Veterans who served in Vietnam, and certain other locations where Agent Orange was used, are covered by a legal presumption of herbicide exposure under 38 CFR 3.307. This means they do not have to prove they were personally exposed — service in a qualifying location during a qualifying period is enough. For certain diagnosed conditions listed under 38 CFR 3.309(e), VA also presumes the condition was caused by that exposure, so the veteran does not have to submit a medical nexus opinion linking the disease to service.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) was added to the presumptive list by the PACT Act, effective August 2021, with VA officially implementing ratings in 2021. Parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease have been on the presumptive list for many years, well before the PACT Act, as part of the original Agent Orange statutes. Because these are presumptive, a 100 percent service-connected link, such as personal testimony, buddy statements, or an independent medical opinion, is not required: a current diagnosis plus qualifying service is generally sufficient for service connection.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →To file, a veteran files a claim using VA Form 21-526EZ, listing the specific conditions, for example hypertension and Parkinson's disease, due to herbicide exposure. Supporting documents should include military service records showing dates and location of service in Vietnam (or other qualifying areas), and current medical records or a diagnosis from a VA or private physician. If a veteran already has a prior denial for one of these conditions before it became presumptive, they may be eligible to file a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) citing the new presumptive regulation as new and relevant evidence, since this can sometimes allow for an effective date tied to the original claim date rather than the date of refiling.
Rating percentages for hypertension and Parkinson's disease are determined separately under their respective diagnostic codes in 38 CFR Part 4, then combined using VA's combined ratings table, which is why a combined rating can rise significantly when new conditions are added. Because results depend on documented diagnosis, severity, and the specific combined ratings math, outcomes vary by individual medical evidence.
If you are a Vietnam-era veteran with hypertension, Parkinson's disease, or other possible Agent Orange-related conditions that have not yet been service-connected, the concrete next step is to file or refile a claim (or Supplemental Claim if previously denied) citing presumptive service connection under 38 CFR 3.309(e), supported by your service record and a current medical diagnosis.
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