The list of diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure is growing again.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has added three diseases to the presumptive list: Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, and hypothyroidism.

Parkinson’s Disease is already on the list. According to Warren County Veterans Affairs Director Delores Stec, Parkinsonism involves symptoms that are characteristic of Parkinson’s.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, she said.

Vietnam veterans who served in-country are presumed to have been exposed to the tactical herbicide Agent Orange.

And, when those veterans end up with chronic B-cell leukemia; Hodgkin’s disease; multiple myeloma; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; prostate cancer; respiratory cancers including lung cancer; some soft tissue sarcomas; AL amyloidosis; chloracne; diabetes mellitus type 2; ischemic heart disease; Parkinson’s disease; peripheral neuropathy — early onset; porphyria cutanea tarda; and the three new presumptives listed above; the VA presumes those diseases were caused by the exposure.

Those veterans are then eligible for benefits through the VA.

“This is an opportunity to help more veterans,” Stec said. “Couple with a boots-on-the-ground date, we can really have a positive impact.”

When new presumptives are added to the list, previous claims regarding those diseases can be brought back into play.

“If it was filed and denied by the VA, claims will be paid back to the date the disease was originally claimed,” Stec said.

For example, if an in-country Vietnam veteran went to the VA five years ago to report bladder cancer was denied, now that bladder cancer is a presumptive, that claim will be paid back to the original file date.

“It is important to file, even if it’s not on the presumptive list,” Stec said. “If there’s a chance it may be, file for it.”

Hypertension is a condition that could be added in the future. “There are indications that it may be added,” Stec said. “It may not be a win today…”

Surviving spouses of veterans who have passed away from any of the presumptives, including the three newest ones, are eligible for benefits.

Veterans who would like to file claims or those with questions are encouraged to call Stec or Assistant to the Director Mary Moynihan at the Warren County Veterans Affairs Office at 728-3477 or 728-3478.

“The office is up and running full-time,” Stec said. Appointments are required and CDC guidelines will be followed.

“Anybody has any questions or concerns, give us a call and we’ll do what we can do,” Stec said.