Public Law 116-23, (Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act 2019) was signed into law on June 25, 2019 and takes effect January 1, 2020. The law extends a presumption of herbicide exposure to Blue Water Navy Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and the offshore waters. Blue Water Navy Survivors, and certain dependents may be entitled to benefits if the Veteran was exposed.
   Beginning Jan. 1, Veterans, who served as far as 12 nautical miles from the shore of Vietnam, or who had service in the Korean Demilitarized zone (DMZ), may have been exposed to herbicides such as Agent Orange and may be entitled to service connected disability compensation for conditions possibly related to herbicide exposure.
   For more information, please look at the following Veterans Affairs links:
          Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act 2019 Fact Sheet
          Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation