Proving Service-Connection for Sleep Apnea - VA Claims Insider You are going to have to get a LOT of 5-Star Evidence. Microsoft Word 2010 How to Connect Sleep Apnea to Military Service. lJ[bKeZ?LF;$Zm]=_v-ed,4cX'fd dx|F'bow+P2]yt?d(,"O49&ZSrN Alow4Qg, =5j6y-|#@T0^])0lVLi>C %+QYY/8.+9 } u& 5t=tibdx:TD?pXg,Q>UR{KE|/K(*k Sounds easy enough, right? I learned that to win your Sleep Apnea claim, you are going to have to put your Sleep Apnea Claim together right. Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected its the one thing I hear more about from Veterans than any other topic. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Worsening of symptoms while sitting upright or standing, known as Orthostatic Intolerance. Broadly, it's defined as the occurrence of five or more breathing-related "events" per hour, measured by polysomnography (sleep study). Need a C&P exam for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD? * Can I service connect sleep apnea without a sleep study in service? The second part can be satisfied with your existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher. Elizabeth M. Walsh appeals the Board's denial of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea. Not a lot of VSOs or advocates get this when helping a Veteran file a VA Claim. As this represents a total grant . There is evidence of sleep breathing problems in-service, in the Veterans service medical records, or lay evidence of these problems during the period of military service, but no diagnosis of Sleep Apnea in-service. VA Disability for Sleep Apnea: Proving Service Connection After that knee replacement, he could no longer lift weights;thesudden weight gain the resulted caused his obstructive sleep apnea. The question raised in this case is whether this "intermediate step" is limited to . * What if it wasnt diagnosed until years after service can I service connect it then? hbbd```b``"A$,^&d4dZ0;LI`2A`6H9!`qF' 0 We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. A couple things you mention are worth exploring: Damage to the nasal or breathing passages, like chronic sinusitis or bronchitis, can cause OSA. To prove that sleep apnea is service connected, the smart Veteran is going to have to connect the dots for them. 2 0 obj The VA uses two options for rating most sleep apnea claims. Contact Us The BEST Path to Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. . 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. PDF UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS No. 18-0495 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. No current medical diagnosis (within the last 12 months), or improper diagnosis, #3. It is common to have a range of motion (ROM) exercises, stretching a few minutes each day and steadily increase to build a tolerance. Source: Department of Veteran Affairs Regional Office New Orleans, LA. I talked to hundreds of Veterans who had been denied VAsleep apnea compensation. I haven't met anybody, who's been in the military, who's worked with the VA who couldn't benefit from this service. 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. If you have symptoms of OSA, consider obtaining a sleep study, also known as polysomnography. Andmy sleep study was not done in the military.. I filed to reopen my SA claim in 2016. I have sleep apnea diagnosed by the VA sleep study. This is described as being foggy by patients. This may be even easier for you now because of a new VA new rule as of August 2, 2021. Sometimes claims are appealed and remanded several times, which can cause a claim to drag on for years. Why? Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim 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. How you mix them is the hard part. I spoke with DRO via phone for 5min confirming she received my NOD and evidence. Chris, thank you for the posts and training videos you are providing to veterans. PTSD can cause insulin resistance (fasting Blood sugar results above 100 prove you have insulin resistance) and insulin resistance causes sleep apnea. I talked to several doctors about the causes and limitations of sleep apnea. * The SPECIFICEVIDENCEyou will need to prove another medical condition caused your sleep apnea. It only took three months. However, there are more causes of Cardiomegaly than sleep apnea, so you will want a doctors medical opinoino as to whether your Cardiomegaly is related to a chronic sleep breathing disorder, or has some other origin. No current sleep study within the last 12 months, #2. They denied injections the doctor recommended to ease my pain. Both sinusitis and rhinitis are linked to sleep apnea. These temporary breathing disruptions or lapses can occur from dozens to hundreds of times per night. The Holy Grail: An EASY Path to Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected? While proving service-connection for sleep apnea claim accepted is no longer as difficult as it once was, it still is wise to not take your chances and get it right the first time. * Damage to the brain from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Sleep apnea is extremely common among veterans, as the disorder is frequently caused or exacerbated by time in service. Sleep apnea comes in different forms, but the most common type with veterans is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 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. Your email address will not be published. This is what is called the Nexus. I also have central and obstructive sleep apnea which has been denied service connection. .{}p/=jyWG0j#kdLl%*~ P5O1A S-<9o2xmBV1 G(7H^1rnWI\8@I8w I tried going it alone and the insurance carrier pushed me around. Therefore, records of an in-service injury, illness or other events that could have caused the sleep apnea condition are essential. A credible nexus letter fulfills one of the requirements for secondary service connection for sleep apnea: medical nexus evidence establishing a connection between the service-connected disability and the current disability (sleep apnea). endobj Heck, I get an email or more a day from a Veteran that says this: My Sleep Apnea claimwas not granted. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 What about PTSD? HV6+jsl1q$=Yn3 N>% YQUVUOICzR4'By!-v'QZI`+2c.T\`~]Klovk*\3x9$vx%C _FjOBFECxm]WoZ>H*:zR/yuY(r( I am also service connected for chronic bronchitis with a rating of 0 %. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! VA denied it again (2nd) in late 2016 No treatment in service, VA totally ignoring evidence submitted. Sleep studies can be done to rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or other sleep disorders preventing restful sleep. 0 Thats what Sleep Apnea does while you are sleeping, you stop breathing. protected, calm and informed You can also check out our 2022 Facebook live video on the Top 5 Causes for OSA Denials and How to Fix Them! Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully-developed claim (FDC)so you can increase your rating faster! Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. The VA is also wary of the fact that sleep apnea may well have been a condition suffered by the veteran before their time in the military. Long term chronic sleep apnea can cuse the heart to work harder, thus causing it to enlarge. Sleep Apnea Secondary to GERD - The Expert's Guide - VA Claims Insider But most veterans are not service-connected for this sinus condition. 38 0 obj <> endobj Medical opinions will be CRUCIAL, as these are not NECESSARY connections. Take a look at the Sleep Apnea eBook when it comes out I think you will find a lot of informaiton that will help you understand better the many different paths and proofs for service connection of Sleep Apnea. ZB{hp!=Uds~$?4Af%E)L:va4Hc_?qaH }q?OFI>4 7Q3 1 0 obj I got a 50% rating. One of the most straightforward ways to achieve service connection of a particular disease or disability is to show that you had that disease or disability while in service. 4 0 obj sleep apnea is not the kind of disability associated with a wounded warrior. Many veterans receive wrongful denials when they apply for service connection for sleep apnea. Dear Mr Attig: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 This is in order to be officially diagnosed. %PDF-1.4 % One step at a time, one claim at a time, one veteran at a time.we vets are winning!! High blood pressure or hypertension can be easily developed due to stress acquired in active duty. Finally, please remember that email may not be secure and may be subject to review by unwanted intruders. In our opinion, the only time a veteran should pursue direct service connection for sleep apnea is if you had a sleep study performed while on active duty, which confirmed the presence of a sleep apnea condition (medically diagnosed) during active-duty service. 4 Common Scenariosfor Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected.
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