This Law Extends Benefits for Eligible Veterans Public Law 116-23, (Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act 2019) Public Law 116-23, (Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act 2019) was signed into law on June 25, 2019 and takes effect January 1, 2020.

The law extends a presumption of herbicide exposure to Blue Water Navy Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and the offshore waters. Blue Water Navy Survivors, and certain dependents may be entitled to benefits if the Veteran was exposed. Under the law, certain Veterans, who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam and Cambodia, or who had service in the Korean Demilitarized zone (DMZ), may be entitled to disability compensation for conditions that are related to herbicide exposure. The law also provides benefits for children born with spina bifida whose parent was a Veteran with verified herbicide exposure in Thailand. To be entitled to VA benefits, these Veterans must have served between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, and have one or more of the conditions that are listed in section 3.309(e) of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations.

Conditions related to presumed herbicide exposure:

Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis

Chloracne, or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne

Chronic B-cell leukemias

Diabetes mellitus, Type 2

Ischemic heart disease

Hodgkin’s lymphoma, formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Multiple myeloma

Parkinson’s disease

Peripheral neuropathy, early-onset

Porphyria cutanea tarda

Prostate cancer

Respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx or trachea)

Soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma).

A Veteran who has experienced any of the conditions on this list may be eligible for presumptive service connection under 38 CFR 3.309(e). A Veteran may be entitled to service connection on a direct basis under 38 CFR 3.303, if herbicide exposure is established and scientific or medical evidence shows that the claimed condition is medically associated with the exposure.

You have a presumption of exposure if you meet at least one of these service requirements.

Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, you must have served for any length of time in at least one of these locations:

In the Republic of Vietnam, or

Aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam, or

On a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia

Or you must have served in at least one of these locations that we’ve added based on the PACT Act:

Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976, or

Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969, or

Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969, or

Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980, or

Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977

Or at least one of these must be true for you:

You served in or near the Korean DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or

You served on active duty in a regular Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated contact with this aircraft due to your flight, ground, or medical duties, or

You were involved in transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange during your military service, or

You were assigned as a Reservist to certain flight, ground, or medical crew duties at one of the locations listed here

Eligible Reserve locations, time periods, and units include:

Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio, 1969 to 1986 (906th and 907th Tactical Air Groups or 355th and 356th Tactical Airlift Squadrons)

Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, 1972 to 1982 (731st Tactical Air Squadron and 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, or 901st Organizational Maintenance Squadron)

Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania, 1972 to 1982 (758th Airlift Squadron)