20 <strong>Veterans</strong> with Service-Connected Disabilities Chapter 2presumption that their disability is service-connected.2009 VA Disability Compensation Rates <strong>for</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong>Veteran’sMonthly Rate PaidDisability Ratingto <strong>Veterans</strong>10 percent $12320 percent $24330 percent* $37640 percent* $54150 percent* $77060 percent* $97470 percent* $1,22880 percent* $1,42790 percent* $1,604100 percent* $2,673*<strong>Veterans</strong> with disability ratings of at least 30 percent are eligible<strong>for</strong> additional allowances <strong>for</strong> dependents, including spouses, minorchildren, children between the ages of 18 <strong>and</strong> 23 who are attendingschool, children who are permanently incapable of self-supportbecause of a disability arising be<strong>for</strong>e age 18, <strong>and</strong> dependent parents.The additional amount depends on the disability rating <strong>and</strong> thenumber of dependents.Prisoners of War: For <strong>for</strong>mer POWs who were imprisoned <strong>for</strong> anylength of time, the following disabilities are presumed to be serviceconnectedif they are rated at least 10 percent disabling anytimeafter military service: psychosis, any of the anxiety states, dysthymicdisorder, organic residuals of frostbite, post-traumatic osteoarthritis,heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease <strong>and</strong> their complications,stroke <strong>and</strong> residuals of stroke.For <strong>for</strong>mer POWs who were imprisoned <strong>for</strong> at least 30 days, thefollowing conditions are also presumed to be service-connected: avi-
Chapter 2 <strong>Veterans</strong> with Service-Connected Disabilities 21taminosis, beriberi, chronic dysentery, helminthiasis, malnutrition (includingoptic atrophy), pellagra <strong>and</strong>/or other nutritional deficiencies,irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, peripheral neuropathy<strong>and</strong> cirrhosis of the liver.<strong>Veterans</strong> Exposed to Agent Orange <strong>and</strong> Other Herbicides: Aveteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9,1962, <strong>and</strong> May 7, 1975, is presumed to have been exposed to AgentOrange <strong>and</strong> other herbicides used in support of military operations.Eleven illnesses are presumed by VA to be service-connected<strong>for</strong> such veterans: chloracne or other acne<strong>for</strong>m disease similar tochloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, soft-tissue sarcoma (other thanosteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma or mesothelioma),Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers(lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostatecancer, acute <strong>and</strong> subacute peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus(Type 2) <strong>and</strong> chronic lymphocytic leukemia.<strong>Veterans</strong> Exposed to Radiation: For veterans who participated in“radiation risk activities” as defined in VA regulations while on activeduty, active duty <strong>for</strong> training, or inactive duty training, the followingconditions are presumed to be service-connected: all <strong>for</strong>ms of leukemia(except <strong>for</strong> chronic lymphocytic leukemia); cancer of the thyroid,breast, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, bileducts, gall bladder, salivary gl<strong>and</strong>, urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureter,urinary bladder <strong>and</strong> urethra), brain, bone, lung, colon, <strong>and</strong> ovary,bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma, multiple myeloma, lymphomas (otherthan Hodgkin’s disease), <strong>and</strong> primary liver cancer (except if cirrhosisor hepatitis B is indicated).To determine service-connection <strong>for</strong> other conditions or exposuresnot eligible <strong>for</strong> presumptive service-connection, VA considers factorssuch as the amount of radiation exposure, duration of exposure,elapsed time between exposure <strong>and</strong> onset of the disease, gender<strong>and</strong> family history, age at time of exposure, the extent to which a nonservice-related exposure could contribute to disease, <strong>and</strong> the relativesensitivity of exposed tissue.Gulf War <strong>Veterans</strong> with Chronic Disabilities: may receive disabilitycompensation <strong>for</strong> chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosedillnesses <strong>and</strong>/or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom
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