Specialist Fourth Class Keith Smith Glioblastoma Parity Act of 2025

This bill would make it easier for certain Vietnam‑era veterans with a specific brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, to get VA disability benefits. It adds glioblastoma to the list of illnesses the VA “presumes” are linked to service for veterans who served in certain locations during the Vietnam era, due to exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. This means veterans would not have to prove the cancer was caused by their service to qualify for benefits. The bill also notes the large-scale spraying of herbicides during the war and the long‑term harm from Agent Orange exposure to veterans and others.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Veterans who served in certain Vietnam‑era locations and have glioblastoma multiforme.
• What changes: Glioblastoma would be treated as a presumptive, service‑connected illness, making it simpler to access VA benefits.
• Why: Congress cites widespread herbicide use, including Agent Orange, and its ongoing health impacts on veterans and their families.