Question:

Jim, I was on active duty 1966/1968 and was stationed at Minecraft Support Unit in Charleston. We used trichloroethylene to clean all the parts on the Minesweepers we worked on. I have had afib for years and had to have open heart surgery in 2016 for the fib and a bypass. I have read somewhere that exposure to TCE will possibly cause afib could you tell me if there is an documentation for this for a veteran?

Jim's Reply:

I don't know of any such legit documentation but even if I did, it wouldn't be of much value. To have your condition become service connected so that it can be rated requires a medical expert who will testify for you that your disabling condition is more likely than not caused or contributed to by your exposure to TCE. This is often called an Independent Medical Opinion or IMO. You'll also have to prove that you were exposed to TCE and that the exposure was documented well enough to support that you were exposed. TCE was a commonly used solvent, so common I think almost everyone who served in that era was exposed. I used TCE as SOP to clean the external exhaust system of steam autoclaves in the operating rooms of the 98th General Hospital when I was stationed there and I also not-so-fondly remember the hottest summer of my life at Ft. Benning wiping cosmoline off new weapons with buckets of TCE and rags. (Good times, eh?) There are many claims of disabling conditions related to TCE exposure...most are denied for lack of evidence of cause and effect. You can research decisions that have been awarded and denied over the years here.  Choose a year to study and enter "trichloroethylene TCE" and see what you may learn. You can change search terms as you research to see what may be found for your specific condition. BVA appeals do not establish precedence so you'll have to model your claim or appeal on any positive cases you may find.