{"abstract":"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is adopting as final an interim final rule published on June 19, 2015, to amend its adjudication regulation governing individuals presumed to have been exposed to certain herbicides. Specifically, VA expanded the regulation to include an additional group consisting of individuals who performed service in the Air Force or Air Force Reserve under circumstances in which they had regular and repeated contact with C-123 aircraft known to have been used to spray an herbicide agent (\"Agent Orange\") during the Vietnam era. In addition, the regulation established a presumption that members of this group who later develop an Agent Orange presumptive condition were disabled during the relevant period of service, thus establishing that service as \"active military, naval, or air service.\" The effect of this action is to presume herbicide exposure for these individuals and to create a presumption that the individuals who are presumed exposed to herbicides during reserve service also meet the statutory definition of \"veteran\" (hereinafter, \"veteran status\") for VA purposes and eligibility for some VA benefits.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS","name":"Veterans Affairs Department","id":520,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/veterans-affairs-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/520","parent_id":null,"slug":"veterans-affairs-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2018/10/22/2018-22892.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":3,"title":38}],"citation":"83 FR 53179","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective Date: This rule is effective October 22, 2018.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2018-22892","effective_on":"2018-10-22","end_page":53182,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2018/10/22/2018-22892.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/22/2018-22892/presumption-of-herbicide-exposure-and-presumption-of-disability-during-service-for-reservists","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2018-22892?publication_date=2018-10-22","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2018-10-22/2018-22892/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":4,"page_views":{"count":4261,"last_updated":"2026-07-27 16:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-10-22/pdf/2018-22892.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2018-22892.pdf?1539953123","publication_date":"2018-10-22","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2018/10/22/2018-22892.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2900-AP43":{"issue":"201810","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2900-AP43/presumption-of-herbicide-exposure-and-presumption-of-disability-during-service-for-reservists-presum","title":"Presumption of Herbicide Exposure and Presumption of Disability During Service for Reservists Presumed Exposed to Herbicide","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201810&RIN=2900-AP43&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2900-AP43"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"AP43(F) IA (10-10-18 f)VBA-Presumption of herbicide exposure C-123","document_id":"VA-2015-VBA-0015-0052"},{"title":"RegMgmt_ImpactAnalysisAP43InterimFinal_20150504","document_id":"VA-2015-VBA-0015-0002"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2900-AP43/presumption-of-herbicide-exposure-and-presumption-of-disability-during-service-for-reservists-presum","title":"Presumption of Herbicide Exposure and Presumption of Disability During Service for Reservists Presumed Exposed to Herbicide"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=VA-2015-VBA-0015","supporting_documents_count":2,"docket_id":"VA-2015-VBA-0015","regulation_id_number":"2900-AP43","title":"AP43 - Interim Final Rule - Presumption of Herbicide Exposure\nand Presumption of Disability During\nService for Reservists Presumed\nExposed to Herbicide","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2018-11-11T11:00:17Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":53179,"subtype":null,"title":"Presumption of Herbicide Exposure and Presumption of Disability During Service for Reservists Presumed Exposed to Herbicides","toc_doc":"Presumption of Herbicide Exposure and Presumption of Disability During Service for Reservists Presumed Exposed to Herbicides","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Claims","Disability benefits","Health care","Pensions","Radioactive materials","Veterans","Vietnam"],"type":"Rule","volume":83}