Yankee Station Agent Orange – Blue Water veterans can now get presumptive service connection.
The Yankee Station
If you served in the Blue Water Navy during the Vietnam War, you may have been exposed to Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide. As of January 1, 2020, Blue Water Navy veterans who served at Yankee Station are now eligible for presumptive service connection for certain health conditions. Understanding your eligibility and next steps is critical to securing the benefits you deserve.
What Was Yankee Station?
Yankee Station was a fixed coordinate off the coast of North Vietnam used by U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and support ships.
Established: April 1964 at 16° N latitude, 110° E longitude
Moved: 1966, about 145 miles northwest, due to increased air operations over North Vietnam
Function: Launch site for air strikes during the Vietnam War, primarily for Task Force 77 aircraft carriers
Operational period: 1964–August 1973
Yankee Station served as the northern Blue Water Navy staging area, while Dixie Station, off the Mekong Delta in the South China Sea, was the southern counterpart.
Blue Water Navy
The Blue Water Navy refers to ships designed for open-ocean operations, such as aircraft carriers.
Crew size: Each carrier required roughly 3,000–5,500 sailors. Thousands of Blue Water Navy personnel served in Vietnam offshore without ever stepping foot on land.
Carriers could sail across oceans but had limited inland water capability.
Several Seventh Fleet carriers operated at Yankee Station, supported by smaller vessels.
Operation Ranch Hand and Agent Orange
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed nearly 20 million gallons of herbicides, including Agent Orange, as part of Operation Ranch Hand.
Purpose: Clear trees and foliage to reduce enemy cover
Consequences: Many veterans experienced long-term health problems due to exposure
Legal recognition: The Agent Orange Act of 1991 established a link between herbicide exposure and certain medical conditions
Before 2020, VA interpretations excluded Blue Water Navy veterans who never set foot in Vietnam. This changed with the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, giving presumptive eligibility to these veterans.
How Exposure Could Have Happened at Yankee Station
Sailors at Yankee Station were at risk due to proximity to sprayed areas, northern operational zones, and contact with contaminated supplies or smaller craft.
Exposure occurs primarily through contaminated food such as fish and other marine life, but airborne and waterborne exposure were also possible.
The VA Presumes That The Following Conditions Are Related To Exposure To Herbicides Such As Agent Orange:
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans with qualifying service may be eligible if they have any of the following conditions:
Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)
Multiple Myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism
Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
Prostate Cancer
Respiratory Cancers (including lung cancer)
Soft Tissue Sarcomas (certain types)
Note: Some conditions require that symptoms became disabling within 1 year of herbicide exposure.
Do I Qualify For Agent Orange Exposure?
You were most likely exposed to Agent Orange if your service aboard a ship meets any of the following criteria:
Primarily or exclusively on Vietnam’s inland waterways
Temporarily on Vietnam’s inland waterways
Docked at shore or pier in Vietnam
Operated in close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence crew went ashore
Operated in coastal waters with smaller craft delivering troops or supplies ashore
Call Disability Help Group, 1-855-855-8992 , If You Were Exposed to Agent Orange at Yankee Station or while serving.
You were most like exposed to Agent Orange if you served on Yankee Station. Ships that fall into one of the following categories during the Vietnam War era probably qualify for Agent Orange exposure:
primarily or exclusively on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
temporarily on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
docked to shore or pier in Vietnam,
Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that crew members went ashore, and
Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that smaller craft from the ship regularly delivered supplies or troops ashore.
Current List of Yankee Station Agent Orange Ships
The VA maintains a list of ships recognized for Agent Orange exposure at Yankee Station. Sailors aboard these ships are presumptively eligible if they have one of the VA’s listed conditions.
The current list of Yankee Station Agent Orange Ships is available here. Even if your ship is not listed, you can still prove exposure with the ship logs. Furthermore, you can find Navy deck logs at the National Archives site by clicking this link.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself
If you answer “Yes” to any of these, contact Disability Help Group immediately:
Did you serve on a Navy ship offshore Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975?
