Are You the Widow of a Vietnam Veteran?

Are you a widow of a Vietnam veteran who died as a result of a condition related to herbicide exposure? You may be entitled to benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs through the VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC).

The Agent Orange Act, which was approved in 1991, created presumption of service connection for veterans who served in the Vietnam War. Since its inception, conditions have been added to the presumptive list, remarriage rules have been loosened and the Blue Water Navy Act of 2019 was enacted as a means to extend the aforementioned presumption to veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.

If your loved one died from a recognized condition and served on the ground in Vietnam, in the inland waterways (Brown Water), or in the offshore waters within 12.1 nautical miles (Blue Water) of the Republic of Vietnam or Cambodia, or may have had service in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) you may be eligible for this benefit. Conditions related to presumed herbicide exposure include Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, respiratory cancers, Prostate Cancer, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Type 2 diabetes.

If you remarried after Oct. 1, 1998, due to death, divorce or annulment, or are a surviving spouse who remarried after the age of 57, you are eligible for DIC.

Contact your nearest supporting American Legion Service Officer location for help through the phone numbers below or by emailing the DIC Help Line at DICHelp@pa-legion.com.

Erie Office – 814-864-4240
Harrisburg Office – 877-720-8387
Pittsburgh Office – 412-395-6230