Scenario 2: The Veteran has a current diagnosis of sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea in Gulf War Veterans - Public Health Winning a VA Sleep Apnea is much harder. Chris, thank you for the posts and training videos you are providing to veterans. Most of the time, a person just deals with it for many years until they eventually go to a doctor and undergo testing. All Rights Reserved. Scenario 4: The Veteran has one or more conditions service-connected, and is claiming that those conditions CAUSED the sleep apnea. endstream endobj 42 0 obj <>stream If you were diagnosed with this condition while in the military, you have a straight forward shot for service connection. 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. Youll need to make the call on direct service connection versus secondary service connection. 7@$4hvF=/Y 9FsxS@*ia:?4AC,bT_r8{4 X|rGPr-N^j!DU 5|V!"D3Q)fE&Jl`Z9s^Hva$rq%[sRRw8r You can subscribe to his Veterans Disability channel on YouTube. Discuss your sleep issues with your primary care VA doctor and ask for a referral to a sleep specialist at the VA. 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, solid foundation of Lay and Medical Evidence, read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, Put it to Rest! 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. .{}p/=jyWG0j#kdLl%*~ P5O1A S-<9o2xmBV1 G(7H^1rnWI\8@I8w They denied injections the doctor recommended to ease my pain. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 To prove that sleep apnea is service connected,the smart Veteran isgoing to have to connect the dots for them. Tender lymph nodes usually in the neck and underarms. Can I Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Depression? Then present the proper records for service connection with a professional opinion on the Nexus of the sleep apnea. Its an entirely different thing to mix those ingredients so that they turn into a cake. 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! I spent nearly a yearresearching Veterans and their Sleep Apnea claims. hb```f``rb`a`} @ odoF@z&I*B{!C*!H12*0`$I +Nw`ubL6iF bICg!|F % 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. Most Veterans are not proving sleep apnea is service connected. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID), Presumption of Service Connection for Chronic Diseases, Common Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Learn what youve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation youve earned for your service. The biggest mistake most veterans make in their service-connection for sleep apnea claims is in expecting the VA to take them at their word. * Damage to the brain from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). 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. 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. Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. LIFETIME Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Quarterly Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Annual Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, there are 39 medical conditions common among Veterans thatcan cause or aggravate sleep apnea, result of other disorders or medical conditions, Sleep Apnea is going to be as big an issue for our current generation of Veterans. You DESERVE a HIGHER VA rating.WE CAN HELP. My next stop is going to be BVA, hopefully I dont have to go there without taking another bite at the DRO processes. Battle of DUAL-EXPERTS Chris, you called it!!! 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). document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2016 - VeteransLawBlog.org - All Rights Reserved | Terms & Conditions | Legal Disclaimer, The Veterans Law Blog is NOT a law firm. We cant possibly cover each of those and the ways to service connect all of them in this one article. I cannot get the sleep apnea connected. HE WAS A VET, HE AND I SERVED IN NELLIS AFB BEFORE I GOT OUT,the hard way. The examiner noted that a major cause of sleep apnea was weight gain and that the veteran weighed 155 pounds in service and 255 pounds in March 2013. * 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. 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. Not presumptively. endobj 3. Emerging research indicates a strong association between PTSD and sleep apnea.The link between sleep apnea and PTSD is likely due to the fact that many factors that aggravate PTSD also aggravate sleep apneaincluding sleep deprivation, insomnia, hyperarousal, and daytime sleepiness. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. I stated on my retirement physical that I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night. Required fields are marked *. Many civilian doctors have NO CLUE what a Nexus letter is or the importance of it! Not a lot of VSOs or advocates get this when helping a Veteran file a VA Claim. Jason Perkins, was my lawyer in a workers comp. 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. And then in three months, I got a response back, and it was a favorable response, and that just, that just blew me away. The best way to receive a VA disability compensation rating for sleep apnea is to provide the following information along with your claim: While the VA has begun to show a greater understanding of sleep apnea in veterans, the hard truth is that the VA has still not proven itself to accept the full range of how sleep apnea can manifest. Therefore, a well-crafted nexus letter for sleep apnea is the single most crucial document a veteran can provide the VA adjudicator to help prove service connection on an at least as likely as not basis. THANK YOU AGAIN. 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. I told you at the beginning I wantto change your thinking. Need a C&P exam for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD? without his BI-PAP MACHINE,one up from CPAP,which i have. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Theres lots of literature available to back it up. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection. If I accomplish one thing in this post, it is to change the way thatyouthink about yourVA Disability Claim for sleep apnea. I read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, BVA Decisions and Veterans Court Decisions. * How do I appeal the VAs denial of my Sleep Apnea? How you mix them is the hard part. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 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. And you are going to have to presentit neatly andpersuasivelyto the VA. A medical opinion will be necessary to show these causative connection, and you will want to first service connect the sinusitis, and then argue that the OSA is secondary or argue that the OSA is secondary to the bronchitis. See id. 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. 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 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. . Thats what you REALLY need you need the RECIPE for proving that sleep apnea is service connected. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Along with a direct Nexus, it is also possible to win a sleep apnea claim by claiming it as a secondary condition. 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. I can teach you: * HOW toproveyour Sleep Apnea Claim for any ofthe 3 types of Sleep Apnea you have. I can teach you how to do that. