What information must be developed for Blue Water Navy Veterans to support their claims?

To support claims for Blue Water Navy Veterans, it is crucial to focus on evidence of docking in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) because this is a key factor in establishing eligibility for benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. The Blue Water Navy Veterans Act of 2019 acknowledged that service members who were stationed offshore but had direct involvement with or evidence of stepping foot in Vietnam may be entitled to benefits similar to those who served on land during the Vietnam War.

The demonstration of docking or other direct connections to Vietnam reinforces the necessary legal linkage to the presumption of exposure to harmful herbicides used during that time. This is essential for establishing entitlement to benefits for conditions believed to be linked to such exposure.

Other options, while potentially relevant to different contexts or veterans, do not provide the required direct evidence regarding service in Vietnam for Blue Water Navy Veterans specifically. Service in direct combat is not a criterion for this group, and a diagnosis of health issues alone does not correlate with the necessary exposure. Similarly, any mention of service in Korea does not apply to the claims of Blue Water Navy Veterans, as it pertains to a different set of criteria and events.