Blue Water Navy Veterans are U.S. Navy veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War and may have been exposed to Agent Orange through contaminated water used onboard ships. These veterans were historically excluded from Agent Orange-related benefits, but the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 extended presumptive exposure status to them.

The Act extends the presumption of herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange, to veterans who served in the offshore waters of Vietnam. Offshore waters generally includes veterans who served on ships operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia.

You may qualify if you:

• Served on a U.S. Navy or Coast Guard vessel within 12 nautical miles of the coast of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975

• Did not set foot on land, but operated in territorial waters

• Later developed a medical condition linked to Agent Orange exposure

Note: Each case is unique, and ship records or deck logs may be required to confirm eligibility.

Veterans must have one of the conditions listed in 38 CFR 3.309(e), which are associated with Agent Orange exposure. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• AL amyloidosis

• Chloracne

• Chronic B-cell leukemias

• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Hodgkin's disease

• Ischemic heart disease

• Multiple myeloma

• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Parkinson's disease

Eligible Veterans may receive the following VA benefits:

• Health care benefits: A full range of medical benefits. There are many ways that a Veteran may qualify for VA health care benefits.

• Disability compensation: A monthly payment for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure.

• Other benefits: Home loans, vocational rehabilitation, education, and more

Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and died as the result of diseases related to Agent Orange exposure may be eligible for survivors' benefits.

At Greene & Marusak, we help veterans prove exposure and obtain compensation for Agent Orange-related illnesses.

Give us a call at (844) 483-8737