On June 25, DAV hailed the enactment of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veteran Act, which made veterans who served in waters offshore of Vietnam eligible for health care benefits for conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure. However, just as many veterans were learning of this news, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a blanket stay on all Blue Water Navy claims until January 1, 2020, further delaying decisions on these claims for at least six months.

DAV strongly disagrees with VA’s decision to stay all claims and we call on VA to begin processing and granting claims immediately to ensure veterans are provided access to the health care and benefits they have been denied for decades.

We believe that the Procopio decision made earlier this year provides VA the authority to begin granting claims right now for veterans who served up to 12 miles from shore. While those who served beyond 12 miles (up to the limits established by the new law) may have to wait until January 1, 2020, we see no justifiable reason why VA should not move forward on claims which can be immediately adjudicated in order to grant veterans access to life-saving health care and benefits.

Blue Water Navy veterans have waited far too long, and further delays are simply unacceptable. DAV will continue to work with our VSO partners and supporters in Congress to urge VA to lift the stay and begin granting Blue Water Navy veterans’ claims before it’s too late.

In the meantime, we urge all veterans who think they may be eligible for these benefits, including survivors of Blue Water Navy veterans, to contact a DAV benefits advocate and file a claim as soon as possible so that they can receive the maximum benefits to which they are entitled, at the earliest date.