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Ann Margaret really took the time to explain things to me. Sleep apnea comes in different forms, but the most common type with veterans is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Gulf War Illness and Presumptive Service Connection. These pauses can happen several times an hour when the apnea is severe. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! I awake countless time at night due to this. The BEST Path to Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. This illness can be hard to diagnose due to its seemingly unrelated symptoms, but do not let that discourage you. Contact Us 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. Weve supported more than 15,000 veterans to win their claims and increase their ratings. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! In fact, winning your VA sleep apnea claim can feel like you just led your team to victory in the World Cup. I talked to several doctors about the causes and limitations of sleep apnea. OY&/Ov{"3 tz0{r F~2AhtAMR|ED8l .~h7564Ri;:4UY)')dXxrDWm If you need assistance in appealing your claim for CFS,let us know here! lh20EnM.svSI}][PFkaq-h;qm,=4b~7d #XEBJkb8_]3VL ,zYvA "FJh=2b6`E\ouXj/'|fg Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 Sleep Apnea Secondary to GERD - The Expert's Guide - VA Claims Insider 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. 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 Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during the course of sleep. If you need a lawyer, fill out a contact form at the law firm of Attig Steel: https://www.attigsteel.com/contact-us/. For doing an awesome job. I dont want you to think about the EASY path to proving Sleep Apnea is service connected. Ask your private doctor for a referral to a sleep specialist in your area (a good option if you have private health insurance). Either way, Veterans have an uphill fight to get their sleep apnea service-connected. They denied extra physical therapy. Have sleep apnea, AO esposed, 65 in VN; being treated for mild PTSD for one & 1/2yrs. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Newonset of debilitating fatigue severe enough to reduce daily activity to less than 50% of the usual level for at least six months. 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. Sleep studies can be done to rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or other sleep disorders preventing restful sleep. See our tips on how to obtain a credible nexus letter, Both sinusitis and rhinitis are linked to sleep apnea, Emerging research indicates a strong association between PTSD and sleep apnea, You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, Disrupted breathing in which a persons respiration can become labored or even stop for up to a minute at a time, Limited attention span or difficulty thinking clearly, Snoring, including snoring that is especially loud and involves gasping, choking, or snorting that may cause a person to briefly wake up, #1. <>stream I also have central and obstructive sleep apnea which has been denied service connection. There is no cure for Chronic Fatigue syndrome but medications can be prescribed to help with depression along with physical therapy. There are three types, obstructive, central, and mixed. My claim was approved first time submitting. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: The proper medical explanation of the origin of the veterans sleep apnea, Lay AND Medical detailing of the symptoms experienced from sleep apnea affecting the veteran since the onset of the condition in the service until the present day. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Learn what youve been missingso you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation you deserve! %PDF-1.4 I haven't met anybody, who's been in the military, who's worked with the VA who couldn't benefit from this service. 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. Below is the schedule for rating . New Rule allows Presumptive Service Connection for Veterans particulate matter (burn pit) claims. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Finally, please remember that email may not be secure and may be subject to review by unwanted intruders. The polysomnography study records your brain waves, the oxygen levels in your blood, your heart rate and breathing, and eye and leg movements, among other criteria. I talked to hundreds of Veterans who had been denied VAsleep apnea compensation. To prove that sleep apnea is service connected, the smart Veteran is going to have to connect the dots for them. The Veteran was granted entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder in a May 2016 rating decision. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. 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. This will confirm a medical diagnosis and current symptoms, especially if theyve become more severe over time. f%Ygaz~u&d_',BB)Kw4(wb B @WxW4]XE 8L>kq t#]NGW{#}|_ g#0 oZ)OZLmx JqW2! /kso-v"b688Me ) In our experience, OSA denials are almost always due to one or more of these five gaps: Fortunately, there are simple strategies you can employ to address these factorseven if the VA has already denied your VA claim for sleep apnea. Veterans Court reminds the VA: the BVA must adjudicate the logically related informal claim. It's almost as much work - and it can often take as much dedication. 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. In a study of veterans, PTSD symptom severity increased the risk of screening positive for OSA. Veterans with CPAP machines have often fallen into the trap of believing that their use of the CPAP will be enough to qualify their claim with the VA. uuid:7e8f97fd-fbb3-41de-a1ee-403277269d1a 67 0 obj <>stream 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. 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. 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. 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. We share our top tips and a step-by-step guide to a successful claim for obstructive sleep apnea! That's what Veteran Lee G. did - Lee's VA claim changed when he read my Sleep Apnea book: "Chris gave me the knowledge to file a claim for Sleep Apnea. VA Disability for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Sinusitis | CCK Law Regulation Update: VA Ratings for Kidney Disease and Renal Dysfunction. The same can be said about service-connected mental health conditions. 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. Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation theyre due. Or perhaps when they realize that Sleep Apnea is going to be as big an issue for our current generation of Veterans asAgent Orange related conditions are to Vietnam Veterans, they will take it seriously. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. 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. How to Connect Sleep Apnea to Military Service. That is, until he damaged his knees in-serviceand had to geta knee replacement at amilitary hospital. I do not response to Individual claim and legal questions, although I do catalog them for post / video ideas. Theres so much information, so many Veterans, and so much delay that it sometimes feels like this battle will never end. Long term chronic sleep apnea can cuse the heart to work harder, thus causing it to enlarge. HV6+jsl1q$=Yn3 N>% YQUVUOICzR4'By!-v'QZI`+2c.T\`~]Klovk*\3x9$vx%C _FjOBFECxm]WoZ>H*:zR/yuY(r( I filed NOD in early 2017 request an informal DRO. But remember the ultimate goal to win your VA disability compensation claim. 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.
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