Agent Orange & Stroke | Stateside Legal

Remembering Jim

Jim Strickland was a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits who was also editor and webmaster of the popular VA Watchdog website. Jim wrote extensively about VA and Social Security disability benefits. Before his recent passing, Jim was kind enough to answer questions from visitors on StatesideLegal.org here in Jim's Mailbag. This page is dedicated to Jim and to his efforts to assist every veteran who called upon him.

About Jim's Mailbag

Jim's Mailbag is a regular column where veterans, servicemembers, and family members can find answers about their VA and Social Security disability benefits. Although we are not accepting new questions at this time, you can browse all of the previous Q&As and search Jim's Mailbag for helpful answers to your specific VA issue.

January 13, 2020

Question:

Is Afib leading to stroke, an agent orange claim?

Jim's Reply:

Atrial fibrillation or A-Fib, when the upper chambers of the heart beat rapidly & ineffectively, is not presumptive to agent orange exposure. However, A-Fib can be caused by the presumptive Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and for the veteran who is rated for IHD, A-Fib can be filed as a secondary condition. This is also true of pacemakers and AICDs that may be implanted during treatment of A-Fib.