Because this condition is not on the presumptive list, you will need to prove to the VA that your kidney disease is related to your service. To do so, you must establish three important elements.

First, you need a current diagnosis of kidney disease. This could include any of the conditions previously discussed, and they must be diagnosed by a licensed physician. To be current, they must still be present, meaning you have not fully healed from them.

Second, you need to identify an in-service event or in-service event or stressor which you believe caused your kidney disease. In most cases, this is exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam war. Finally, there must be a nexus that links your diagnosed condition to the in-service event.

Meeting this element usually means proving through your service records that you were present in Vietnam or in some of the surrounding areas during that conflict, making it likely you were exposed to Agent Orange.

We Can Help – Contact a Kidney Disease VA Disability Lawyer with Gang & Associates Today

VA disability benefits may be available for these conditions, but securing them can be easier said than done. Each year, the VA denies countless claims from veterans who are living with debilitating conditions. A denial does not mean you are out of options, as the disability appeals process can still lead you to a favorable outcome.

The team at Gang & Associates can help you appeal your kidney disease VA disability denial. We can assist you with this process and provide you with the resources you need to get the best possible outcome moving forward. Our firm has had success obtaining benefits for conditions that are not on the presumptive list. Contact us today to learn more.