Veteran Gets 100% Pay Due to Chemical Exposure

William Griner is 80 years old and lives in Louisiana. He is a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran who served as an aircraft mechanic. A charismatic gentleman, Griner lives alone and is devoted to his faith. Unfortunately, he suffers from polyneuropathy of the extremities, which he attributes to in-service exposures to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), a solvent that’s used to clean aircraft and a known neurotoxin. 

Griner was just 10% service-connected when he began fighting to be fully service-connected for MEK exposure about five years ago. He was unsuccessful in getting a higher service connection on his own, despite medical nexus letters. “For years I was at 10%, and I kept trying to get help with the VA,” Griner says. “I went to see doctors seeking help. I joined VVA, but my rating remained the same; the VA [didn’t] agree on MEK, and I was still rated for polyneuropathy due to the old laws.”

Paula Tuero, lead Veteran Service Officer (VSO) for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), stepped in, getting to know Griner and learn about his claim. She helped the veteran apply for increases due to MEK exposure, as well as secondary conditions associated with polyneuropathy and his inability to work. Together, they submitted lay statements, nexus letters from private doctors and research about MEK’s effects on the nervous system. Tuero added a secondary benefit for depression and anxiety due to Griner’s frequent falls and challenges to his ability to perform normal daily duties. 

Griner’s rating was subsequently increased to 80%, and Tuero helped him apply for unemployability benefits. He started receiving 100% pay in January 2023 and also received more than $5,000 for his mental health claim due to polyneuropathy.

“[When] I met my current VSO, Paula Tuero, the ball started rolling,” Griner says. “I was able to get some increased ratings, add secondary conditions and finally be at 100% pay due to not being able to work. With this grant and the new compensation payments, I didn’t have to put a mortgage on my home to pay my bills! Instead, I was able to use this and pay some of the debts I had.”