Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 2. Clarification of presumptions of exposure for veterans who served in vicinity of Republic of Vietnam (a) In general Chapter 11 section 1116 1116A. Presumptions of service connection for veterans who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam (a) Service connection For the purposes of section 1110 of this title, and subject to section 1113 of this title, a disease covered by section 1116 of this title becoming manifest as specified in that section in a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, shall be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such service. (b) Exposure A veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, shall be presumed to have been exposed during such service to an herbicide agent unless there is affirmative evidence to establish that the veteran was not exposed to any such agent during that service. (c) Effective date of award (1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), the effective date of an award under this section shall be determined in accordance with section 5110 of this title. (2) (A) Notwithstanding subsection (g) of section 5110 of this title, the Secretary shall determine the effective date of an award based on a claim under this section for an individual described in subparagraph (B) by treating the date on which the individual filed the prior claim specified in clause (i) of such subparagraph as the date on which the individual filed the claim so awarded under this section. (B) An individual described in this subparagraph is a veteran, or a survivor of a veteran, who meets the following criteria: (i) The veteran or survivor submitted a claim for disability compensation on or after September 25, 1985, and before January 1, 2020, for a disease covered by this section, and the claim was denied by reason of the claim not establishing that the disease was incurred or aggravated by the service of the veteran. (ii) The veteran or survivor submits a claim for disability compensation on or after January 1, 2020, for the same condition covered by the prior claim under clause (i), and the claim is approved pursuant to this section. (d) Determination of offshore Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall treat a location as being offshore of Vietnam if the location is not more than 12 nautical miles seaward of a line commencing on the southwestern demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia and intersecting the following points: Points Geographic Names Latitude Longitude At Hon Nhan Island, Tho Chu Archipelago Kien Giang Province 9°15.0′ 103°27.0′ At Hon Da Island southeast of Hon Khoai Island Minh Hai Province 8°22.8′ 104°52.4′ At Tai Lon Islet, Con Dao Islet in Con Dao-Vung Toa Special Sector 8°37.8′ 106°37.5′ At Bong Lai Islet, Con Dao Islet 8°38.9′ 106°40.3′ At Bay Canh Islet, Con Dao Islet 8°39.7′ 106°42.1′ At Hon Hai Islet (Phu Qui group of islands) Thuan Hai Province 9°58.0′ 109°5.0′ At Hon Doi Islet, Thuan Hai Province 12°39.0′ 109°28.0′ At Dai Lanh point, Phu Khanh Province 12°53.8′ 109°27.2′ At Ong Can Islet, Phu Khanh Province 13°54.0′ 109°21.0′ At Ly Son Islet, Nghia Binh Province 15°23.1′ 109° 9.0′ At Con Co Island, Binh Tri Thien Province 17°10.0′ 107°20.6′ (e) Herbicide agent In this section, the term herbicide agent . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1116 the following new item: 1116A. Presumptions of service connection for veterans who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam. . (c) Implementation (1) Guidance Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under such section. (2) Updates (A) Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the Secretary— (i) to conduct outreach under subsection (d); and (ii) to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding claims for disability compensation under section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section. (B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 1116A, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate updates on the status of such regulations. (3) Pending cases (A) Authority to stay The Secretary may stay a claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of such section 1116A. (B) Claims described A claim described in this subparagraph is a claim for disability compensation— (i) relating to the service and diseases covered by such section 1116A; and (ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on or after the date of the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of such section 1116A. (d) Outreach (1) Requirement The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct outreach to inform veterans described in paragraph (2) of the ability to submit a claim for disability compensation under section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). Such outreach shall include the following: (A) The Secretary shall publish on the website of the Department a notice that a veterans described in paragraph (2) may submit or resubmit a claim for disability compensation under such section 1116A. (B) The Secretary shall notify in writing the veteran service organization community of the ability of veterans described in paragraph (2) to submit or resubmit claims for disability compensation under such section 1116A. (2) Veteran described A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975. (e) Reports Not later than January 1, 2021, and annually thereafter for two years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report regarding claims for disability compensation under section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). Each report shall include, with respect to the calendar year preceding the report, disaggregated by the regional offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the following: (1) The number of claims filed under such section. (2) The number of such claims granted. (3) The number of such claims denied. (f) Health care Section 1710(e)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting (including offshore of such Republic as described in section 1116A(d) of this title) served on active duty in the Republic of Vietnam (g) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 3. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea (a) In general Chapter 11 section 1116A, 1116B. