Vietnam-era veterans are familiar with “Agent Orange” and “herbicides.”
As Agent Orange cases increased, new regulations were established to help Vietnam veterans obtain benefits for herbicide-related diseases through presumptions.
But what about Korea veterans?
They also suffer from herbicide exposure effects, yet their cases are overshadowed by those of Vietnam veterans.
This diminishes recognition of their similar conditions caused by overseas herbicide exposure.
Agent Orange Exposure in Korea
The VA’s 38 C.F.R. §3.307 includes benefits for Korean veterans.
Section 6(iv) states that to be presumed service-connected for diseases in 38 C.F.R. §3.309, a veteran must have:
- Served between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971
- In a unit determined by the Department of Defense to have operated in or near the Korean DMZ where herbicides were applied during that period.
How To Qualify for Agent Orange Presumptive Benefits in Korean DMZ
There is hope for Korea veterans exposed to Agent Orange who are unhappy with their eligibility and lack of medical relief.
Many service members exposed during the listed timeframes have developed:
- Respiratory cancers
- Ischemic heart disease
- Birth defects
- Diabetes mellitus
- Prostate cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Soft tissue sarcomas
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Leukemia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Other serious health problems
Specific Korean War Units Related to Agent Orange Exposure
When adjudicating claims for Agent Orange cases from the Korean DMZ, Department of Veterans Affairs staff is instructed to determine if the veteran served in one of the following units.
*In the below list an asterisk will denote that service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry Division.
- Combat Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division
- Division Reaction Force3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division
- 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry
- 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Counter Agent Company
- 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry
- 2nd Squadron, 10th Cavalry3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry
- *2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry
- Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry Division.
- *2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
- *3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
- *3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 73rd Armor
- 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor
- 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor
- 1st Battalion, 12th Artillery
- 1st Battalion, 15th Artillery
- 7th Battalion, 17th Artillery
- 5th Battalion, 38th Artillery
- 6th Battalion, 37th Artillery
Other Qualifying Assignments include:
- 2nd Military Police Company
- 2nd Infantry Division
- 13th Engineer Combat Battalion
- United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area (UNCSB-JSA)
- Crew of the USS Pueblo
VA Benefits Process for Korea Agent Orange Exposure
If a Korean veteran claiming an herbicide-related condition did not serve within the specified timeframe or unit, the VA must do two things.
They must:
- Notify the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC).
- Request corroboration of the veteran’s service circumstances.
If the JSRRC confirms herbicide exposure, the VA will grant service-connection (for conditions listed in 38 C.F.R. §3.309) and update the Agent Orange Registry.
VA adjudication staff often overlooks the location of service, assuming all Agent Orange cases are from Vietnam.
Veterans could be eligible for disability compensation from service elsewhere, such as Korea.
The VA adjudication staff checks service records to verify Vietnam service.
If the veteran was not in Vietnam, they often deny the claim without considering service in Korea.
Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure the VA knows where the veteran was stationed during specific periods.
If the VA is unaware of your service location during the Vietnam era (including the Air Force), approving your claim will be difficult.
Although working with the VA and the U.S. Government can be challenging, veterans with medical evidence pointing to Agent Orange exposure deserve VA benefits.
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Get a Free Case EvaluationCassandra Crosby, an Accredited Agent and claims advocate for Matthew Hill & Shelly Mark’s teams, reviewed the information provided in this post.
