A sleep study is critical to confirming whether you meet the clinical diagnostic criteria for sleep apnea. 7@$4hvF=/Y 9FsxS@*ia:?4AC,bT_r8{4 X|rGPr-N^j!DU 5|V!"D3Q)fE&Jl`Z9s^Hva$rq%[sRRw8r . How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Hepatitis C also causes insulin resistance. What about PTSD? I stated on my retirement physical that I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night. Complimentary therapies such as meditation, gentle massage, deep breathing, or relaxation therapies may be beneficial to help reduce symptoms. 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. Just had C& P exam for sleep apnea. Here, nexus is the connection between your service and the current diagnosis of sleep apnea. You may eventually get there on your own, but it may be after a series of decisions by the Regional Office and Board of Veterans Appeals. Along with the record of the potential cause must also be a proven medical link between sleep apnea and the occurrence. z`tsd#Ex>@"A"M@+5;$ Your VA rating for chronic fatigue syndrome will be higher the worse, or more severe, your symptoms are. Some people have developed CFS after having a viral infection like Epstein Barr virus, Herpes virus 6, and mouse leukemia virus, but there has been no conclusive evidence. Perkins Studdard LLC makes no representation that it can obtain the same results as reported in cases on this web site in other legal matters. Sleep apnea is a medically complex disorder. Were here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. Since there is no cure for CFS the treatment focuses on relief of the symptoms. No current medical diagnosis (within the last 12 months), or improper diagnosis, #3. While an OSA disability claim secondary to sinusitis/rhinitis is an easier path, veterans who are service-connected for PTSD (or other mental health conditions) are eligible for secondary service connection for their sleep apnea, and its possible to achieve an OSA disability claim secondary to PTSD with the right strategy and credible medical evidence. Required fields are marked *. If you were diagnosed with this condition while in the military, you have a straight forward shot for service connection. HV6+jsl1q$=Yn3 N>% YQUVUOICzR4'By!-v'QZI`+2c.T\`~]Klovk*\3x9$vx%C _FjOBFECxm]WoZ>H*:zR/yuY(r( For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Even if yours is obstructive sleep apnea like we discussed here, there are still other ways to service connection other than proving you had sleep apnea in service. After that knee replacement, he could no longer lift weights;thesudden weight gain the resulted caused his obstructive sleep apnea. Ann Margaret really took the time to explain things to me. 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 ?). Theres so much information, so many Veterans, and so much delay that it sometimes feels like this battle will never end. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 3. While youmay have been a loud snorer or had other sleep difficulties in service that are normally associated with sleep apnea, if you are like most service members you probablydid not undergo a sleep study and get a formal diagnosis before your discharge from service. 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. But most veterans are not service-connected for this sinus condition. Sleep apnea is extremely common among veterans, as the disorder is frequently caused or exacerbated by time in service. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices c}gn7 Ds?4S&}eLg\Qz}3l>tN`MA&DDz5:/v It is common to have a range of motion (ROM) exercises, stretching a few minutes each day and steadily increase to build a tolerance. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 HWnH}W#zx 8Fb$vhjKLdRCR6-kf$}9u/U(XVX= eX5e2by=t-V?l*_?,?C&{u&Q,E1[x3")KYdXD@Q2+x."]}0uLB!_ne\Ya)y,"k"Q>bV7mWnXQn ZDE(WQ 8mSNMj;vwWoDL-y9mxC~`S3t|4[& S/.TWGaxUtbw>Hk :LfNo`BYL2%*{6GuTP rzY9y+%Koa(+Ja.'Xg Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. If you are already service-connected for your knees or your back, you are likely not as active as you once were. In order to help you with your secondary claim, we have put together this Insiders Guide! For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Even if youve been denied before, its not too late! Winning a VA Sleep Apnea is much harder. This may cause dizziness, weakness, fainting while standing or sitting, as well as vision becoming blurry or seeing spots. Long term chronic sleep apnea can cuse the heart to work harder, thus causing it to enlarge. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. The third part can be satisfied with a nexus Letter from a qualified medical professional, as noted above. However, if you use one, it does provide you with a higher rating. You can lose a kidney, and live a full and complete life. At VA Claims Insider, we help you understand and take control of the claims process, so you can get the rating and compensation youre owed by law. put your Sleep Apnea Claim together right. Direct service connection for sleep apnea may be granted for veterans who can show that their sleep apnea began in service using service medical records, and by providing a nexus opinion from a qualified medical professional that links sleep apnea to events or exposures in service. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. endstream endobj 39 0 obj <> endobj 40 0 obj <> endobj 41 0 obj <>stream Not only does the VA provide compensation, but once you receive a service-connection for it, it provides a way to get other disabilities to service-connected. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. I talked to hundreds of Veterans who had been denied VAsleep apnea compensation. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection. Closely followed by PTSD, Hearing Loss, Tinnitus and TDIU. Heck, I get an email or more a day from a Veteran that says this: My Sleep Apnea claimwas not granted. Do I Need a CPAP Machine to be Service-Connected? I dont want you to think about the EASYway to Service Connect Sleep Apnea anymore. When I turned my case over to Jason things turned around, QUICK. By doing this your claim will have the best chance possible. Viet Nam Vet. Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can have a huge impact on a persons life and those around them. FREE tips for Veterans to stay However, this has been thoroughly disproven. My sleep apnea is worsened when I lie on my back and I still have loss of breath. 2 0 obj * Many Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange suffer from sleep apnea. 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). And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. What the doctor may do is multiple laboratorytests to rule out some other underlying cause. Here are some common symptoms of sleep apnea: Contrary to the myth, sleep apnea does not need to be diagnosed while on active duty. 38 U.S.C.A. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Youre welcome, Sam! * WHERE to get the Lay Evidence that will give REAL POWER to your Sleep Apnea Claim. Hot Dogs for Heroes 4th of July Event This Thursday! Problems with sleep which include not being rested after sleep or difficulty staying and/or falling asleep. His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. 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. In fact, winning your VA sleep apnea claim can feel like you just led your team to victory in the World Cup. Another theory is a hormonal imbalance because elevated hormones are seen in the blood work of those who have CFS, but the importance of this is unknown as well. Secondary Service Connection Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 If you would like a free consultation with our Perkins Studdard veterans disability attorneys just click here or give us a call to begin the process. endobj One of the most common service-connected sleep disorders is sleep apnea, which is a sleep-related breathing disorder. Has camp Lejeune exposures been linked to sleep apnea? The information contained on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and not legal advice. FromApril 2013 to April 2014, the BVA denied 76% of Veterans Sleep Apnea appeals. If there is a way for us to improve our claims to get more granted for Vets with "GWI", rest assured, you will find it on the Veterans Law Blog. NOT GOING TO GIVE UP, I filed a FOIA for a copy VA experts opinion in preparation for another NOD, this time Im requesting a formal face to face meeting with DRO. FREE tips for veterans to stay protected, calm and informed % Take a look at my VA Sleep Apneabook learn all you can about PROVING and IMPROVING your VA Sleep Apnea claim. 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. I haven't met anybody, who's been in the military, who's worked with the VA who couldn't benefit from this service. * A 5-Star medical opinion, resting on 5-Star Lay and Medical Evidence, that demonstrates HOW your Sleep Apnea is related to military service. I have sleep apnea and emphysema. 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. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Tender lymph nodes usually in the neck and underarms. Wc%X$(:ss!LCO^?4d *$ Finally, please remember that email may not be secure and may be subject to review by unwanted intruders. You're not alone. When Daniel laid it out and told me almost specifically, "Here's your timeline, here's how you do it, "here's what you do, here's what you need, "here are the things that you need," that sealed the deal. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And I found that MOST Veterans with Sleep Apnea claims and appealsfit into 1 of 4 common scenarios. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. UNFORTUNATELY HE DIED.! There are three types, obstructive, central, and mixed. You are going to have to get a LOT of 5-Star Evidence. Can I Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Depression? A/8un$zjHNSPU%=8HF Z*v@l(?6Nx/ Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. This type of sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. They think of Sleep Apnea as a disease of the obese, and then they tell them one of the big Fairy Tales about VA Claims. Lesson #4: More VeteransShould be Able toService ConnectSleep Apnea. Not a lot of VSOs or advocates get this when helping a Veteran file a VA Claim. * Damage to the brain from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear? Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most noticeable signal for those who live alone. When filing a VA disability Claim for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome there are specific things the VA has to see before service connection can be considered and disability compensation granted. I have a diagnosis and a CPAPwhy arent they granting my claim?. Honestly, they are just saying it. You will then need an expert medical opinion that shows these symptoms back then in service were probably sleep apnea even though you had not been diagnosed at the time. In September 1978, she was granted service connection for bilateral chondromalacia, a breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint that causes pain when bones . In this article, well help you understand the top 5 reasons OSA claims are deniedand even better, what to do about it if youve received a denial for your OSA claim. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Because of this all veterans hoping to receive a disability compensation rating from the VA should take the responsibility of connecting the dots for the claim themselves. OSA secondary to PTSD (or other mental health claim) is a more challenging claim to make, but it is still a top candidate for secondary service connection of sleep apnea. I want you to think about the BEST Path to proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. But remember the ultimate goal to win your VA disability compensation claim. fight to get their sleep apnea service-connected. 0 Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke), diabetes, depression, and headaches, among others. Heres what I mean in BVA decision after BVA decision, I saw examples ofVeterans that take a look at the VA Ratings Tables, see that they can get a 50%VArating for sleep apnea with CPAP. 