Crystalline silica
Conditions the Board of Veterans' Appeals has ruled on in decisions that name Crystalline silica exposure, grouped by outcome. 54 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 Crystalline silica
Each row: a condition claimed as related to Crystalline silica, 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 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumoconiosis (silicosis, anthracosis, etc.) DC 6832 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0% |
| Emphysema, pulmonary DC 6603 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – |
| Asbestosis DC 6833 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | – |
Read the Board decisions that mention Crystalline silica ↗
What the science says about Crystalline silica
Crystalline silica is respirable dust from sand, rock, concrete, and abrasive blasting, encountered in construction, blasting, and desert operations. Inhaled fine particles scar the lungs.
Health effects documented in the toxicology literature:
- Lungs (silicosis): Scarring of the lungs (silicosis) causing progressive shortness of breath, the signature silica disease.
- Lung cancer: Crystalline silica is an established cause of lung cancer.
- Other: Associated with COPD and, in some studies, autoimmune and kidney disease.
Cancer classification: Crystalline silica (inhaled): IARC Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans).
Latency: Silicosis and cancer typically develop after years of exposure.
OSHA: Crystalline Silica (health effects) ↗ (public-domain, US ATSDR)
Common questions
Is Crystalline silica a presumptive exposure?
No. Unlike Agent Orange, burn pits, or Camp Lejeune, Crystalline silica 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 Crystalline silica 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 Crystalline silica?
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.