From the Research
Military service in Vietnam is associated with several health risks, with Agent Orange exposure being the most significant, as evidenced by the most recent study in 2021, which found that veterans exposed to Agent Orange were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia 1.
Health Risks Associated with Military Service in Vietnam
The health risks associated with military service in Vietnam include:
- Certain cancers, such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, and multiple myeloma
- Type 2 diabetes
- Ischemic heart disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Chloracne
- Dementia, as supported by the 2021 study published in JAMA Neurology, which found a significant association between Agent Orange exposure and dementia diagnosis 1 Other health risks from Vietnam service include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Infectious diseases like malaria and hepatitis
- Hearing loss from combat noise exposure
- Respiratory issues from environmental exposures ### Agent Orange Exposure Agent Orange, a herbicide used during the Vietnam War, contained dioxin, a toxic chemical linked to numerous health conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes many of these conditions as presumptive diseases, meaning Vietnam veterans with these diagnoses may qualify for disability benefits without having to prove the connection to their service. The 2022 study published in the Journal of Military and Veterans' Health found that Agent Orange exposure increased the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy and CNS degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and vascular dementias 2. Additionally, the 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that patients with a new diagnosis of chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, cutaneous lymphomas, and soft-tissue sarcomas should be screened for a history of Vietnam service or industrial exposure 3. It is essential to consider the most recent and highest-quality study when making a definitive recommendation, which in this case is the 2021 study published in JAMA Neurology 1.