Pesticides
Conditions the Board of Veterans' Appeals has ruled on in decisions that name Pesticides exposure, grouped by outcome. 106 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 Pesticides
Each row: a condition claimed as related to Pesticides, 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.
| Condition | Issues | Granted | Denied | Rem. | Grant % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes mellitus DC 7913 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 17% |
| Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma DC 7715 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | – |
| Paralysis agitans DC 8004 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | – |
| Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system DC 7528 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | – |
Read the Board decisions that mention Pesticides ↗
What the science says about Pesticides
A broad category of insecticides and herbicides used in pest and vector control around installations and in the field, including organophosphates and organochlorines. Exposure is by skin contact and breathing.
Health effects documented in the toxicology literature:
- Nervous system: Organophosphates affect the nervous system; associated with Parkinson's disease in some studies.
- Immune / lymphatic: Some pesticides are associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Endocrine / other: Effects vary widely by specific chemical.
Cancer classification: Varies by chemical; several specific pesticides are IARC Group 2A/2B.
Latency: Depends on the agent; some persist for years.
ATSDR Toxic Substances Portal (search this substance) ↗ (public-domain, US ATSDR)
Common questions
Is Pesticides a presumptive exposure?
No. Unlike Agent Orange, burn pits, or Camp Lejeune, Pesticides 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 Pesticides 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 Pesticides?
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.
Related Tools and Guides
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.