For years the VA denied Agent Orange presumptive benefits to “Blue Water” Navy veterans who served offshore. The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act changed that — restoring the presumption for veterans who served in the offshore waters of Vietnam.
Who qualifies
Veterans who served aboard ships operating in the qualifying offshore waters during the Vietnam era may now receive the same Agent Orange presumptions as boots-on-ground veterans, for conditions like ischemic heart disease, several cancers, Parkinson’s, and type 2 diabetes.
Why it matters now
Many Blue Water veterans were denied years ago under the old rule and never re-filed. If that is you, the law has changed — and a new claim or a supplemental claim can open the door that was wrongly closed. We reconstruct ship locations and service dates to establish the qualifying service.