YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Many veterans that served in Viet Nam were exposed to “Agent Orange,” a powerful herbicide that was used to kill forest cover and crops used by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops. That chemical also led to a number of health issues for those veterans.

Yankton County Veterans Service Officer Mike McDonald says the VA has announced that they will recognize injuries to Navy vets.

McDonald says any Navy vet that served in that time and area should check it out.

McDonald says many Navy ships operated close to the coast of Viet Nam during the war.

Agent Orange has been linked to diabetes and many forms of cancer.