Children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War might be at risk of several complications as a result of parental exposure to the toxic herbicides and chemicals used during the war. One of those complications is Williams syndrome.
What is Williams syndrome?
Williams syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by a group of medical issues. Those problems include learning disabilities and developmental delays. Children born with Williams syndrome may also suffer from cardiovascular problems. According to the Williams Syndrome Association, as many as one in 10,000 people across the world suffer from this condition.
Effects of Williamson Syndrome
Children who suffer from Williams syndrome have many positive traits that make them a joy to be around. They are very social, often have “an affinity for music,” according to the Williams Syndrome Association, and have endearing personalities.
However, there are also many medical struggles related to Williams syndrome. Children may suffer from cardiovascular problems that are potentially life-threatening. They may also need early interventions with speech and communication, and may struggle with a number of learning issues, including problems with numbers and spatial relations. They may find abstract reasoning a challenge, which affects their intellectual ability. If your child suffers from Williams syndrome, discuss a claim for benefits with a veterans’ disability benefits attorney.
Claiming Veterans Benefits for Williams syndrome
The Department Of Veterans Affairs identifies Williams syndrome as one of the birth defects that may be related to a female Vietnam veteran’s exposure to Agent Orange before the child’s birth.
For your child’s condition to qualify for benefits for Williams syndrome, you must prove the following.
- You are a female Vietnam War veteran who served before your child’s conception.
- You served in an area where the military used Agent Orange.
- You served in the area at the time that the military used the chemical. (You must have served in those areas between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.)
In order to qualify for veterans disability benefits, you will have to provide a record of service, proving that you were working in those affected areas during those times.
You must also provide the following documentation.
- The child is your biological child
- A birth certificate
- Medical evidence of the condition
Talk to a disability lawyer from LaVan & Neidenberg® about whether your child’s condition may be related to your service in Vietnam and whether you or your child qualifies for veterans disability benefits.