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. VADisability Benefits for Chronic Fatigue, Fatigue not relieved by sleep or bed rest which was not always present throughout life. 201 Bankhead Highway, Carrollton GA 30117770-285-1198. How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed? *To prove your Sleep Apnea is service connected without a sleep study in the military? Here are a few examples of how Sleep Apnea has affected Veterans from all different eras of service: * Don D. (he asked me not to use his real name) served mostly during the Cold War was in the best physical shape of his life he was an avid weight-lifter. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. These are sometimes referred to as a crash, relapse, or collapse, and some patients can tell when they will happen. Along with a direct Nexus, it is also possible to win a sleep apnea claim by claiming it as a secondary condition. It's almost as much work - and it can often take as much dedication. Battle of DUAL-EXPERTS Chris, you called it!!! Elizabeth M. Walsh appeals the Board's denial of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea. How you mix them is the hard part. Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 2-9% of adults (about 15 million Americans) but is believed to be frequently undiagnosed. Jessica Rodriguez has a degree in Health Information Management and has 15+ years of experience in patient care as a Nurses Assistant. endstream endobj startxref Scenario 4: The Veteran has one or more conditions service-connected, and is claiming that those conditions CAUSED the sleep apnea. %PDF-1.4 % 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. I was diagnosed with OSA 10 years after separation. I do not response to Individual claim and legal questions, although I do catalog them for post / video ideas. Even if youve had a sleep study before, its important to get one done within the 12 months prior to your VA claim. Sounds easy enough, right? A medical nexus (i.e., link) between their sleep apnea and the in-service event, injury, or illness; Once service connection is awarded, sleep apnea is then rated under 38 CFR 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6847 - Sleep Apnea Syndromes (obstructive, central, mixed). In our experience, if you did NOT have a sleep study while on active duty and you did not get a medical diagnosis of sleep apnea in the military, you should only attempt to service-connect your sleep apnea VA claim SECONDARY to another service-connected disability. IN THE APPEAL OF . Its an essential piece of evidence. entitlement to service connection for nerve damage to the bilateral lower extremities, to include as due to Gulf War illness, and, if so, whether the claim should be granted. Thanks for your concern and the blog. Heres 4 lessons I learned that I want to pass on to you if you can really learn and understand these lessons, you will have the power to really improve and service connect sleep apnea claims and appeals. The same can be said about service-connected mental health conditions. Its no secret, I have written THE book onhow to file a VAdisability claim for sleep apnea. Cardiomegaly enlargement of the heart makes me thing of a damage resulting from a chronic sleep apnea condition. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. 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. . caused or made worse by your active duty military service OR. All Rights Reserved. Without a CPAP machine, the VA assigns a 30% rating. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! The resulting reduction in sleep quality and in the bodys supply of oxygen can have serious consequences on health and quality of life. I also have central and obstructive sleep apnea which has been denied service connection. Simple tasks that we take for granted every day may cause great exhaustion for those with CFS. Learn how your comment data is processed. There is no cure for Chronic Fatigue syndrome but medications can be prescribed to help with depression along with physical therapy. 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 That is how I suggest you handle this situation. For instance, often sleep apnea presents itself in those who have been suffering from PTSD. I met with my expert who offered opinion on my behalf and she was amazed by the decision, but not surprise by the level in which the VA are denying veterans SP claims. This is what is called the Nexus. <>stream If you use a CPAP machine, then this should warrant a 50% rating. For instance, if you complain of being tired all the time your doctor may order blood tests to check for anemia, diabetes, and hypothyroidism all of which cause fatigue. Winning a VA claim to service connect sleep apnea is hard. You only need to establish that your sleep apnea is at least as likely as not: A nexus letter is an evidence-based document prepared by a medical professional that helps to establish a connection between the veterans current disability and either military service (for direct service connection) or another rated disability (for secondary service connection). You are going to have to think through your case as objectively as you possibly can. Chills and night sweats as well as low-grade fevers. protected, calm and informed In September 1978, she was granted service connection for bilateral chondromalacia, a breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint that causes pain when bones . I read his information, submitted medical documents, receiveda Letter of Nexus or comments from a VA contractor doctor. Thinking and memory issues such as not able to think quickly, difficulty remembering things, and unable to pay attention to details. Even a previous diagnosis may not be accepted by the VA without a sleep study. This may be even easier for you now because of a new VA new rule as of August 2, 2021. Your first step is to be absolutely sure about what type of apnea you have. Winning a VA Sleep Apnea is much harder. To prove that sleep apnea is service connected, the smart Veteran is going to have to connect the dots for them. And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. This is because sleep apnea is abnormally difficult to prove as a disability that is service-connected.