Proving Service-Connection for Sleep Apnea. Many Veterans suffering from emotional distress overeat and lack the motivation to work out. Your voice is important especially when it comes to your own health care. No proof of service connection (missing a nexus letter), #4 Lack of active-duty documentation and medical evidence, #5 Filing for direct service connection vs secondary service-connection (secondary to an already service-connected disability). Chris, thank you for the posts and training videos you are providing to veterans. If youve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low ratingor youre unsure how to get startedreach out to us! 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Has camp Lejeune exposures been linked to sleep apnea? This type of sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. These temporary breathing disruptions or lapses can occur from dozens to hundreds of times per night. * WHAT evidencetouseandwhich path to Service Connectionto use. There are special rules regarding how a Sleep Apnea disability claim is treated by the VA. It's harder to get than it used to be, and there are more regulations. Along with a direct Nexus, it is also possible to win a sleep apnea claim by claiming it as a secondary condition. If you are hurt at work, this is the firm you want on YOUR side. UNFORTUNATELY HE DIED.! Give us a call at 800-477-9027 to see if we can help you. * Can Agent Orange cause Sleep Apnea? Many veterans receive wrongful denials when they apply for service connection for sleep apnea. DRO sided with VA expert (not surprise) who claimed SA was least likely as not occurred or caused by service, moreover, VA expert justified opinion by THE FOLLOWINGS;(time 12yrs since retirement, age 50 at the time of sleep study, and weight gain ?). I was diagnosed with OSA 10 years after separation. * How the VA willrate your sleep apnea condition after granting Service Connection. Its an essential piece of evidence. One step at a time, one claim at a time, one veteran at a time.we vets are winning!! See you on the inside! uuid:9ecae647-b430-492b-9ebf-3254b1d19b42 Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. They are ALL experiencing a Perfect Storm of Sleep Apnea problems: breathing disorders, mental health conditions, heart conditions and diabetes are all causing an epidemic of Sleep Apnea in our Vietnam Veterans. Both sinusitis and rhinitis are linked to sleep apnea. % However, this has been thoroughly disproven. fight to get their sleep apnea service-connected. That said, the key here is making the connection from service to diagnosis. Regardless of whether you are dealing with OSA, its important to pursue all the benefits available to you as a veteran. Even as Veterans Claims for Sleep Apnea soar, it is clear that theVA DOES NOT understand the full scope of how sleep apnea occurs, medically or factually. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. There are three types, obstructive, central, and mixed. There are 3 things that the human body cannot live or function without: Blood/Oxygen, Food/Water and Sleep. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Weight gain can be tied to several different conditions. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Make sure to have your sleep study done. * A good Lay and Medical presentation and assessment of the sleep apnea symptoms you have had from service, or service-discharge, to the present day. Because of my PTSD meds and sleep apnea I have gained considerable weight as well as an underactive thyroid. I got so many questions that I began to do a lot of research into how to service connect Sleep Apnea claims and what is happening with Sleep Apnea in the Veterans community. Of those who suffer from CFS, approximately one out of four will become bedridden or housebound for periods of theirillness. Want More Information about VA Sleep Apnea? Also see our post What is a Service-Connected Disability? What the doctor may do is multiple laboratorytests to rule out some other underlying cause. Jessica Rodriguez has a degree in Health Information Management and has 15+ years of experience in patient care as a Nurses Assistant. You can lose your arms and legs and still survive. This is where I come in. You can subscribe to his Veterans Disability channel on YouTube. The blockage is believed to occur when the muscles in the back of the throat become overly relaxed. If you have sleep apnea and sinusitis/rhinitis, your next step would be to get a doctors medical opinion supporting that your service-connected sinusitis/rhinitis caused or aggravates your sleep apnea. Service connection on a secondary basis requires evidence of aggravation or causation.This requires that the secondary disability be shown to be proximately due to or proximately aggravated by another service-connected disability. New Rule allows Presumptive Service Connection for Veterans particulate matter (burn pit) claims. Your email address will not be published. Once you are clear on the type of apnea, you should talk with your doctor further about what he or she thinks is the primary cause for it. Scenario 1: Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea First Occurs a Long Time after Service, with no evidence of sleep-breathing problems in the Military Service, or Military Medical, records. * Can I service connect sleep apnea without a sleep study in service? Cardiomegaly enlargement of the heart makes me thing of a damage resulting from a chronic sleep apnea condition. I dont know if Im authorize a second run at the DRO or go straight to BVA. * The importance ofamedical expert opinion in your Sleep Apnea claim. Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 2-9% of adults (about 15 million Americans) but is believed to be frequently undiagnosed. You're not alone. But if your doctor believes that your Sleep Apnea is somehow related to exposure to TCEs or benzene in the water at Camp Lejeune, then a good medical opinion would probably help you prove a direct service connection claim. There is evidence of sleep breathing problems in-service, in the Veterans service medical records, or lay evidence of these problems during the period of military service, but no diagnosis of Sleep Apnea in-service. I read hundreds of cases. As the patient, this can be a stressful time, which is why it is so important to tell your doctor all the symptoms you have even if they seem silly or strange. The independent opinion of a private medical professional can also influence the C&P examiners medical opinion, as well as the VA rating officials final disability decision. A current disability (medical diagnosis in medical records), An in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation; and, evidence of chronicity and continuity in your service treatment records and private treatment records, or, A medical diagnosis of sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study in VA medical records or private records (sleep study in past 12 months), Medical nexus evidence establishing a connection between. They were at all times attentive and on top of my case. Making the Sausage: Heres what you need to know about new VA Claims regulations. application/pdf In recent years this trend has begun to turn around, but it is still one of the more difficult conditions to win a disability compensation claim for. The VA uses two options for rating most sleep apnea claims. 3 Steps to Veteran Disability Benefits for Sleep Apnea, 6 Tips for Your C&P Exam for Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD, 3 Ways to Get a VA Rating for Insomnia (The Insiders Guide). Veterans can also prove service connection for sleep apnea by showing that their sleep apnea began in service using service medical records, or by providing a nexus opinion from a medical professional that links their current diagnosis of sleep apnea to signs or symptoms they experienced in service. hUmoF+1QNH6,65B.E]>XH?a8D Ht"B)\5H($>f_+:TPT!UBPTVR$Xz.c-sKGkzlYz;j&]&Lra)"6"x\?gY(5vZlbQn]wEutI&q$+}on~[]#mg])jqY_`jh]W7|E}Ag\SV I can teach you how to do that. Keep up the great work, and remember, the only way to lose is to give up! Some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea include: People who suffer from sleep apnea are often unaware of the breathing disturbances, finding out about them from a bed partner or roommate. Were Veterans helping Veterans Worldwide, and since 2016 weve helped 10,000+ Veterans just like you INCREASE their VA disability rating! If your situation is not like the one above, remember that this is only oneof the ways you may be able to win VA disability for sleep apnea. For a true diagnosis of CFS the patient must also have one of the two following symptoms: There are other symptoms that some but not all experience: Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be a bit tricky and understandably so because there is no set test to make the determination. Whats the VAs Problem with Sleep Apnea? The second part can be satisfied with your existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher. I did not have a va physical until about 13 years after seperation from service. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. As youve seen, claims for obstructive sleep apnea can be trickyyet important to pursue if youre suffering from this disability, so you can get the benefits you deserve and care you need. You will need strong lay evidence that establishes what symptoms you were having in service loud snoring, apneas (stopped breathing) followed by gasps for oxygen, dry mouth upon waking, daytime fatigue, etc. Youre welcome, Sam! A couple things you mention are worth exploring: Damage to the nasal or breathing passages, like chronic sinusitis or bronchitis, can cause OSA. For instance, the rating criteria for 100% disability rating for chronic fatigue syndrome detailing debilitating and incapacitating fatigue, cognitive impairments, or a mixture of other similar symptoms severe enough to restrict your daily life and self-care significantly. As a matter of fact, it may be easier to substantiate with medical records that the sleep apnea symptoms started after the diagnosis of diabetes. Dear Mr Attig: If youre experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, and suspect your sleep apnea arose from your time on active duty (or was or aggravated by a currently service-connected disability), you should consider seeking a diagnosis and pursuing compensation for this disability. solid foundation of Lay and Medical Evidence, read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, Put it to Rest! Instead, lets focus on one type of sleep apnea claim our firm has recently worked on to illustrate just oneof the ways to prove service connection of obstructive sleep apnea. Are you a veteran who suffers from sleep apnea? Below is the schedule for rating . All Rights Reserved. Below is the schedule for rating disability for Chronic Fatigue Sundrome. The VA then diagnoses sleep apnea and with the snap of a finger, the Gulf War Illness presumption disappears and the Veteran now has to prove service connection of his sleep apnea. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Battle of DUAL-EXPERTS Chris, you called it!!! The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Therefore, because the VA is particularly strict with claims regarding sleep apnea, it is highly recommended that you file your claim with as much evidence as you can obtain. Elizabeth M. Walsh appeals the Board's denial of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea. We share our top tips and a step-by-step guide to a successful claim for obstructive sleep apnea! This opens doors for many veterans who were unable to service-connect these respiratory conditions previously. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices <>/Parent 3 0 R/Type/Page/Contents 4 0 R/Tabs/S/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Font<>>>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Rotate 0>> Ask your private doctor for a referral to a sleep specialist in your area (a good option if you have private health insurance). While its not really hard to prove service-connection of your sleep apnea, its most certainly not easy: you are going to have to put in some work. Microsoft Word 2010; modified using iText 2.1.7 by 1T3XT I cannot get the sleep apnea connected. Which primary disabilities make the best claims for secondary service connection of sleep apnea? Physical therapy can be given to help maintain and improve mobility. Complimentary therapies such as meditation, gentle massage, deep breathing, or relaxation therapies may be beneficial to help reduce symptoms. * What if it wasnt diagnosed until years after service can I service connect it then? This is what is called the Nexus. Lesson #2: Sleep Apnea is affectinga LOTof Veterans. Heres WhyMost Veterans are not proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Regulation Update: VA Ratings for Kidney Disease and Renal Dysfunction. Sometimes claims are appealed and remanded several times, which can cause a claim to drag on for years. The same can be said about service-connected mental health conditions. sleep apnea is not the kind of disability associated with a wounded warrior. See R. at 8-9. We offer free resources and expertise to empower all Veterans. *A good medical understanding of the unique CAUSE/ORIGIN (what doctors call etiology) of YOUR sleep apnea. Also, to check for the cause of fatigue a doctor may do physical examinations such as an exercise stress test to check on the function of the heart and lungs. This will confirm a medical diagnosis and current symptoms, especially if theyve become more severe over time. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. You are going to have to think through your case as objectively as you possibly can. When seeking service connection, veterans will generally need to submit the following to VA: A current diagnosis of a condition; An in-service event, illness, or injury; and,