Exposure to organic solvents

For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) has defined organic solvents to mean:

(a)  chlorinated organic solvents,

(b)  aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents,

(c)  aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, or

(d)  oxygenated organic solvents.

Organic solvents can be grouped into 3 types:

1. Oxygenated Solvents              alcohols, glycol ethers, ketones, esters, and glycol ether esters
2. Hydrocarbon Solvents             aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons
3. Halogenated Solvents             chlorinated hydrocarbons

More information can be found in organic solvents.

The SOP factor in depressive disorder applies only to reasonable hypothesis cases and as a cause of depressive disorder, it applies only for substance-induced mood disorder with depressive features.  As an aggravating factor, it applies to all types of depressive disorder.

The SOP requires:

inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with organic solvents, in an unventilated and confined space, on more days than not for a continuous period of at least five years before the clinical onset/worsening of depressive disorder, and where the clinical onset/worsening of depressive disorder occurs within two years of that period.

Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.

Preliminary questions [39698]

39705 there is some evidence that exposure to organic solvents may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

39788  the veteran has established the causal connection between exposure to organic solvents and operational service for depressive disorder.

39677   the condition under consideration is substance-induced mood disorder with depressive features.

39791 the veteran had exposure to organic solvents as specified for a continuous period of at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, where the clinical onset occurred within two years of that period.

39789   the veteran has established the causal connection between exposure to organic solvents and operational service for the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

39792 the veteran had exposure to organic solvents as specified after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and for a continuous period of at least five years before its clinical worsening, where the clinical worsening occurred within two years of that period.

39790   the veteran has established the causal connection between exposure to organic solvents and operational service for the clinical worsening of depressive disorder.

Clinical onset and operational service [39789]

39793 the veteran's exposure to organic solvents as specified for a continuous period of at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, where the clinical onset occurred within two years of that period, was materially contributed by operational service.

39796 the veteran's exposure to organic solvents as specified for a continuous period of at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, where the clinical onset occurred within two years of that period, which was materially contributed by operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical worsening and operational service [39790]

39794 the veteran's exposure to organic solvents as specified after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and for a continuous period of at least five years before its clinical worsening, where the clinical worsening occurred within two years of that period, was materially contributed by operational service.

39797 the veteran's exposure to organic solvents as specified after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and for a continuous period of at least five years before its clinical worsening, where the clinical worsening occurred within two years of that period, which was materially contributed by operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.