service connection for sleep apnea is granted service connection for sleep apnea is granted

In a study of veterans, PTSD symptom severity increased the risk of screening positive for OSA. ; claim denied; hearing aids supplied but disability denied;pre-diabetic; high blood pressure. Because of my PTSD meds and sleep apnea I have gained considerable weight as well as an underactive thyroid. In order to establish direct service connection for sleep apnea, a claimant must show that they have: a current, diagnosis of sleep apnea an in-service event or illness/injury a medical nexus or link that shows the veteran's sleep apnea is related to their in-service event, injury/illness. Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear? Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Hence, the weight gain. Most Veterans are not proving sleep apnea is service connected. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. The VA classifies Sleep Apnea as a disability for which compensation is granted. This may cause dizziness, weakness, fainting while standing or sitting, as well as vision becoming blurry or seeing spots. I stated on my retirement physical that I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night. I was diagnosed with OSA 10 years after separation. 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. Both sinusitis and rhinitis are linked to sleep apnea. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 YEP!!! * Many Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange suffer from sleep apnea. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. VA initially denied (1ST) my SA claim in 2014, I became a premium member in 2015 and followed your training guides step by step, medical expert opinion, 10 sworn declaration statements by family members, co-workers in service and post-service. <>stream These pauses can happen several times an hour when the apnea is severe. I can teach you how to do that. The VA uses two options for rating most sleep apnea claims. 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. I disagree. . San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during the course of sleep. I filed to reopen my SA claim in 2016. 2023-03-04T21:20:56-05:00 Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. Favorable BVA Case Law Precedent Example #2: No current sleep study within the last 12 months, #2. 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. OSA is a common denial veterans receive when pursuing a VA claim, but it doesnt have to beif you understand the condition and what your claim must include in order to be successful. Unfortunately, VA does not always apply the law correctly. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Digestion issues like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea. Any advice on getting sleep apnea service connected? I want you to think about the BEST path to proving that sleep apnea is service connected, and the BESTway to get the VA sleep apnea disability rating you are entitled to. While sleep apnea on its own can be difficult to connect, you have the option of connecting it to another condition already claimed. The question raised in this case is whether this "intermediate step" is limited to . HtT0DRO`" m)R,aep/>An)`?52nZ^ 3x3Qeo3R}8'h-=d2efHCQ (The Insiders Guide), Insider Tips: How to Schedule a Sleep Study with the VA. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! endobj Heck, I get an email or more a day from a Veteran that says this: My Sleep Apnea claimwas not granted. 2 0 obj The cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is unknown; however, there are a few theories as to what may cause this condition. If so, you may be eligible for VA disability for sleep apnea if you can show a nexus to your military service. This may be 20 or 30 years after the problems started. 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. Here are the ingredients to a properlydeveloped claim for sleep apnea: *A solid foundation of Lay and Medical Evidence showing when sleep apnea first began to present in the Veterans life. If you have central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea, the approach will be a little different since the science is different as well. and Coronavirus. Honestly, they are just saying it. Its an entirely different thing to mix those ingredients so that they turn into a cake. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. And then in three months, I got a response back, and it was a favorable response, and that just, that just blew me away. This illness can be hard to diagnose due to its seemingly unrelated symptoms, but do not let that discourage you. How you mix them is the hard part. And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. Jason is a excellent lawyer and if I ever need another one I would only go to Perkins,Because I believe they would be able to help me in any situation I am in need of.. However, most of the time, sleep apnea is a secondary claim. As this represents a total grant . We can helpreach out so we can show you how. When filing a VAclaim for CFS, the Department of Veterans Affairs has to see the onset of this fatigue is severe enough to reduce your routine daily activities to less than 50%, your medical history, and several symptoms that indicate CFS. If you are interested in avoiding unnecessary delay in your claim and want to do everything you can to maximize your chances of success, it is probably a good idea for you to consult with an accredited veterans disability attorney. 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. But remember the ultimate goal to win your VA disability compensation claim. One of the most common service-connected sleep disorders is sleep apnea, which is a sleep-related breathing disorder. I spoke with DRO via phone for 5min confirming she received my NOD and evidence. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! My next stop is going to be BVA, hopefully I dont have to go there without taking another bite at the DRO processes. I did not have a va physical until about 13 years after seperation from service. Are you a veteran who suffers from sleep apnea? Medical professionals did not have the medical capabilities to perform sleep study testing when they served. I talked to hundreds of Veterans who had been denied VAsleep apnea compensation. Winning a VA Sleep Apnea is much harder. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Strategic Veteran would like to help you sort out what you may be able to claim and the best way to go about it. