((a)) ** .—** For the purposes of , and subject to , a disease covered by becoming manifest as specified in that section in a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on , and ending on , shall be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such service.
((b)) ** .—** A veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on , and ending on , shall be presumed to have been exposed during such service to an herbicide agent unless there is affirmative evidence to establish that the veteran was not exposed to any such agent during that service.
((c)) ** .—**
((1)) Except as provided by paragraph (2), the effective date of an award under this section shall be determined in accordance with .
((2))
((A)) Notwithstanding subsection (g) of , the Secretary shall determine the effective date of an award based on a claim under this section for an individual described in subparagraph (B) by treating the date on which the individual filed the prior claim specified in clause (i) of such subparagraph as the date on which the individual filed the claim so awarded under this section.
((B)) An individual described in this subparagraph is a veteran, or a survivor of a veteran, who meets the following criteria:
((i)) The veteran or survivor submitted a claim for disability compensation on or after , and before , for a disease covered by this section, and the claim was denied by reason of the claim not establishing that the disease was incurred or aggravated by the service of the veteran.
((ii)) The veteran or survivor submits a claim for disability compensation on or after , for the same condition covered by the prior claim under clause (i), and the claim is approved pursuant to this section.
((d)) ** .—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall treat a location as being offshore of Vietnam if the location is not more than 12 nautical miles seaward of a line commencing on the southwestern demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia and intersecting the following points:
((e)) ** .—** In this section, the term “herbicide agent” has the meaning given that term in .