The VA's war against Vietnam Navy Veterans
It’s
a disgraceful nightmare not only to these veterans, but in many cases
their families with only the widows left to fend for themselves as their
husbands have paid the ultimate price for serving their country.
"...all who served honorably deserve the benefits Congress intended."
Gibson Joins Colleagues to Fight for Benefits for Vietnam Veterans
112th Congress: 2011-2012
H.R. 3612: To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes.
Legislation would cover Blue Water Veterans: H.R. 3612, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2011, would allow blue water veterans who served up to 12 miles off-shore in Vietnam presumptive coverage for Agent Orange exposure. This would enable them to receive Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits if they suffer from any of the diseases the U.S. government has linked to Agent Orange. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
H.R. 3612: To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes.
Legislation would cover Blue Water Veterans: H.R. 3612, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2011, would allow blue water veterans who served up to 12 miles off-shore in Vietnam presumptive coverage for Agent Orange exposure. This would enable them to receive Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits if they suffer from any of the diseases the U.S. government has linked to Agent Orange. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
Blue Water Navy
All Vietnam Navy veterans deserve Agent Orange benefits
Imagine a scenario where veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars begin developing certain cancers far more often than nonveterans. There would likely be a public outcry to aid them, and rightfully so. Now imagine that the U.S. government agrees to help the ill veterans, but then reverses its policy several years later to help only certain branches of the military.
This scenario is essentially what happened to U.S. Vietnam Navy veterans.
Vietnam Vets Exposed To Agent Orange Need Public Support To Gain Health Benefits
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association is seeking the public’s help. This past September Senators Gillibrand and Graham introduced the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011 (AOEA). The bill was presented to restore VA benefits to approximately 250,000 Navy veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the Vietnam War. Currently, Navy veterans who served in Vietnam are unable to receive disability or health benefits for medical issues related to the effects of Agent Orange because of a technicality stemming from 2002.
Right now there is a Bill in the Senate, S-1629 (AOEA), and in the House, HR-3612, seeking to help Navy service members effected by Agent Orange gain benefits.
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure
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