More so-called Blue Water Navy veterans who now are sick because they were exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are eligible for treatment and care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify for VA benefits, sick veterans must have served within 12 miles of the demarcation line of waters that separates the Republic of Vietnam and Cambodia between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. VA estimates the number of Blue Water veterans between 430,000 and 50,000.
Older veterans — those above 85 years of age — will have priority in claims processing. The change also affects eligible survivors of deceased Water veterans whose claims were previously denied. These survivors may file for benefits again for reconsideration.
Maladies that are now covered include:
* AL amyloidosis
* Chloracne or similar acneform disease
* Chronic B-cell leukemias
* Diabetes mellitus Type 2
* Hodgkin lymphoma, formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease
* Multiple myeloma
* Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
* Parkinson’s disease
* Peripheral neuropathy, early-onset
* Porphyria cutanea tarda
* Prostate cancer
* Respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea)
* Soft-tissue sarcoma, other than ostesarcarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma or mesothelioma
