VA Disability for Aircraft Fuelers and Fuel System Specialists: What Veterans Need to Know.

Working as a fueler or fuel systems specialist in the military often meant daily exposure to toxic chemicals, jet fuel vapors, and environmental hazards — all of which can lead to long-term health issues.
In this episode, we explore the types of conditions that can result from fuel exposure, how to establish a VA service connection, and what steps veterans can take to strengthen their claims for benefits.

Whether you fueled aircraft, vehicles, or storage systems, this episode will help you understand your options and what evidence you’ll need to get the compensation you deserve.

What is The Veterans Disability Nexus?

Welcome to The Veterans Disability Nexus, where we provide unique insights and expertise on medical evidence related to VA-rated disabilities. Leah Bucholz, a US Army Veteran, Physician Assistant, & former Compensation & Pension Examiner shares her knowledge related to Independent Medical Opinions often referred to as “Nexus Letters” in support of your pursuit of VA Disability every Tuesday & Wednesday at 7AM Central.

Take control of your medical evidence related to your benefits and visit https://podcast.prestigeveteranmctx.info/veteran/ for more information and to connect directly with us!

Leah bucholz: 00:01

Hey, guys. It's Leah B from Prestige Veteran Medical Consulting. I am a US army veteran, physician assistant, and former compensation and pension examiner. So today, wanna come on and discuss one of the most common, military army special specialties, occupational specialties, and that's petroleum supply specialists or fuelers. Right?

Leah bucholz: 00:18

So we've done a few videos in the past on different occupations like inventory, medics. We recently did one on MPs. Sometimes we do things on exposures like jet fuel. We've done jet fuel before, so this might kinda marry up to that one and and be a good video for you guys that have, had fuel handling in your day. And we've got a lot of positive feedback on this.

Leah bucholz: 00:40

So if you are a fueler, I'd love to hear what your insight is as to does this kind of align with some of the things that you experienced while you were on active duty? So I'm not sure if you guys knew that veterans who served as fuelers, also called petroleum supply specialists, may qualify for VA disability, you know, just like any other veteran, but specifically working around fuels and hazardous chemicals, it's it's not just another job. It can have lasting effects on your lungs, skin, and even long term health. Lots of MOSs handled fuel. I handle fuel all the time when I was a young medic.

Leah bucholz: 01:16

So it's it's not uncommon for all MOSs to handle it, but fuelers in general, petroleum supply specialists may have, a little bit more experience or more handling with those substances. So in today's video, we're gonna explain what fuelers do, the most common service connected conditions that we see in fuelers, how VA rates them, and what resources might be available for veterans. So let's try to understand the role of fuelers. So fuelers play a critical role in the military supplying, transporting, handling petroleum, oils, lubricants for vehicles, aircrafts, and equipment. So some day to day tasks often involve things like operating and maintaining fuel pumps, pipelines, and storage tanks, performing fuel quality testing, refueling aircrafts and ground vehicles in the field, working long hours around hazardous fumes and chemicals is is pretty common.

Leah bucholz: 02:10

So while essential, this work exposes service members to unique risks, including inhaling fuel vapors, skin contact with petroleum products, and increased accident, increased accident or burn risks. So let's talk about some of the literature. So what it what does the research show? So research has shown clear health risks associated with prolonged fuel exposure. So a 2019 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine study linked long term petroleum exposure to respiratory problems, skin conditions, and certain cancers.

Leah bucholz: 02:44

So VA and DOD studies have also found increased risk of chronic bronchitis, asthma, and neurologic symptoms among service members exposed to jet fuel and gasoline fumes. The National Academy of Sciences has reviewed evidence that benzene and other fuel chemicals are tied to leukemia and blood disorders. For fuelers, these risks are daily occupational hazards, pretty much daily, weekly, unless you're working outside of your MOS. You know, sometimes you can if you're a drill sergeant or if you're recruiting or on that kind of duty, maybe you had a little break, but, otherwise, it's probably gonna be a daily occupational hazard. And they don't always go away after your service.

Leah bucholz: 03:25

So what are some considerations for VA disability and fuelers? How does VA rate conditions related to fuel duties? So the VA doesn't have a special rating for fuelers, but veterans can claim disabilities related to their exposures or injuries. Commonly rated conditions include things like respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD, skin conditions such as dermatitis or chronic rashes from contact exposures. Cancers and blood disorders can be linked to petroleum exposures, like I mentioned earlier, like leukemia, neurologic symptoms such as headaches, memory problems, or peripheral neuropathy, burn injuries from accidents during fuel operations.

Leah bucholz: 04:11

Ratings depend on the severity. For example, asthma might be rated at ten percent, thirty, sixty, or even as high as a hundred percent depending on how often you need medications or hospitalizations. So what are some secondary service connection consideration? So fuelers may also be eligible for secondary service connection. So for example, respiratory problems can lead to sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease.

