Trichloroethylene and Military Exposure

Serving your country comes with sacrifices, and sometimes, those sacrifices continue long after you leave active duty. Toxic exposure to chemicals like trichloroethylene (TCE) is just one example of the challenges veterans continue to grapple with in their post-military lives.

What is trichloroethylene?

Trichloroethylene is a colorless liquid with a somewhat sweet odor. As a common ingredient in industrial degreasers and cleaners, it was used to clean everything from machine parts to fighter jets. What may have seemed like a harmless cleaning agent in the past is now understood to be a serious health hazard.

TCE and Military Exposure

During World War II, TCE was one of the most widely used solvents in the United States, and the Department of Defense (DoD) relied heavily on it for cleaning and degreasing everything from weapons and aircraft to vehicles and machinery.

Unfortunately, TCE is toxic, and exposure can cause serious health issues, including:

Cancer: TCE increases the risk of several types of cancer, including kidney, liver, and lymphoma.
Organ damage: It can harm the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

In the past, the military didn’t always handle TCE safely, and improper disposal practices led to TCE contamination at numerous military installations. If you served at one of these bases, you could have been exposed, particularly if you served in a maintenance or engineering role.

TCE in Your Everyday Life

Even if you’ve left the military, you could still encounter TCE:

Drinking water: TCE can contaminate groundwater near old military bases, industrial sites, or landfills.
Everyday products: Though more common in industrial products, TCE is still found in some household products, such as cleaning wipes, adhesives, paint strippers, and spot removers.
Hidden vapors: TCE can evaporate from contaminated soil or groundwater and enter your home as vapor, a process known as “vapor intrusion.”

Health Risks of TCE Exposure

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies TCE as a known carcinogen, and studies have linked it to many health problems. For veterans, especially those already dealing with service-related health issues, the potential consequences of TCE exposure could lead to life-long consequences.

Here are some of the health issues linked to TCE:

Cancer: Kidney, liver, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Organ damage: Liver, kidney, and nervous system damage.
Neurological issues: Tremors, difficulty with coordination, cognitive impairment, and Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms.
Immune system problems: Increased vulnerability to infections and illnesses.

What You Can Do

If you’re concerned about TCE exposure:

Get informed: Learn about TCE and its potential health effects from reliable sources like the EPA and the VA.
Talk to your doctor: Discuss any health concerns potentially related to TCE exposure with your doctor.
Minimize your exposure: Test your drinking water, choose TCE-free household products, and ensure your home is well-ventilated.

VA Disability Benefits for TCE Exposure

The VA recognizes the dangers of TCE exposure and offers disability benefits to veterans with service-connected conditions linked to TCE. This includes veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who may have been exposed during service.

To be eligible for these benefits, you must meet certain criteria:

Diagnosis: You must have a diagnosed illness or health condition linked to TCE exposure.
Service connection: Your condition must be connected to your military service, meaning it developed or was aggravated due to your exposure to TCE during your time in the military.
Other than Dishonorable discharge: You must not have a dishonorable discharge.

Types of Conditions Covered

While many conditions can be linked to TCE exposure, some are specifically recognized by the VA as “presumptive conditions.” These include:

Adult-onset Leukemia
Aplastic Anemia
Liver Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Parkinson’s Disease
Multiple Myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Other Myelodysplastic syndromes

If you have one of these conditions and can show that you were likely exposed to TCE during your service, the VA will presume that your condition is service-connected.

VA Disability Ratings and Compensation

The VA assigns disability ratings based on the severity of your condition. These ratings range from 0% to 100% and determine the amount of your monthly disability payments. For example, active, service-connected cancer generally qualifies for a 100% VA rating.

Camp Lejeune and TCE Exposure

Veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune may be particularly at risk for TCE-related health problems due to documented water contamination incidents at the base. If you served at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and have developed a health condition listed in the presumptive illnesses list, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.

Was your claim denied? Cameron Firm, PC, can help

If you’ve filed a claim for VA disability benefits related to TCE exposure and were denied, don’t give up. The appeals process can be complex and require substantial documentation, but Cameron Firm, PC can help. We specialize in helping veterans navigate the VA appeals process. Our experienced attorneys are here to fight for the benefits you deserve.