Public Health
Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
VA offers health care benefits for Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. These services include an Agent Orange Registry health exam and clinical treatment at VA’s War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC).
Eligibility for health care
Veterans first must enroll in VA's health care system to receive care. There are many ways a Veteran may qualify, including:
- Served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 (includes service aboard a ship that operated on the inland waterways of Vietnam or visits ashore)
- Served on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia, as defined in Public Law 116-23
- Have a military service-connected disability
- Meet certain income criteria
Find out if you qualify for VA health care.
Apply online for VA health care.
Agent Orange Registry health exam
If you served in Vietnam or another area where Agent Orange was sprayed, or on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia, you may be eligible for an Agent Orange Registry health exam. You don't need to enroll in VA’s health care system to participate in the Agent Orange Registry.
VA's Agent Orange Registry health exam is a free, voluntary medical exam to track the special health concerns of Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange during their military service.
Treatment at War Related Illness and Injury Study Center
VA's War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) provides clinical expertise for Veterans with deployment health concerns or difficult-to-diagnose illnesses. WRIISCs are in three locations: Washington, DC; East Orange, NJ; and Palo Alto, CA.
For an appointment at a WRIISC, you need to get a referral. You must be enrolled in and receiving VA health care. Learn how to get a referral to a WRIISC.
