[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76170-76171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30909]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Presumption of Exposure to Herbicides for Blue Water Navy Vietnam 
Veterans Not Supported

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On May 20, 2011, at the request of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy 
of Sciences issued a report titled, ``Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans 
and Agent Orange Exposure.'' The IOM reviewed a wide range of data 
sources including peer-reviewed literature, exposure and transport 
modeling, interviews with veterans, ship deck logs, and other 
government documents, and concluded that there is insufficient evidence 
to determine whether Blue Water Navy Veterans were exposed to Agent 
Orange-associated herbicides during the Vietnam War. After careful 
review of the IOM report, the Secretary determines that the evidence 
available

[[Page 76171]]

at this time does not support establishing a presumption of exposure to 
herbicides for Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans. VA will continue to 
accept and review all Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veteran claims based on 
herbicide exposure on a case-by-case basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Terry Walters, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420, telephone 
(202) 461-1020. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military 
used various tactical herbicides as defoliants to help military 
personnel identify enemy transportation and communication routes and 
camps, reduce cover for enemy forces, and kill crops that might be used 
by the enemy. The best known and most widely used herbicide was Agent 
Orange. Agent Orange was contaminated with the highly toxic chemical 2, 
3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD). Numerous adverse health 
effects in veterans who served in Vietnam have been attributed to 
exposure to Agent Orange. The Agent Orange Act of 1991, Public Law 102-
4, 105 Stat. 11, established a presumption of herbicide exposure for 
veterans who had served in Vietnam and who developed a disease 
associated with Agent Orange exposure. The presumption applies to those 
who served in the Republic of Vietnam on the ground (ground troops) or 
on its inland waterways (Brown Water Navy Veterans). Veterans who 
served in deep-water naval vessels off the coast of Vietnam during the 
Vietnam War are referred to as Blue Water Navy Veterans. Claims filed 
by veterans who served on only Blue Water Navy vessels based on 
herbicide exposure are accepted and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
    On May 20, 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National 
Academy of Sciences issued a report titled, ``Blue Water Navy Vietnam 
Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure.'' The report was issued and the 
underlying study was conducted at the request of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA) and neither was required by law. VA requested the 
study in response to veteran concerns and the recommendations in the 
IOM report ``Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2008.'' VA tasked the 
IOM with establishing a committee to determine whether Blue Water Navy 
Vietnam Veterans experienced exposures to herbicides and their 
contaminants (focusing on dioxin) comparable to those of ground troops 
and Brown Water Navy Vietnam Veterans.
    For the study, the IOM reviewed a wide range of data sources 
including peer-reviewed literature, exposure and transport modeling, 
interviews with veterans, ship deck logs, and other government 
documents. After reviewing and analyzing available data, the IOM 
concluded that ground troops and Brown Water Navy Veterans had 
qualitatively more pathways of exposure to Agent Orange-associated TCDD 
than did Blue Water Navy Veterans. The IOM found that a paucity of 
scientific data concerning potential exposures for Blue Water Navy 
Veterans made it impossible to determine whether these veterans were 
exposed to Agent Orange-associated TCDD and, therefore, that exposure 
of Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans to Agent Orange-associated TCDD 
cannot be reasonably determined.
    After careful review of the IOM report, ``Blue Water Navy Vietnam 
Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure,'' the Secretary has determined that 
the evidence available at this time does not support establishing a 
presumption of exposure to herbicides for Blue Water Navy Vietnam 
Veterans. VA will continue to accept and review all Blue Water Navy 
Vietnam Veteran claims based on herbicide exposure on a case-by-case 
basis. The Secretary's determination not to establish a presumption of 
exposure does not in any way preclude VA from granting service 
connection on a case-by-case basis for diseases and conditions 
associated with Agent Orange exposure, nor does it change any existing 
rights or procedures.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. John R. 
Gingrich, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on December 19, 2012, for publication.

    Dated: December 19, 2012.
Robert C. McFetridge,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-30909 Filed 12-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P