The exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and coastal waters has affected countless soldiers. For many, the health-related issues did not show up until several years later. While some issues and/or illnesses have not officially been recognized, there are currently fourteen conditions the VA presumes to have been caused by Agent Orange exposure. Those current issues are Chronic B-cell Leukemia, Hodgkin’s Disease, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Prostate Cancer, Respiratory Cancers, Soft Tissue Sarcomas, AL Amyloidosis, Chloracne, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Ischemic Heart Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Early Onset Peripheral Neuropathy, and Porphyria Cutanea Tarda. However, there is a pending bill to amend title 38 of the United States Code. As part of the Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2020 (S. 3444), there are four proposed additions to the Presumptive Agent Orange Conditions. The bill was introduced to the Senate as part of the 116th Congress in March of 2020. Recent reports suggest about one-third of all U.S. Senators are backing the referendum, which could add four new conditions to the present Agent Orange conditions list. The new issues being considered are Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s-like tremors, and Hypertension. As of July 22, the Senate passed the amendment with a vote of 94-6. According to sources, if the bill is signed into law, the provision would expand VA health care and compensation benefits to approximately 22,000 affected veterans. However, the proposal that passed the Senate did not include hypertension. Lawmakers state hypertension is common among the elderly. Plus, it could have added more than two million veterans to VA’s ever-growing list of veterans receiving compensation. The more obvious reason is due to money. By including hypertension, it would have added an estimated cost of $11.2 billion to $15.2 billion. There is no indication of when the new additions will officially become law. Once it becomes law, veterans can file an Agent Orange /Blue Water Navy claim for one of the approved issues. Proof of official diagnosis and treatment will be necessary to support a claim. As always, contact your local NSO with any questions or concerns.