FRA Agent Orange Blue Water Navy Vets Pay for 2017 |
Please take the FRA Survey Immediately!
Background: FRA supports the “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R. 299/S. 422), sponsored by Rep. David Valadao (CA) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) respectively. These bills would allow “Blue Water” veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam to be compensated for service connected disabilities related to their exposure to Agent Orange herbicide. Legislators want to pass the “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R. 299/S. 422) but need a cost offset. They have suggested rounding down to the nearest dollar monthly veterans benefits. Please let us know if think we should support this proposal.
The herbicide was use to destroy foliage on river shore used by the Viet Cong to hide in and shoot at ships passing by. The chemical got into rivers that ran out to sea. Ships used water for bathing and drinking. It has been proven that desalinization process for water intensified toxicity of the small amounts of herbicide in water. Presumption of service connection exists for Vietnam veterans who served in country, on land and inland waterways. Enactment of H.R. 299/S. 422 will bring a degree of justice to several thousand Navy personnel who have been denied service connection by the VA since 2002. They no longer will have to prove direct exposure to Agent Orange, and they will receive expedited consideration for VA benefits if they are afflicted with any of the health conditions associated with exposure to this defoliant.
Studies demonstrate that the desalinization process used on Australian and U.S. Navy ships off the coast of Vietnam magnified the exposure of the Agent Orange in the water. Past VA policy (1991-2001) allowed service members to file claims if they received the Vietnam Service Medal or Campaign Medal.
The herbicide was use to destroy foliage on river shore used by the Viet Cong to hide in and shoot at ships passing by. The chemical got into rivers that ran out to sea. Ships used water for bathing and drinking. It has been proven that desalinization process for water intensified toxicity of the small amounts of herbicide in water. Presumption of service connection exists for Vietnam veterans who served in country, on land and inland waterways. Enactment of H.R. 299/S. 422 will bring a degree of justice to several thousand Navy personnel who have been denied service connection by the VA since 2002. They no longer will have to prove direct exposure to Agent Orange, and they will receive expedited consideration for VA benefits if they are afflicted with any of the health conditions associated with exposure to this defoliant.
Studies demonstrate that the desalinization process used on Australian and U.S. Navy ships off the coast of Vietnam magnified the exposure of the Agent Orange in the water. Past VA policy (1991-2001) allowed service members to file claims if they received the Vietnam Service Medal or Campaign Medal.