Agent Orange exposure on Navy or Coast Guard ships 
Did you serve on a Blue Water Navy vessel offshore of the Republic of Vietnam, or on another U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship operating in the coastal waterways of Vietnam, between January 9 , 1962, and May 7 , 1975? If yes , you may have had contact with Agent Orange, an herbicide used to clear trees and plants during the war. We refer to this as a presumption of contact. Find out if you can get disability compensation and other benefits for illnesses we believe are caused by Agent Orange. 

Blue Water Navy Veterans and Agent Orange 
Blue Water Navy Veterans are now entitled to a presumption of service connection for illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure. This is a result of Public Law 116 - 23, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. The law was signed on June 25 , 2019, and takes effect on January 1 , 2020. Read below to learn more about eligibility requirements and how to file a claim. If we denied your claim in the past , you can file a new claim based on this change in law. 

Can I get disability benefits from VA? 
You may be able to get disability benefits if the below descriptions are true for you. This must be true : You have an illness we believe is caused by Agent Orange called a presumptive disease And at least one of these must also be true. Your military record must show that between January 9 , 1962, and May 7 , 1975, you : Were aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam , or Served on a vessel not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia as detailed in Public Law 116 - 23, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 Review our list of diseases related to Agent Orange 

Who s covered? 
Veterans Qualified dependents 

What kind of benefits can I get? 
Health care Compensation payments An Agent Orange Registry health exam 

How do I get these benefits? 
You ll need to file a claim for disab

user: Can a veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange receive compensation?

assistant: Did you serve on a Blue Water Navy vessel offshore of the Republic of Vietnam, or on another U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship operating in the coastal waterways of Vietnam, between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975?

user: No I did not serve on any of the vessels mentioned.

user: What can I do if I'm a Blue Water Navy veteran and my claim was denied in the past, is it possible for me to file a new claim?


assistant: Yes, you can file a new claim based on the change in the law.

user: If I believe that my illness is caused by the use of Agent Orange how do I go about getting these benefits?

assistant: To submit a claim you will need to provide scientific and medical evidence that the condition is related to exposure to Agent Orange or show that the problem started during or got worse because of your military service.

assistant: Do you have an illness that is not on the list of Agent Orange related diseases but that you believe was caused by Agent Orange?

user: Yes but I  have not filed a claim yet.

user: Is it possible for me to get disability benefits from VA?

assistant: You can only get benefits if you have an illness we believe is caused by Agent Orange called a presumptive disease.

user: If I have an illness that is believed to be caused by Agent Orange what should I do to get disability benefits?

assistant: You may be able to get disability benefits if you have an illness believed to be caused by Agent Orange, this is called a presumptive disease, and your military record shows that you were aboard a U.S. military vessel that operating in the inland waterways of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975.