Did your ship come within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coast?
Do you have one of the 20+ VA-presumed conditions related to herbicide exposure?
Evidence may have been overlooked or misinterpreted
Often just one additional piece of proof can complete your claim
With expert guidance, you can navigate the claims process efficiently and increase your chances of approval.
How Disability Help Group Can Help
Disability Help Group is ranked among the top 7 disability advocates nationwide. We assist veterans at every stage of the claim process:
Reviewing service records and ship logs
Preparing evidence for VA claims
Filing new claims or appeals
Monitoring claims to ensure timely decisions
Has the VA ever denied your Agent Orange exposure claim because you are a Blue Water Navy veteran? You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Blue Water Navy News regarding agent orange exposure.
What is Blue Water Agent Orange?
What is Blue Water Agent Orange? During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used herbicides such as Agent Orange to clear trees and plants. The military sprayed Agent Orange by aircraft, trucks, and hand-sprayers. It was very effective at removing foliage used by the enemy for cover and concealment. Unfortunately, the herbicides also contaminated food and water, which eventually caused diseases for both soldiers on the ground and sailors in the water. Blue water veterans are members of the Navy that served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.
Agent Orange Byproduct
One of the most toxic byproducts of Agent Orange is called dioxin. Dioxin is a highly-persistent chemical compound that lasts for many years in the environment. Most human exposure is through food because dioxin accumulates in the fatty tissue of fish, birds and other animals. However, you can also be exposed through airborne transmission.
Many health problems related to Agent Orange do not arise until years after service. The longer it takes a veteran to file an Agent Orange claim, the more likely VA is to deny it. If you are planning to file a claim many years after exposure, then you should hire an experienced representative to assist you.
Blue Water Navy News: Which Navy ships were likely exposed to Agent Orange?
Blue water navy news. VA has compiled a list of Navy and Coast Guard ships that were probably exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War era. The list contains the following 5 categories of ships:
operating primarily or exclusively on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
operating temporarily on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
docked to shore or pier in Vietnam,
operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that crew members went ashore, and
operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that smaller craft from the ship regularly delivered supplies or troops ashore.
Did you get sick because of Agent Orange exposure? Blue Water Navy News
In most circumstances, this is a medical question for your doctor. However, if you served in Vietnam or 12 miles offshore between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, and you have any of the 14 disabilities, VA will concede a relationship to Agent Orange exposure:
Chronic B-cell leukemia,
Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Multiple myeloma,
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Prostate cancer,
Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer,
Soft tissue sarcomas,
Amyloid light-chain (AL amyloidosis),
Chloracne,
Diabetes mellitus type 2,
Ischemic heart disease,
Parkinson’s disease,
Peripheral neuropathy, and
Porphyria cutanea tarda.
What if I served in Vietnam but I never left the ship? Blue water navy news.
On January 1, 2010, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 took effect. Blue water navy news – This law made it easier for the Blue Water Navy veterans and their families to get disability benefits due to Agent Orange exposure. If your answer to all of the following questions is “Yes”, then you are probably eligible for benefits under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act:
Did you serve on a Navy ship offshore Vietnam
between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975?
While you were on board, did the ship come
within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coast?
Do you have one of the 14 disabilities VA
presumes related to Agent Orange exposure?
What if I never served in Vietnam?
You were likely exposed to Agent Orange if you served in the following locations during these times:
Korean Demilitarized Zone between April 1 1968
and August 31, 1971, and
Perimeters of U.S. military bases in Thailand
between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
If you have an illness secondary to Agent Orange exposure, then you may be eligible for a VA cash payment every month. Contact us for a free consultation.
What If VA Denied My Claim?
