The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) C&P Service has reviewed the ship's deck logs, located at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and confirmed this service on the "inland waterways" of the Republic of Vietnam. As a result, the presumption of herbicide exposure, as described in 38 CFR 3.307(a)(6), can be extended to any crewmember who served aboard the vessel on these dates.
Anyone who served on the Ingersoll on the dates in question and had previous claims for Agent Orange-related conditions denied should reapply.
VA regional offices are directed to extend the presumption of herbicide exposure to new claims involving a veteran who served aboard the USS Ingersoll during Oct. 24 and 25, 1965. Additionally, if regional offices are aware that any such claim was denied due to lack of evidence for herbicide exposure, they are directed to reevaluate the claim as soon as possible.
Veterans names will be checked against the official crew manifest of those on board the ship during those dates.
From NAUS, 22 February 08