760-621-6147
Veterans who served aboard Navy or Coast Guard vessels off the coast of Vietnam during the war may qualify for VA benefits tied to Agent Orange exposure, even without setting foot on land.
For years, these offshore veterans were left out of the presumption that applied to those who served on Vietnamese soil or inland waterways, until a change in the law extended that protection to qualifying sea-based service. Asbestos Ships helps Blue Water Navy veterans understand these benefits and connects you with resources to move a claim forward.
Blue Water Navy veterans served aboard U.S. Navy or Coast Guard vessels in the offshore waters of Vietnam during the war. Under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, the VA extended the presumption of Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in these waters between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. This presumption applies to service aboard a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia. Veterans who meet the service and diagnosis requirements generally do not need to prove they personally came into contact with Agent Orange to qualify for the exposure presumption.
Blue Water Navy Herbicide Exposure Claims
The presumption of exposure means a qualifying veteran does not have to establish personal contact with Agent Orange, only that they served aboard a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia during the qualifying period. A current diagnosis of a recognized condition is still required, though once diagnosed, the veteran does not need to separately prove the condition began during or was aggravated by service.
Conditions the VA currently recognizes as presumptively linked to herbicide exposure include the following.
- Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hypothyroidism
- Ischemic heart disease and MGUS
- Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism
- Early-onset peripheral neuropathy
- Multiple myeloma and chronic B-cell leukemias
- Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Bladder cancer, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, and soft-tissue sarcomas
- AL amyloidosis, chloracne, and porphyria cutanea tarda
The PACT Act expanded VA benefits and health care access for veterans exposed to toxic substances more broadly, though the Blue Water Navy presumption itself comes from the 2019 law rather than the PACT Act. Veterans who qualify may also access an Agent Orange Registry health exam and other exposure-related health care beyond disability compensation.
Blue Water Navy Ship Service and VA Benefits
Establishing eligibility often comes down to proving where and when a veteran served. The VA looks at whether a veteran's ship operated within the qualifying offshore area during the required dates, and historical vessel records and deck logs, digitized specifically for this purpose, can help confirm that location without a veteran needing to produce coordinates on their own.
The qualifying area is specific rather than general. It covers vessels operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia, a boundary that traces back to the Federal Circuit's Procopio v. Wilkie decision recognizing Vietnam's territorial waters under the existing presumption, followed by Congress enacting the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 to establish this specific statutory framework.
Qualifying ship service alone does not guarantee a successful claim. A veteran generally still needs a qualifying diagnosis and must meet the VA's other requirements, though documenting the ship's service record remains a central piece of establishing the presumption.
Why Documentation Matters
Because Blue Water Navy claims depend heavily on where a specific vessel operated, having the right service records on hand can make or break a claim. Ship logs, deck logs, and personnel records help confirm both the vessel and the dates that apply to your case.
Medical evidence connecting your current diagnosis to your service still matters even with the exposure presumption in place. Missing ship records or an unclear diagnosis are common reasons these claims face delays.
How Asbestos Ships Can Help
Piecing together decades-old ship records and figuring out whether your service qualifies can be difficult to do alone.
- Referrals to VA-accredited representatives who handle Blue Water Navy claims
- Educational information on the type of ship and service records that support a claim
- Information on how a Blue Water Navy claim differs from other toxic exposure claims
- Connections to legal resources if you are also pursuing compensation outside the VA system
Get Help with Your Blue Water Navy Claim from Asbestos Ships
Serving offshore does not make an Agent Orange claim any less valid, even though proving it can take extra documentation. Asbestos Ships can connect you with qualified professionals who understand how these claims work. Reach out to Asbestos Ships today to find out what support may be available to you.