Leah bucholz: 04:36

Skin conditions can trigger chronic infections or scarring. Cancers or blood disorders may lead to anemia, fatigue, other secondary complications, depression, things like that. PTSD or anxiety may develop from hazardous work conditions or near miss accidents involving fire and explosions. Listing these secondary conditions in a claim can be beneficial for some veterans if they receive service connection for these. They can increase their disability ratings.

Leah bucholz: 05:05

So what are some challenges that veterans who served as fuelers may face? So fuelers face unique challenges when transitioning to civilian life. Some deal with chronic breathing problems that make physical jobs difficult. Others carry the burden of long term cancer screenings or treatment. Many face the uncertainty of whether their health problems are truly connected to their service.

Leah bucholz: 05:29

And because fuel exposure is not widely discussed as as, like, things like combat injuries, veterans often feel overlooked in the VA system. But the risks are real, and the VA does recognize them. So how do many veterans file claims? So va.gov has a really awesome, help doc that shows you how to file a claim. Any veteran can file their own claim, or you can work with an accredited VA professional, an accredited VA legal professional to assist you with that.

Leah bucholz: 05:56

So if you served as a fueler and you're filing a VA claim, you can, support it by things like listing your MOS and your occupational specialty to show show that direct fuel exposure. Getting your medical records may be helpful, documenting respiratory skin or neurologic issues if you were seen for those on active duty. Any kind of secondary condition that you may be experiencing, you may wanna talk to that legal professional to see if it's something that could be related to your service, like sleep apnea related to PTSD or that cardiovascular disease. So any lay statements from fellow service members about your fuel exposure or accidents in service may be helpful. The more evidence you provide, the more support you might have for your claim.

Leah bucholz: 06:40

So what are some resources for veterans that were petroleum supply specialists? So if you worked as a fueler, here are some resources. You can see the VA environmental health clinics for exams related to chemical exposures. You can see veteran service organizations like DAV, VFW. They can help you with your claims.

Leah bucholz: 07:01

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for studies or put on petroleum exposure. The Veterans Crisis Line is always available at 988, and then you press 1 if you're struggling with stress, from that chronic illness. So I wanna go over the MOS SmartBook, that DAPam611Dash21. We go over this often when we're talking about fuel just so you guys can look at some stuff because not everyone gets things documented when they're in service. So you can sort of look at this pamphlet, and it can show you, you know, about each occupational specialty, what are some of the things that are required for that MOS.

Leah bucholz: 07:39

So let me just pull this up. I get a lot of questions about, like, does this apply to other branches? And it's hard to say. I'm not really sure. I mean, all a lot of this is just subjective.

Leah bucholz: 07:50

Right? This is just my opinion that this can help, show you know, fill in some gaps potentially on some veterans. So hang on one second. Alright. So okay.

Leah bucholz: 08:06

The MOS SmartBook, this is it. So, I'm gonna just search petroleum, but you should be able to click on the MOS number. I just don't know what the MOS number is. So it's a 90 2. I should've known that.

Leah bucholz: 08:16

So petroleum supply specialist. So we're gonna go straight to here we go. Petroleum supply specialist. This kinda this overview is what the MOS is, but I like to look at the table 10 because this tells you by skill level what those physical requirements are per MOS. So it tells you at the skill level one, which is gonna be your e one through e four.

Leah bucholz: 08:45

It's gonna have task level one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, and it tells you they frequently lift 235 pounds, eight inches as part of a two soldier team. That's kind of a lot. Two thirty five, well, I guess, as part of a two man team, it might not be quite as bad, but it's still pretty heavy, and it's frequent. So frequently lifts a 100 pounds, four feet, and carries 50 feet, frequently pushes and pulls a 100 pounds, five feet, occasionally climbs and descends 50 feet, occasionally digs, lifts, and shove shovels 21 pound scoops of dirt, five by five feet while bending, stooping, or kneeling. Color vision must possess normal color vision, frequently inspects, visually and frequently writes reports and compiles data.

Leah bucholz: 09:30

So at these other skill levels, like skill level two is gonna be your sergeant or e five, they've gotta do all the same tasks. And then as you get up climb up in rank, your requirements are a little bit less. Right? So let me jump off this screen share. So that may be helpful for you to show, like, you didn't get go to sick call all the time.

Leah bucholz: 09:46

But, look, as a part of my job, I had to lift this stuff all the time, and that may help you try to back up what you're saying. You know, buddy statements can also be helpful like I mentioned before. So I hope this was helpful. Please drop some comments. Also, go check out my, jet fuel video if, you'd like to get a little bit more on fuel and how that can be related to different disorders.

Leah bucholz: 10:08

And please like and subscribe, and as always, thank you for watching. Alright. See you.