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VA Increases Number of Ships Eligible For Agent Orange Compensation

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a list of Navy and Coast Guard ships whose crews may have been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Should those crews have suffered exposure to the noxious defoliant, they would likely be eligible to draw veterans disability compensation.

At this point in time, it is unknown how many veterans served on the "Blue Water platforms," and were exposed to Agent Orange. Further, it is unknown how many of those veterans who served on ships listed on the VA's qualifying list of ships for Agent Orange exposure will meet the necessary exposure criteria. The ships on the VA's list operated between 1962 and 1975 off the Vietnamese coastline. Qualifying ships were exposed to Agent Orange by either:

• docking in Vietnam;
• traveling into Vietnam's inland waterways; or
• having their crews go ashore.

The majority of the ships added to the VA's list are either landing vessels or destroyers, both of which operate close to shore. Kula Gulf, a carrier, was added to the list because for 3 days in November 1965, the ship served as a launch for helicopters carrying troops. The VA's list of qualifying ships will continue to change as new ships are added once their documentation is verified.

Despite the VA's claims backlog, it has paid out more than $2 billion in Agent Orange disability benefits in the last year alone. As new ships are added, more claims will be added into the already burdened system.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.