Birth Defects In Children Of Vietnam Women Veterans

A birth defect is an abnormality that appears at birth that causes physical or mental disabilities.

VA considers several birth defects as linked with women veterans' military service in Vietnam. Such illnesses are not bound to herbicides or chemicals, including dioxin or Agent Orange exposure, but rather to a birth mother's military service in Vietnam.

However, one of the outcomes of exposure may be birth defects in the children of women veterans exposed to such toxic chemicals.

Agent Orange Is Toxic And Persistent

Agent Orange was prepared with two herbicides with a 50/50 ratio. It was thought to degrade in a few days or weeks.

However, Agent Orange also contains a toxic contaminant known as dioxin, which didn't degrade quickly and persisted for decades.

During the Vietnam War, this toxic chemical was carried on the wind, affecting army bases, MASH units, and all other regions of the country.

Every individual knows about Vietnam veterans sickened by this chemical and their struggle for consideration by the VA. Several of these Vietnam veterans who worked with Agent Orange or spent days, weeks, or months in contaminated regions, ended up with extreme accumulations of toxic dioxin in their bodies.

Military nurses and other female personnel serving in contaminated zones also contain heavy concentrations of toxins that would stay in their bodies for decades. Unfortunately, birth defects in the children of exposed women are among the harmful impacts of dioxin.

The Offspring Of Women Vietnam Veterans Healthcare Benefits Program

This healthcare program is not a comprehensive VA healthcare program, but it offers certain monetary and healthcare benefits to every qualifying child. The offspring of Vietnam women veterans are now adults, but it doesn't decrease their need for support.

A mother's developing fetus is extremely prone to dioxin; over 150,000 babies were born with dioxin-related birth defects. These all were offsprings of Vietnam women veterans and other U.S. Military personnel.

How To Qualify For A VA Healthcare Program For Vietnam Women Veterans?

To qualify for a VA healthcare program, a person must be the biological child of a Vietnam woman who served there from 02/8/1961 to 05/07/1975.

Also, that child should have been conceived after the date their mother joined the Vietnam War and must have one of the eligible birth defects which resulted in permanent mental or physical disability.

The recognized birth defects include:

• Achondroplasia
• Congenital heart disease
• Cleft lip and cleft palate
• Esophageal and intestinal atresia (blockage)
• Club Foot
• Hip dysplasia
• Hirschprung's disease (congenital megacolon)
• Hallerman-Streiff syndrome
• Hypospadias
• Neural tube defects
• Hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis
• Imperforate anus
• Poland syndrome
• Fused digits
• Pyloric stenosis
• Tracheoesophageal fistula
• Williams syndrome
• Spina Bifida
• Undescended testicles

Furthermore, hereditary birth defects such as Tay-Sachs disease or cystic fibrosis are not covered, and neither are birth injuries.

Available Benefits For Qualified Women Veterans

To join the Healthcare benefits program, a veteran must qualify for monetary compensation from the VA.

First, fill out VA Form 21-0304 and submit your completed form and the following documents to VA.

• The mother's military service record proving service in Vietnam from 02/8/1961 to 05/07/1975;
• Evidence of the child's biological connection with the woman veteran;
• A birth certificate indicating the date of conception; and
• Medical evidence showing the existence of the covered birth defect.

You may work with an accredited agent or manager or can visit your local VA office. If qualified, you may get a one-time monetary compensation or monthly VA benefits.

Once you're qualified for the monetary award, you can apply for the VA healthcare benefits program, which offers medical care for every qualified condition related to birth defects and, for certain recipients, vocational training.

This program doesn't provide healthcare for diseases or health issues unrelated to the qualified birth defect.