If you’re a Veteran exposed to Agent Orange during military service, you could be diagnosed with the painful skin condition known as porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) years after leaving the armed forces. In addition, surviving spouses, children, and parents of Veterans who have died from PCT could be eligible for survivors' benefits.
What Is Porphyria Cutanea Tarda?
PCT is part of a group of disorders known as porphyrias. A person with PCT has difficulty producing an enzyme called uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD), which is vital in the body’s production of hemoglobin. While the disease is primarily hereditary, certain environmental factors have been linked to PCT—including Agent Orange exposure.
PCT symptoms vary from one patient to the next but commonly include:
- Skin abnormalities. People with PCT are highly photosensitive and suffer severe skin damage or redness when exposed to sunlight. Painful blisters may develop on the hands, arms, and face after minimal exposure, which may break or crust over. These lesions may develop excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis), and the surrounding skin may become thin and brittle.
- Scarring. Lesions from PCT may become abnormally lighter or darker in color, giving the appearance of scars. Intermittent rashes or small white bumps may also develop on the backs of the patient’s hands.
- Sclerosis. Some lesions may become thickened, waxy, or scaly in appearance. These irregular patches of skin may harden (sclerosis) or appear as scattered plaques on the face, neck, or chest, which may be disfiguring.
- Liver problems. Abdominal pain or cramping is often the first sign of liver damage from PCT. Some patients may suffer increased iron or fat in the liver, inflammation and scarring (cirrhosis), scarring around the portal vein (fibrosis), or a form of liver cancer known as hepatocellular carcinoma.
How Is Agent Orange Related to Porphyria Cutanea Tarda?
Agent Orange is a powerful herbicide that cleared large patches of the jungle during the Vietnam War. Once the low-lying plants were choked off, U.S. troops were sent into the wilderness on military maneuvers—making direct contact with Agent Orange residue.
Today, the VA acknowledges a harmful connection between toxic herbicides and certain deadly diseases, including porphyria cutanea tarda. A presumptive service connection is awarded to any Veteran at least 10% disabled by PCT within one year of exposure to Agent Orange.
How Does VA Rate PCT Disability?
To qualify for benefits, a Veteran must be considered at least 10 percent disabled by VA’s General Rating Formula for the Skin. Schedular disability ratings for PCT include:
- 60 percent. Veterans may be considered 60% disabled if they have characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, OR require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light (PUVA), or other immunosuppressive drugs over the past 12-month period.
- 30 percent. Veterans may be considered 30% disabled if they have characteristic lesions involving 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, OR require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, biologics, photochemotherapy, PUVA, or other immunosuppressive drugs for a total duration of 6 weeks or more intermittently over the past 12-month period.
- 10 percent. Veterans could be considered 10% disabled if they have characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent (but less than 20 percent) of their entire body or exposed areas OR require intermittent systemic therapy for less than six weeks over the past 12-month period.
- No disability. Veterans may not qualify for disability if they require topical therapy only over the past 12-month period for characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body or exposed areas. However, complications of PCT could be rated separately under other diagnostic codes, so it’s crucial to have an attorney review your disability claim.
What if My VA Disability Benefits Were Denied?
If you served your country and have been diagnosed with PCT, we can help. The office of Sean Kendall, Attorney-at-Law, helps Veterans nationwide get the compensation they deserve for a service-connected disability. Call (877) 629-1712 or use our online contact form to set up a free, no-obligation consultation on Agent Orange-related conditions. You can also learn more about your claim in our free guide, VA Benefits Handbook.
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