How VA Addressed Agent Orange Exposure, 1977-1991

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force sprayed over 11 million gallons of the chemical herbicide Agent Orange as part of Operation Ranch Hand. By the late 1970s, Vietnam Veterans had begun expressing concern that exposure to Agent Orange while in the service was negatively impacting their health. This paper tracks how the Veterans Administration addressed these concerns, and includes a breakdown of notable studies, outreach efforts, and the evolving public sentiment surrounding Agent Orange. It culminates in the passage of the Agent Orange Act of 1991, a landmark legislation that was the first to legally recognize presumptive conditions for Vietnam Veterans who had been exposed to chemical herbicides.