The Orange Heart Medal is a non-governmental award created to honor U.S. Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military during the war from 1961 to 1971 and who have since suffered service-connected health issues as a result. It is not an official military decoration recognized by the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but rather a symbolic recognition of the long-term sacrifices these veterans endure due to chemical exposure, often likened to the Purple Heart for combat wounds. The medal's design features an orange heart emblem, trademarked and patented, and is provided free of charge to eligible recipients.
Eligibility
To qualify, veterans must:
- Have served in the Vietnam War era.
- Have a documented VA service-connected disability rating linked to Agent Orange exposure (e.g., one of the 19 presumptive conditions).
- Be alive or, if deceased, have family members apply on their behalf.
The Eighteen Presumptive Conditions Listed Below Qualify for The Orange Heart Medal:
1. A, Amyloidosis
2. Porhyria Cutanea
3. Non-Hodin’s Lymphoma
4. Hodgkin’s Disease
5.Chronic B-Cell Leukemias
6. Prostate Cancer
7. Parkinson’s Disease
8. Ischemic Heart Disease
9. Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset
10. Respiratory Cancers
11. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
12. Multiple Myeloma
13. Chlorance
14. Chlorance Soft Tissue Sarcomas
15. Hypothyroidism
16. Parkinsonism (Parkinson-Like Conditions)
17. Bladder Cancer
18. Hypertension
19. Monoclonal Gammopathy
NOTE: Some conditions such as Chlorance and peripheral neuropathy (early onset) have to occur within certain time periods after possible Agent Orange exposure to be considered presumptive conditions.
Application
Applications are submitted through the Orange Heart Medal Foundation's website, requiring proof of eligibility like VA documentation. The foundation covers all costs, emphasizing that "the veteran has already paid for it" through their service.
Orange Heart Medal
