Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma covers a group of cancers that start in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell central to the body's immune defenses. Because it spans many different subtypes rather than one single disease, symptoms and progression can look different from one veteran's case to the next. Asbestos Ships works with veterans navigating an NHL diagnosis to help connect their service history to what the VA's evidence actually supports.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Agent Orange

Federal regulation lists non-Hodgkin lymphoma directly among the diseases tied to Agent Orange and related herbicide exposure. A veteran who meets the qualifying service and exposure requirements doesn't have to separately prove the herbicide caused their lymphoma.

This classification has held steady for decades. The National Academies of Sciences first placed NHL in its strongest evidence category, sufficient evidence of an association, in its original Agent Orange review, and every major update since, through 2018, has kept it there.

Newer research strengthens the picture

A 2025 study published in JAMA Network Open drew on data from more than 255,000 veterans in the VA's Million Veteran Program, examining specific lymphoid cancers rather than treating NHL as one broad category. Agent Orange exposure was tied to a 26 percent higher risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and a 71 percent higher risk of follicular lymphoma.

The same study found elevated risk for two related blood cancers as well, with chronic lymphocytic leukemia up 61 percent and multiple myeloma up 58 percent among exposed veterans. Findings at this scale, across specific subtypes rather than a single pooled estimate, add considerable weight to what the National Academies had already concluded from decades of earlier research.

Which veterans qualify for the Agent Orange presumption

The VA presumes herbicide exposure for veterans who served in defined Vietnam-era locations, and Navy veterans have a clear route into that group.

• Service within Vietnam itself between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
• Duty aboard vessels on Vietnam's inland waterways during that period
• Blue Water Navy service within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam-Cambodia coastal demarcation line
• Qualifying service near the Korean DMZ, or at certain bases in Thailand, between set dates

Meeting one of these categories alongside a confirmed NHL diagnosis generally satisfies what the presumption requires.

Rating and compensation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is rated under Diagnostic Code 7715, which assigns a 100 percent rating during active disease, active treatment, or certain low-grade indolent phases. What sets NHL apart from many other cancers in the VA's schedule is the reevaluation timeline, since the mandatory follow-up exam happens two years after treatment ends rather than the standard six months.

If that exam shows no recurrence, the VA shifts to rating whatever residual effects remain. For 2026, monthly compensation at the 100 percent rate comes to $3,938.58 for a veteran with no dependents, rising to $4,158.17 with a spouse and no other dependents, and this compensation is tax-free at every level.

Survivor benefits tied to non-Hodgkin lymphoma

When Agent Orange-related NHL leads to a veteran's death, surviving family members have a path to compensation through a DIC claim. This benefit sits apart from anything the veteran received in disability payments while alive, with its own separate eligibility rules.

A surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent can pursue this regardless of whether the veteran ever filed a claim of their own. What matters is showing that the death ties back to qualifying herbicide exposure and the NHL diagnosis.

Reach out to Asbestos Ships about your non-Hodgkin lymphoma claim

Even with a presumption on your side, getting through the actual filing process still takes real effort. Asbestos Ships works alongside veterans and their families to make that process less overwhelming.

• Referrals to VA-accredited representatives who take these claims without upfront fees
• Clear information on the type of service records that support a presumptive claim
• Help locating your nearest VA regional office or medical center
• Connections to legal resources for compensation beyond the VA system

Between the subtype-specific research and the VA's presumptive framework, an NHL diagnosis tied to Vietnam-era service often has more support behind it than veterans initially realize. Sorting out what applies to your specific situation is where the real work happens.

Contact Asbestos Ships today, and our team will go over your service record with you and help identify the strongest next step for your case.