Blue Water Navy Veterans:
Blue Water Navy veterans are veterans who served in the offshore waters of Vietnam during the Vietnam War between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Their service was aboard a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia. In 2019, the VA changed its grounds for presumed exposure to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange. Agent Orange was used to kill enemy crops throughout the Vietnam War, and the herbicide has been linked to numerous health conditions. Some of the most extreme health problems associated with exposure to Agent Orange are Parkinson’s disease and several forms of cancer. Because Agent Orange use was so prevalent during the Vietnam War, the VA presumes that Veterans who fought in Vietnam have been exposed to the herbicide. For disabled Vietnam Veterans, presumed exposure to Agent Orange means it is easier to get service-connected for a condition like Parkinson’s disease or other diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure. The ease with which Vietnam Veterans can receive disability benefits for Agent Orange exposure did not extend to “Blue Water Navy” Vietnam Veterans for decades. Whereas before, Vietnam Veterans who served offshore could not qualify for presumed service connection for disabilities, the act makes getting service-connected and receiving VA disability benefits much easier. This means that Veterans suffering from service-connected disabilities who were previously unable to get the compensation they need and deserve now can qualify for benefits.
Significance of the Blue Water Navy Act:
Prior to the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act Of 2019, veterans who served offshore were not automatically presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, a powerful herbicide used during the Vietnam War. This meant they had to prove their individual exposure to be eligible for VA disability benefits for health conditions potentially linked to Agent Orange.
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 changed this by:
Presumption of Exposure: Veterans who meet the service criteria are now presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.
Health Conditions: This presumption makes them eligible for VA disability benefits for a wider range of health conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure, such as:
Respiratory illnesses
Certain cancers: Agent Orange exposure has been linked to multiple forms of cancer. As a degenerative disease, cancer can often qualify a Veteran for higher disability benefits over time. This increase in benefits is linked to the increasing severity of cancer’s impact on a Veteran’s health and well-being.
Type 2 diabetes
Neuropathy
Parkinson’s Disease: One of the conditions commonly linked to Agent Orange exposure is Parkinson’s disease — characterized by tremors and difficulty controlling body movements. Lack of physical control caused by Parkinson’s disease can significantly compromise your motor skills, making it difficult to maintain a job.
Dementia & Alzheimer’s: Exposure to Agent Orange has also been linked to multiple neurological problems, including Alzheimer’s and dementia. Like Parkinson’s disease, these conditions can worsen over time, often making it completely impossible for a Veteran suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s to work. For many Veterans who suffer from degenerative neurological diseases, financial security can be hard to achieve. Without the ability to work, many Veterans with neurological problems are entirely dependent on VA benefits to support themselves and any dependents they have.
Benefits: Veterans who qualify can receive various benefits, including:
Disability compensation
Healthcare
Vocational rehabilitation
Resources:
VA Blue Water Navy Veterans: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/
Veterans Benefits Administration: https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/62832/va-extends-agent-orange-presumption-blue-water-navy-veterans/
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/porphyria-cutanea-tarda.asp