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea (a) Presumption of service-Connection (1) For the purposes of section 1110 of this title, and subject to section 1113 of this title, a disease specified in subsection (b) that becomes manifest as specified in that subsection in a veteran described in paragraph (2) shall be considered to have been incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such service. (2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), during the period beginning on September 1, 1967, and ending on August 31, 1971. (b) Diseases A disease specified in this subsection is— (1) a disease specified in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of section 1116 of this title that becomes manifest as specified in that paragraph; or (2) any additional disease that— (A) the Secretary determines in regulations warrants a presumption of service-connection by reason of having positive association with exposure to an herbicide agent; and (B) becomes manifest within any period prescribed in such regulations. (c) Herbicide agent For purposes of this section, the term herbicide agent . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1116A, as added by section 2, the following new item: 1116B. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea. . (c) Implementation (1) Guidance Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under such section. (2) Updates (A) Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding claims for disability compensation under section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section. (B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 1116B, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate updates on the status of such regulations. (3) Pending cases (A) Authority to stay The Secretary may stay a claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). (B) Claims described A claim described in this subparagraph is a claim for disability compensation— (i) relating to the service and diseases covered by such section 1116B; and (ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on or after the date of the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of such section 1116B. (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 4. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida (a) In general Subchapter III of chapter 18 1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida (a) Benefits authorized The Secretary may provide to any child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand who is suffering from spina bifida the health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance required to be paid to a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida under subchapter I of this chapter as if such child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand were a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida under such subchapter. (b) Spina bifida conditions covered This section applies with respect to all forms and manifestations of spina bifida, except spina bifida occulta. (c) Veteran of covered service in Thailand For purposes of this section, a veteran of covered service in Thailand is any individual, without regard to the characterization of that individual's service, who— (1) served in the active military, naval, or air service in Thailand, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and (2) is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to have been exposed to a herbicide agent during such service in Thailand. (d) Herbicide agent For purposes of this section, the term herbicide agent . (b) Conforming amendment to definition of child Section 1831(1) of such title is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B)— (A) by striking subchapter III of this chapter section 1821 of this title (B) in clause (i), by striking section 1821 of this title that section (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) For purposes of section 1822 of this title, an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who— (i) is the natural child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand (as determined for purposes of that section); and (ii) was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered service described in subsection (c) of that section. . (c) Clerical amendments (1) Subchapter heading The heading for subchapter III of chapter 18 of such title is amended by inserting and Thailand Korea (2) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 of such title is amended— (A) by striking the item relating to subchapter III and inserting the following new item: Subchapter III—Children of certain Korea and Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida ; and (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 1821 the following new item: 1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida. . (d) Implementation (1) Guidance Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under such section. (2) Updates (A) Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding claims for disability compensation under section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section. (B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 1822, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate updates on the status of such regulations. (3) Pending cases (A) Authority to stay The Secretary may stay a claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). (B) Claims described A claim described in this subparagraph is a claim for benefits— (i) relating to the spina bifida and service covered by such section 1822; and (ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on or after the date of the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Secretary commences the implementation of such section 1822. (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report identifying— (1) the military installations of the United States located in Thailand during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, at which an herbicide agent (as defined in section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)) was actively used; and (2) the period of such use. (f) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 5. Updated report on certain Gulf War Illness study Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate an updated report on the findings, as of the date of the updated report, of the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort of Gulf War and Gulf Era Veterans under the epidemiology program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 6. Loans guaranteed under home loan program of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Adjustment of loan limit (1) In general Section 3703(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in clause (i)(IV), by striking the lesser of the maximum guaranty amount (as defined in subparagraph (C)) or (ii) in