On June 12, 2019, Congress passed the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act that allows veterans who served offshore during Vietnam from 1962 to 1975 to be service connected for exposure they may have received from Agent Orange absent affirmative evidence showing that they were not exposed. The Act defines “offshore” as being 12 nautical miles seaward of a line specified in the Act. The Act also affords benefits to certain veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange in Korea and children of veterans who were born with spina bifida due to exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand.
The bill will be sent to the president for signature.