Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a presumption of service connection for illnesses associated with service in the Armed Forces in the Panama Canal Zone, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023 2. Presumption of service connection (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 11 1120A. Presumption of service connection for illnesses associated with service in the Panama Canal Zone (a) In general (1) For purposes of section 1110 of this title, and subject to section 1113 of this title, each illness, if any, described in paragraph (2) shall be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by service referred to in that paragraph, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such illness during the period of such service. (2) An illness referred to in paragraph (1) is any illness— (A) that— (i) is described in paragraph (3); or (ii) the Secretary determines in regulations prescribed under this section warrants a presumption of service connection by reason of having a positive association with exposure to an herbicide agent known or presumed to be associated with service in the Armed Forces in or near the Panama Canal Zone during the covered period; and (B) that becomes manifest within the period, if any, prescribed in such regulations in a veteran who served on active duty in or near the Panama Canal Zone during the covered period and by reason of such service was exposed to such agent. (3) An illness described in this paragraph is any of the following: (A) Chronic B-cell leukemia. (B) Hodgkin’s disease. (C) Multiple myeloma. (D) Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. (E) Prostate cancer. (F) Respiratory cancers (including lung cancer). (G) Soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma). (H) AL amyloidosis. (I) Chloracne and any other type of acneiform disease the Secretary determines is similar. (J) Diabetes mellitus type 2. (K) Ischemic heart disease. (L) Parkinson’s disease. (M) Early onset peripheral neuropathy. (N) Porphyria cutanea tarda. (O) Bladder cancer. (P) Hypothyroidism. (b) Regulations (1) Whenever the Secretary makes a determination described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall prescribe regulations providing that a presumption of service connection is warranted for the illness covered by that determination for purposes of this section. (2) A determination described in this paragraph is a determination based on sound medical and scientific evidence that a positive association exists between— (A) the exposure of humans to a herbicide agent known or presumed to be associated with service in or near the Panama Canal Zone; and (B) the occurrence of a diagnosed or undiagnosed illness in humans. (3) In making determinations for purposes of paragraph (2), the Secretary shall— (A) take into account all sound medical and scientific information and analyses available to the Secretary; (B) in evaluating any report, information, or analysis, take into consideration whether the results are statistically significant, are capable of replication, and withstand peer review; and (C) consider an association between the occurrence of an illness in humans and exposure to an herbicide agent to be positive for purposes if the credible evidence for the association is equal to or outweighs the credible evidence against the association. (c) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) The term covered period (A) December 31, 1999. (B) The date on which the last member of the Armed Forces departed from official duty in the Panama Canal Zone. (2) The term herbicide agent . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1118 the following new item: 1120A. Presumption of service connection for illnesses associated with service in the Panama Canal Zone. .

Summary: Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified conditions associated with active duty service in or near the Panama Canal Zone (zone) from January 1, 1958, through the latter of December 31, 1999, or the date on which the last service member departed from duty in the zone. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. The presumption of service-connection applies to illnesses listed in the bill (e.g., Hodgkin's disease) or those that (1) have a positive association with exposure to an herbicide agent that is known or presumed to be associated with service in the zone during the specified time period, and (2) become manifest in a veteran who served in the zone during the specified time period and was exposed to an herbicide agent during such service. The Department of Veterans Affairs must prescribe regulations providing for a presumption of service-connection whenever there is a determination that a positive association exists between the exposure to an herbicide agent known or presumed to be associated with service in or near the zone and the occurrence of an illness in humans.