Keep fighting! After fighting for over 20 years, Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans are finally eligible for the same presumptions as those who served inland. VA’s previous denial does not necessarily mean that you don’t deserve benefits. VA may have misunderstood the law or overlooked evidence. Alternatively, you might need just one more piece of evidence to complete the puzzle. VA’s complex rules can make any veteran’s head spin. But the experts at Disability Help Group can guide you through the process.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Has VA ever denied your Agent Orange exposure claim because you are a Blue Water Navy veteran? You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Blue Water Navy Veterans can now take advantage of the Agent Orange Act of 1991.
Why is Agent Orange a Presumed VA Disability?
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used herbicides such as Agent Orange to clear trees and plants. Due to the toxicity and inherent danger of the herbicides, the Agent Orange Act of 1991 was passed, whereby certain diseases are presumed to be related to in-service exposure to herbicides (including Agent Orange). For over 20 years after the Agent Orange Act, VA split disabled Vietnam veterans into 2 distinct groups:
Those who either set foot in Vietnam or served
on boats patrolling inland waterways (also known as “Brown Water”), and
Those who served on ships off the coast of
Vietnam (also known as “Blue Water” veterans).
Brown Water Vietnam veterans enjoyed an easier path to VA disability benefits for certain disabilities. Specifically, VA’s policy was to grant compensation to any Vietnam veteran who could prove the following:
Inland service in Vietnam between January 9,
1962 and May 7, 1975, and
A diagnosis of one or more of the 14 specific medical
conditions.
On January 29, 2019, this all changed for the better for Blue Water Navy Veterans
On January 29, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit concluded that the Agent Orange Act of 1991 also applied to Blue Water veterans. The Court found that the Act’s requirement for service in the Republic of Vietnam included both its landmass and its 12 nautical mile territorial sea. In short, VA had been misinterpreting the law for over 20 years. Because of VA’s mistake, it denied thousands of Agent Orange exposure claims involving Blue Water Vietnam veterans. The Procopio case drastically changed the game for Blue Water veterans. However, because court cases can be overturned, there was significant support in Congress to enact the Procopio holding into federal law.
Blue Water Navy Veterans Federal Law
On June 25, 2019, the President signed into law the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. It took effect January 1, 2020. This law made it easier for the Blue Water Navy veterans and their families to get disability benefits. In addition, it gave the same presumptions to veterans who served in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from September 1, 1967 to August 31, 1971.
Are you an Eligible Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veteran?
If your answer to all of the following questions is “Yes”, then you are probably eligible for benefits under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act:
Did you serve on a Navy ship offshore Vietnam
between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975?
While you were on board, did the ship come
within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coast?
Do you have one of the 14 disabilities VA
presumes related to herbicide exposure?
Which disabilities may be caused by Blue Water exposure?
VA presumes that the following conditions are related to exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange:
Chronic B-cell leukemia,
Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Multiple myeloma,
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Prostate cancer,
Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer,
Soft tissue sarcomas,
Amyloid light-chain (AL amyloidosis),
Chloracne,
Diabetes mellitus type 2,
Ischemic heart disease,
Parkinson’s disease,
Peripheral neuropathy, and
Porphyria cutanea tarda.
If you have any of the 14 presumptive disabilities, and you served on a ship that operated within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, then you may be entitled to disability compensation.
What if VA denied my Blue Water claim years ago?
Let’s say you filed your first Blue Water Navy claim for prostate cancer in 1990. In 1991, VA then denied your claim because you did not serve on the landmass or internal waterways of Vietnam. You then file a new Blue Water Navy claim on February 20, 2020. When VA grants your claim, it must be retroactive to the date of the 1990 claim. This amounts to a 30-year retroactive period.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Has VA ever denied your Agent Orange exposure claim because you are a Blue Water Navy veteran? You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Blue Water Veterans get Agent Orange Benefits as of January 1, 2020, when the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 took effect.
What is Agent Orange?
