Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Conditions the Board of Veterans' Appeals has ruled on in decisions that name Trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure, grouped by outcome. 220 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.
Note: Also a Camp Lejeune constituent (presumptive for named conditions). Those may not require proving the medical link.
What the Board has tied to Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Each row: a condition claimed as related to Trichloroethylene (TCE), 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 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralysis agitans DC 8004 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 80% |
| Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system DC 7528 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 47% |
| Diabetes mellitus DC 7913 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 25% |
| Malignant neoplasms of the digestive system, exclusive of skin growths DC 7343 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – |
Read the Board decisions that mention Trichloroethylene (TCE) ↗
What the science says about Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a chlorinated solvent used to degrease metal parts, clean electronics, and in many maintenance shops. It was also a groundwater contaminant at some installations. Exposure is by breathing vapors and skin contact.
Health effects documented in the toxicology literature:
- Nervous system (Parkinson's): A growing body of evidence links TCE exposure to Parkinson's disease; this is one of the strongest emerging TCE associations.
- Kidney cancer: TCE is an established cause of kidney (renal-cell) cancer.
- Immune / lymphatic: Associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and effects on the immune system.
- Liver: Liver toxicity and evidence of liver cancer at higher exposures.
Cancer classification: IARC Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans); known human carcinogen (US HHS NTP).
Latency: Cancers and neurological disease can appear years to decades after exposure.
ATSDR Toxic Substances Portal (search this substance) ↗ (public-domain, US ATSDR)
Common questions
Is Trichloroethylene (TCE) a presumptive exposure?
No. Unlike Agent Orange, burn pits, or Camp Lejeune, Trichloroethylene (TCE) 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 Trichloroethylene (TCE) 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 Trichloroethylene (TCE)?
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.