Agent Orange benefits expanded
February 02, 2020
VA benefit eligibility for veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War was expanded by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which went into effect on January 1, 2020. Previously, only veterans who were serving on the ground in Vietnam were eligible for VA benefits for Agent Orange exposure-related disability.
Now, veterans from any branch of the military can qualify. More locations are eligible where veterans may have been exposed to Agent Orange. Veterans who were exposed to test sites and storage sites of Agent Orange including bases in the United States and ships in the waters off Vietnam. To see a list of all eligible locations visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/agentorange/dod_herbicides_outside_vietnam.pdf
Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used during the Vietnam War to kill the crops of enemy troops and reduce the tree cover in the jungles to increase visibility. Exposure to this substance causes several serious diseases and birth defects in the children of the exposed.
Under these updates, 420,000 to 560,000 new veterans will now potentially be eligible for VA benefits. So-called Blue Water Navy veterans who were stationed just off the coast of Vietnam during the war fought for the expansion for years. Because they were not stationed on the ground in Vietnam, they were blocked from receiving any benefits related to Agent Orange exposure, despite their proximity to its use.
If you are unsure of how this expansion could apply to you, contact the experienced VA claim attorneys at Legal Help for Veterans in Northville, Michigan. You could be entitled to new VA benefits and pay.