Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Exposure

What PCB exposure is

• Industrial PCB oils in transformers, capacitors, and large electrical equipment.
• PCB-containing cable insulation, paints, and sealants on ships and shore facilities.
• Hydraulic fluids on certain aircraft and ship systems.

Who was exposed

• Navy electricians, hull techs, and engineering personnel on pre-1980 ships.
• Shore-station electricians servicing transformers and capacitor banks.
• Personnel at Fort McClellan (downwind of the Anniston Monsanto plant).
• Personnel involved in PCB cleanups and decommissioning.

Recognized conditions & VA framework

• There is no standalone PCB presumption. Claims are direct service connection with a nexus opinion.
• Conditions commonly claimed: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, melanoma, breast cancer, liver disease, thyroid disease, and reproductive disorders.
• Fort McClellan veterans with PCB-related conditions should reference the McClellan exposure profile.

Evidence to gather

• Service records identifying PCB-exposed duty (electrician on pre-1980 ship, McClellan assignment, etc.).
• Treating-provider records diagnosing the claimed condition.
• Independent medical opinion linking the condition to documented PCB exposure.
• Buddy statements describing leaks, spills, or cleanup operations.

Claim path

1. File as direct service connection citing PCB exposure.
2. Reference VA Public Health PCB guidance to support recognition of the exposure even without a presumption.

Authoritative reference

VA Public Health publishes its own overview of this exposure. Use it as a citation in your claim narrative: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/pcb/index.asp

Where these claims break down

• ×Filing as a 'shipboard cancer' claim generically — name the PCB exposure pathway.
• ×Not addressing the long latency period for PCB-related cancers in the nexus letter.

Frequently Asked Questions