Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Exposure to Agent Blue

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is a base located near Tucson, Arizona. The base is home to the aircraft boneyard where retired military aircraft are stored.

From 1973 to 1977, the herbicide known as Agent Blue was used routinely at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, including as a means of its disposal after its use in the Vietnam War. Unlike Agent Orange, after the Vietnam War Agent Blue could not be burned off due to a high concentration of arsenic. Instead, Agent Blue was shipped to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and sprayed there in order to dispose of the remaining quantities.

What is the VA’s Definition of an Herbicide?

The VA defines an herbicide agent as: 2, 4-D, 5-T and/or its contaminant TCDD: cacodylic acid or picloram. Agent Orange contained 2, 4-D, 2, 4, 5-T and TCDD. Agent Blue contained cacodylic acid and high levels of arsenic.

How to Get VA Disability Rating for Agent Blue?

Since Agent Blue contains cacodylic acid, veterans who were exposed to Agent Blue at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base between 1973 and 1977 may be entitled to presumptive service connection for certain diseases if the VA concedes exposure to the herbicide agent.

The VA associates the following diseases with exposure to herbicides:

· AL Amyloidosis

· Chloracne and other acneform disease

· Diabetes Mellitus Type II

· Hodgkin’s Disease

· Ischemic Heart Disease

· All chronic B-Cell Leukemia

· Multiple Myeloma

· Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

· Parkinson’s Disease

· Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy

· Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

· Prostate Cancer

· Respiratory Cancer

· Soft Tissue Sarcoma

To gain presumptive service connection, veterans must show that they were exposed to Agent Blue while stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base between 1973 and 1977. This can be done by submitting evidence showing the use of Agent Blue at the base and explaining their relative location to where the herbicide was used. If they can show they were exposed, the VA presumes that their disability was caused by their exposure.

If you believe you were exposed to Agent Blue while stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base between 1973 and 1977, call Veterans Help Group at 855-855-8992 or complete our free veterans benefits case evaluation form.