Carbon tetrachloride

Conditions the Board of Veterans' Appeals has ruled on in decisions that name Carbon tetrachloride exposure, grouped by outcome. 102 published decisions mention it. This is a non-presumptive agent, the medical link must be proven case by case, so these Board rulings are the roadmap.

What the Board has tied to Carbon tetrachloride

Each row: a condition claimed as related to Carbon tetrachloride, how many issues the Board ruled on, and the granted / denied / remanded split. Click a condition to see its code page, criteria, and the decisions.

ConditionIssuesGrantedDeniedRem.Grant %
Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system DC 7528 10 27 0
Emphysema, pulmonary DC 6603 5 05 0

Read the Board decisions that mention Carbon tetrachloride ↗

What the science says about Carbon tetrachloride

Carbon tetrachloride is a chlorinated solvent once widely used for degreasing, cleaning, and in fire extinguishers. Exposure is by breathing vapors and skin contact.

Health effects documented in the toxicology literature:

  • Liver: A classic liver toxin; high or repeated exposure causes liver damage.
  • Kidneys: Can damage the kidneys.
  • Nervous system: Headache, dizziness, and central-nervous-system depression at higher exposures.

Cancer classification: IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans); reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (US HHS NTP).

Latency: Organ effects can follow chronic exposure.

ATSDR Toxic Substances Portal (search this substance) ↗ (public-domain, US ATSDR)

Common questions

Is Carbon tetrachloride a presumptive exposure?

No. Unlike Agent Orange, burn pits, or Camp Lejeune, Carbon tetrachloride carries no automatic (presumptive) service connection. You have to prove the medical link yourself, usually with a nexus opinion, which is exactly why how the Board has ruled on it matters.

Why do so many of these conditions show denials?

The granted / denied counts reflect the mix of cases where Carbon tetrachloride comes up and how hard each link is to prove, not the merit of any one claim. A denial often means the file lacked a medical opinion tying the condition to the exposure, or proof of the exposure itself, not that the condition can never be connected.

How do I show I was exposed to Carbon tetrachloride?

Service records, your military job (MOS), unit history, and buddy statements can establish the exposure; a medical opinion then connects it to the diagnosed condition. This page reports Board outcomes and is not legal or medical advice, a VSO representative can help with your specific case.

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RateMyVSO. Educational aggregate of published Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions plus public-domain toxicology (ATSDR). Not affiliated with the VA. Not legal or medical advice. Whether any exposure caused any condition in a specific case is a medical and legal question, a VSO representative can help.