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used herbicides such as Agent Orange to clear trees and plants. The military sprayed Agent Orange by aircraft, trucks, and hand-sprayers. As a result, the spraying contaminated the food crops and water sources of both enemy combatants and nearby civilians. Unfortunately, our own troops have suffered the most of the collateral damage from Agent Orange use.
Dioxin
One of the most toxic byproducts of Agent Orange is called dioxin, which is a highly-persistent chemical compound that lasts for many years in the environment. Most human exposure is through food because dioxin accumulates in the fatty tissue of fish, birds and other animals. However, you can also be exposed through airborne transmission.
Many health problems related to Agent Orange do not arise until years after service. The longer it takes a veteran to file an Agent Orange claim, the more likely VA is to deny it. If you are planning to file a claim many years after exposure, then you should hire an experienced representative to assist you.
Blue Water Veterans previously did not get Agent Orange presumption
For over 2 decades, the Agent Orange presumption extended only to veterans who either set foot in Vietnam or served on boats patrolling inland waterways (also known as “Brown Water”). This excluded thousands of veterans who served on Navy ships offshore during the same period.
Which Navy ships were likely exposed to Agent Orange?
VA compiled a list of Navy and Coast Guard ships that were probably exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War era. The list contains the following 5 categories:
operating primarily or exclusively on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
operating temporarily on Vietnam’s inland waterways,
docked to shore or pier in Vietnam,
operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that crew members went ashore, and
operating on Vietnam’s close coastal waters for extended periods with evidence that smaller craft from the ship regularly delivered supplies or troops ashore.
Did You Get Sick Due to Agent Orange Exposure?
In most circumstances, this is a medical question for your doctor. However, if you served in Vietnam or 12 miles offshore between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, and you have any of the 14 disabilities, VA will concede a relationship to Agent Orange exposure:
Chronic B-cell leukemia,
Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Multiple myeloma,
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Prostate cancer,
Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer,
Soft tissue sarcomas,
Amyloid light-chain (AL amyloidosis),
Chloracne,
Diabetes mellitus type 2,
Ischemic heart disease,
Parkinson’s disease,
Peripheral neuropathy, and
Porphyria cutanea tarda.
What if I Served in Vietnam But I Never Left the Ship?
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 took effect, January 1, 2020. This law made it easier for the Blue Water Navy veterans and their families to get disability benefits due to Agent Orange exposure. If your answer to all of the following questions is “Yes”, then you are probably eligible for benefits under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act:
Did you serve on a Navy ship offshore Vietnam
between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975?
While you were on board, did the ship come
within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coast?
Do you have one of the 14 disabilities VA
presumes related to Agent Orange exposure?
What if I Never Served in Vietnam?
Agent Orange and other herbicides used in Vietnam were used, tested, and stored around the world, including some military bases in the United States. If you served at the following locations in the respective time frames, then you were likely exposed to Agent Orange:
Korean Demilitarized Zone between April 1 1968
and August 31, 1971, and
Perimeters of U.S. military bases in Thailand
between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
What if VA Denied My Claim?
Keep fighting! Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans are finally eligible for the same presumptions as those who served inland. The VA’s previous denial does not mean that you don’t deserve benefits. The experts at Disability Help Group can guide you through the process.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Blue Water Agent Orange Update 2020. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used herbicides such as Agent Orange to clear trees and plants. Unfortunately, herbicide exposure has caused a myriad of health problems to Vietnam veterans. By passing the Agent Orange Act of 1991, the government conceded a relationship between herbicide exposure and 14 medical conditions. However, VA interpreted the law to exclude Blue Water veterans of the Vietnam War. Veterans advocates have sought an update ever since.
For over 20 years after the Agent Orange Act, VA split disabled Vietnam veterans into 2 distinct groups
Those who either set foot in Vietnam or served on boats patrolling inland waterways (“Brown Water” veterans), and
Those who served on ships off the coast of Vietnam (“Blue Water” veterans).