clause (ii), by striking subparagraph (B) of this paragraph subparagraph (B) or (C) (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking The maximum With respect to loans described in subclauses (I), (II), or (III) of subparagraph (A)(i), the maximum (ii) by striking or in the case subparagraph (C)), (C) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following new subparagraph (C): (C) (i) With respect to loans described in subclause (IV) of subparagraph (A)(i) made to a veteran not covered by clause (ii), the maximum amount of guaranty entitlement available to the veteran shall be 25 percent of the loan. (ii) With respect to loans described in subclause (IV) of subparagraph (A)(i) made to a covered veteran, the maximum amount of guaranty entitlement available to the veteran shall be 25 percent of the Freddie Mac conforming loan limit, reduced by the amount of entitlement previously used by the veteran under this chapter and not restored as a result of the exclusion in section 3702(b) of this title. (iii) In this subparagraph: (I) The term covered veteran (II) The term Freddie Mac conforming loan limit 12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2) . (2) Loans to Native American veterans Section 3762(c) of such title is amended— (A) by striking paragraph (1); and (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively. (3) Conforming amendment Section 3710(d)(4) of such title is amended by striking section 3703(a)(1)(B) of this title subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 3703(a)(1) of this title (b) Adjustment of loan fees Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the loan fee table and inserting the following: Type of loan Active duty Reservist Other (A)(i) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2020) 2.15 2.40 NA (A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2022) 2.30 2.30 NA (A)(iii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2022, and before October 1, 2029) 2.15 2.15 NA (A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) 1.40 1.40 NA (B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2020) 3.30 3.30 NA (B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2022) 3.60 3.60 NA (B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 2022, and before October 1, 2029) 3.30 3.30 NA (B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 2029) 1.25 1.25 NA (C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed before January 1, 2020) 1.50 1.75 NA (C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2022) 1.65 1.65 NA (C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed on or after January 1, 2022, and before October 1, 2029) 1.50 1.50 NA (C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) 0.75 0.75 NA (D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed before January 1, 2020) 1.25 1.50 NA (D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2022) 1.40 1.40 NA (D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2022, and before October 1, 2029) 1.25 1.25 NA (D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) 0.50 0.50 NA (E) Interest rate reduction refinancing loan 0.50 0.50 NA (F) Direct loan under section 3711 1.00 1.00 NA (G) Manufactured home loan under section 3712 (other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan) 1.00 1.00 NA (H) Loan to Native American veteran under section 3762 (other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan) 1.25 1.25 NA (I) Loan assumption under section 3714 0.50 0.50 0.50 (J) Loan under section 3733(a) 2.25 2.25 2.25 . (c) Waiver of fees for Purple Heart recipients Section 3729(c)(1) of such title is amended— (1) by striking or from a surviving spouse , from a surviving spouse (2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: , or from a member of the Armed Forces who is serving on active duty and who provides, on or before the date of loan closing, evidence of having been awarded the Purple Heart (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a loan guaranteed under section 3710 of title 38, United States Code, on or after January 1, 2020. (e) Guidance Notwithstanding section 501 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement this section before prescribing new regulations under sections 3703, 3729, and 3762 of such title, as amended by this section. 7. Information gathering for Department of Veterans Affairs home loan appraisals (a) In general Section 3731(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) The Secretary shall permit an appraiser on a list developed and maintained under subsection (a)(3) to make an appraisal for the purposes of this chapter based solely on information gathered by a person with whom the appraiser has entered into an agreement for such services. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to an appraisal under section 3731 of such title, on or after January 1, 2020. (c) Guidance Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement this section before prescribing new regulations under sections 3731 of such title, as amended by subsection (a). May 10, 2019 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 This bill addresses certain health benefit and home loan programs for veterans. Specifically, the bill extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served (1) offshore of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or (2) in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities or diseases diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. The bill extends eligibility for health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance to children with spina bifida who have at least one veteran parent who may have been exposed to an herbicide agent while serving in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must report on the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort of Gulf War and Gulf War Era Veterans. Additionally, the bill revises the VA home loan guaranty program to adjust loan fee rates and eliminate the limit on the amount of a loan for which the VA may provide a guaranty of 25%. Under current law, these loan guarantees are subject to a limit on loan size determined by Freddie Mac. The bill removes the cap on a direct housing loan amount that may be made to a Native American veteran purchasing a home located on tribal land held in federal trust. The bill also waives loan fees for active duty Purple Heart recipients. The VA shall permit a VA-approved appraiser to make a housing loan appraisal based solely on information gathered by a person with whom the appraiser has entered into an agreement for such services.