The Veteran's service records show treatment for variously diagnosed residuals of exposure to solvents and chemicals, including arthralgia, possibly environmentally induced; nonspecific chemical reaction with myalgias and arthralgias; Stoddard solvent toxicity with polyarthralgia, and Stoddard chemical hypersensitivity. A VA examiner has specifically related the Veteran's 'prolonged exposure to [those] solvents most likely caused the protean signs and symptoms of shooting pains in the chest [and] extremities, and it also caused easy tiredness or fatigue and occasional hypersomnolence.' The Board finds that the Veteran's residuals of exposure to solvents were incurred during his active service.
The deciding factor: The prolonged exposure to solvents during the Veteran's period of service most likely caused his current symptoms of shooting pains in the chest, extremities, tiredness, fatigue, and occasional hypersomnolence.
- Claimed conditions
- hypersensitivity to solvents, protean signs and symptoms of shooting pains in the chest and extremities, tiredness, fatigue, occasional hypersomnolence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0946585
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0946585.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ did not obtain all necessary opinions regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The claims for service connection for fatigue, fibromyalgia, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and sleep disorder are remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, joint pain (claimed as arthritis), sleep apnea, fatigue, neck condition, acne, and lung condition. The evidence did not show a current disability or link to military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and remanded the secondary service connection claims for GERD, hypertension, sleep apnea, gastritis, headaches, and fatigue as secondary to CAN.
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