VA Stays Agent Orange Claims for Blue Water Navy Vets

Only July 1, 2019, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ordered the Veterans Benefits Administration and Board of Veterans Appeals to stay proceedings with respect to all claims for disability compensation that are based on service in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Secretary Wilke similarly stayed all claims for disability compensation that are based upon service in or near the Korean DMZ between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. The stay will remain in effect until January 1, 2020, at which time the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 will go into effect.