Blue Water Navy News regarding agent orange exposure.
What is Blue Water Agent Orange?
What is Blue Water Agent Orange? During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used herbicides such as Agent Orange to clear trees and plants. The military sprayed Agent Orange by aircraft, trucks, and hand-sprayers. It was very effective at removing foliage used by the enemy for cover and concealment. Unfortunately, the herbicides also contaminated food and water, which eventually caused diseases for both soldiers on the ground and sailors in the water. Blue water veterans are members of the Navy that served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.
Agent Orange Byproduct
One of the most toxic byproducts of Agent Orange is called dioxin. Dioxin is a highly-persistent chemical compound that lasts for many years in the environment. Most human exposure is through food because dioxin accumulates in the fatty tissue of fish, birds and other animals. However, you can also be exposed through airborne transmission.
Many health problems related to Agent Orange do not arise until years after service. The longer it takes a veteran to file an Agent Orange claim, the more likely VA is to deny it. If you are planning to file a claim many years after exposure, then you should hire an experienced representative to assist you.
Blue Water Navy News: Which Navy ships were likely exposed to Agent Orange?
Blue water navy news. VA has compiled a list of Navy and Coast Guard ships that were probably exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War era. The list contains the following 5 categories of ships:
- operating primarily or exclusively on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
- operating temporarily on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
- docked to shore or pier in Vietnam,
- operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that crew members went ashore, and
- operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that smaller craft from the ship regularly delivered supplies or troops ashore.
Did you get sick because of Agent Orange exposure? Blue Water Navy News
In most circumstances, this is a medical question for your doctor. However, if you served in Vietnam or 12 miles offshore between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, and you have any of the 14 disabilities, VA will concede a relationship to Agent Orange exposure:
- Chronic B-cell leukemia,
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
- Multiple myeloma,
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
- Prostate cancer,
- Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer,
- Soft tissue sarcomas,
- Amyloid light-chain (AL amyloidosis),
- Chloracne,
- Diabetes mellitus type 2,
- Ischemic heart disease,
- Parkinson’s disease,
- Peripheral neuropathy, and
- Porphyria cutanea tarda.
What if I served in Vietnam but I never left the ship? Blue water navy news.
On January 1, 2010, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 took effect. Blue water navy news – This law made it easier for the Blue Water Navy veterans and their families to get disability benefits due to Agent Orange exposure. If your answer to all of the following questions is “Yes”, then you are probably eligible for benefits under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act:
- Did you serve on a Navy ship offshore Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975?
- While you were on board, did the ship come within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coast?
- Do you have one of the 14 disabilities VA presumes related to Agent Orange exposure?
What if I never served in Vietnam?
You were likely exposed to Agent Orange if you served in the following locations during these times:
- Korean Demilitarized Zone between April 1 1968 and August 31, 1971, and
- Perimeters of U.S. military bases in Thailand between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
If you have an illness secondary to Agent Orange exposure, then you may be eligible for a VA cash payment every month. Contact us for a free consultation.
What If VA Denied My Claim?
Keep fighting! After fighting for over 20 years, Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans are finally eligible for the same presumptions as those who served inland. VA’s previous denial does not necessarily mean that you don’t deserve benefits. VA may have misunderstood the law or overlooked evidence. Alternatively, you might need just one more piece of evidence to complete the puzzle. VA’s complex rules can make any veteran’s head spin. But the experts at Disability Help Group can guide you through the process.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Has VA ever denied your Agent Orange exposure claim because you are a Blue Water Navy veteran? You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Additional Articles You May Find Helpful
- Blue Water Agent Orange Update – 2020
- Yankee Station Agent Orange
- Can I Get VA 100% for Blue Water Exposure?
- Blue Water Veterans Get Agent Orange Benefits
- Blue Water Navy Veterans
- Can I Get TDIU for Agent Orange Exposure?
- How Does VA Rate TBI?
- What are VA TBI Residuals?
- What is VA Permanent and Total Disability?
- Can I Work and Get TDIU?
- Can I Get TDIU for PTSD?
- VA Disability Rating for PTSD
- VA Permanent & Total Disability
Additional Information
- List of Agent Orange Ships, October 28, 2019
- Even if your ship is not listed, you can still prove exposure with the ship logs. Click here for the National Archives.