The Brown Water veterans enjoyed an easier path to VA disability benefits for certain disabilities. Specifically, VA’s policy was to grant compensation to any Vietnam veteran who could prove the following:
Inland service in Vietnam between January 9,
1962 and May 7, 1975, and
A diagnosis of one or more of the 14 specific medical
conditions.
Until recently, this easier path was not available to Blue Water veterans. However, on January 29, 2019, this all changed for the better.
The Case that Changed Blue Water Agent Orange
Blue Water Agent Orange Update – 2020. Alfred Procopio Jr. served on the USS Intrepid during the Vietnam War era. He developed at least 3 of the 14 presumptive conditions covered by the Agent Orange Act. Naturally, he filed claims based on his belief they were caused by in-service exposure to herbicides. VA repeatedly denied his claims because he was a Blue Water veteran. But Mr. Procopio refused to give up. He appealed his case all the way to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). After the CAVC rejected his appeal, he sought review in the Federal Circuit.
Blue Water Agent Orange Update – 2020
On January 29, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit concluded that the Agent Orange Act of 1991 also applied to Blue Water veterans. The Court found that the Act’s requirement for service in the Republic of Vietnam included both its landmass and its 12 nautical mile territorial sea. In short, VA had been misinterpreting the law for over 20 years. Because of VA’s mistake, it denied thousands of Agent Orange exposure claims involving Blue Water Vietnam veterans. The Procopio case drastically changed the game for Blue Water veterans. However, because court cases can be overturned, there was significant support in Congress to enact the Procopio holding into federal law.
Blue Water Federal Law Agent Orange Update 2020
On June 25, 2019, the President signed into law the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. It took effect January 1, 2020. This law made it easier for the Blue Water Navy veterans and their families to get disability benefits. In addition, it gave the same presumptions to veterans who served in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from September 1, 1967 to August 31, 1971.
Are You an Eligible Blue Water Vietnam Veteran?
If your answer to all of the following questions is “Yes”, then you are probably eligible for benefits under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act:
Did you serve on a Navy ship offshore Vietnam
between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975?
While you were on board, did the ship come
within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coast?
Do you have one of the 14 disabilities VA
presumes related to herbicide exposure?
Which Disabilities Are Presumed Service Connected by Blue Water Exposure?
VA presumes that the following conditions are related to exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange:
Chronic B-cell leukemia,
Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Multiple myeloma,
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
Prostate cancer,
Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer,
Soft tissue sarcomas,
Amyloid light-chain (AL amyloidosis),
Chloracne,
Diabetes mellitus type 2,
Ischemic heart disease,
Parkinson’s disease,
Peripheral neuropathy, and
Porphyria cutanea tarda.
If you have any of the 14 presumptive disabilities, and you served on a ship that operated within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, then you may be entitled to disability compensation.
January 1, 2020, is When VA Starts Processing Blue Water Claims
What if VA Denied My Blue Water Claim Years Ago?
Many Blue Water Navy veterans gave up after VA kept denying their claims for lack of “boots-on-the-ground” service. However, if VA approves a new claim pursuant to the new federal law, then VA must grant the rating effective the claim that was previously denied. In a December 13, 2019 memorandum, VA’s Office of General Counsel confirmed that this will be VA’s interpretation for new Blue Water claims. Blue Water Agent Orange Update – 2020
Retroactive period, Blue Water Agent Orange Update – 2020
Let’s say you filed your first Blue Water Navy claim for ischemic heart disease in 1991. In 1992, VA then denied your claim because you did not serve on the landmass or internal waterways of Vietnam. You then hire Disability Help Group to help file a new Blue Water Navy claim on January 17, 2020. When VA grants your claim, it must be retroactive to the date of the 1991 claim. This amounts to a 29-year retroactive period.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Has VA ever denied your Agent Orange exposure claim because you are a Blue Water Navy veteran? You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