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Dont make the mistake so many other veterans have. VA denied it again (2nd) in late 2016 No treatment in service, VA totally ignoring evidence submitted. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. put your Sleep Apnea Claim together right. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during the course of sleep. Scenario 2: The Veteran has a current diagnosis of sleep apnea. This is because sleep apnea is abnormally difficult to prove as a disability that is service-connected. 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. Keep us posted Im eager to hear how it turns out! To prove that sleep apnea is service connected, the smart Veteran is going to have to connect the dots for them. 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. endstream endobj 42 0 obj <>stream Studies have shown that it is morecommon for Gulf War Veteransin the Southwest Asia theater compared to non-Gulf War Veterans to develop CFS, but the reason for this remains unknown. Long term chronic sleep apnea can cuse the heart to work harder, thus causing it to enlarge. I talked to several doctors about the causes and limitations of sleep apnea. Elizabeth M. Walsh appeals the Board's denial of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea. Youre arent alone. %%EOF In fact, winning your VA sleep apnea claim can feel like you just led your team to victory in the World Cup. Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation theyre due. CFS is also known asSystemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID)and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is characterized by extreme fatigue without explanation from any other underlying condition. Many conditions that are service related can cause obesity, like diabetes (and diabetes medications), depression, and injuries that result in lack of mobility. This means they make their claim without providing much proof. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 How to Hire an Attorney For Your VA Claim or Appeal. However, if you use one, it does provide you with a higher rating. Making the Sausage: Heres what you need to know about new VA Claims regulations. I absolutely agree I think that Mr. Harris was way out of line, and was not educated about the issue he was commenting on. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. They denied extra physical therapy. Required fields are marked *. Then, watch this video of a former C&P examiner revealing her tips for getting your sleep apnea service-connected! Thanks to additions to the VA presumptive list, you may be able to presumptively service-connect rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis or asthma if you served in particular theaters during specified time periods. 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. Andmy sleep study was not done in the military.. In fact, sleep deprivation is a common form of torture, as many of us know all too well. Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most noticeable signal for those who live alone. 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. This disorder can also lead to more complications like depression, social isolation, lifestyle restrictions, and an increase in absences from work/school. High blood pressure or hypertension can be easily developed due to stress acquired in active duty. 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. (In one study, 69.2% of veterans were assessed as being at high risk for OSA.). For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Translation: 3 out of every 4 of youwill see your sleep apnea claims and appeals deniedunless you learn how to prove your Sleep Apnea Claim the right way. If you are a veteran and have been struggling with sleep problems, you may wonder if a VA sleep study is the right solution. Even if youve been denied before, its not too late! I cannot recommend Jason and his staff enough. Required fields are marked *. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Sleep studies can be done to rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or other sleep disorders preventing restful sleep. FREE tips for Veterans to stay Many Veterans suffering from emotional distress overeat and lack the motivation to work out. 1 0 obj Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Winning a VA claim to service connect sleep apnea is hard. You can lose a kidney, and live a full and complete life. 2020 Strategic Veteran All Rights Reserved. Kim was very helpful and any time I had a question she made sure I got an answer. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. Allergies or sensitivities to foods, odors, chemicals, or noise. 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. 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. LIFETIME Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Quarterly Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Annual Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog. For all about getting a VA rating for sleep apnea, see our post Your Sleep Apnea VA Rating A Guide to Getting a VA Disability Rating for Sleep Apnea. You DESERVE a HIGHER VA rating.WE CAN HELP. without his BI-PAP MACHINE,one up from CPAP,which i have. * SeveralDesert Storm, OIF, and OEF Clients have hadTraumatic Brain Injuries whichinterfere with how their Nervous System works, and as a result, have a different kind of Sleep Apnea (oversimplified, where the brains signals to breathe dont make it through to the lungs). Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Without a CPAP machine, the VA assigns a 30% rating. If you are lucky, you start breathing again. In order to help you with your secondary claim, we have put together this Insiders Guide! There are 3 ways to get it: Chris, 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. 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! She has always had a passion for helping others and found inspiration from those she cared for. z`tsd#Ex>@"A"M@+5;$ Ann Margaret really took the time to explain things to me. Broadly, its defined as the occurrence of five or more breathing-related events per hour, measured by polysomnography (sleep study). Anxiety and depression can interfere with sleep patterns. 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. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. 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). caused or made worse by your active duty military service OR. 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. I understand you want your VA claim to be done as quickly as possible. By showing that the sleep apnea was proximately caused or proximately aggravated by another service-connected disability you have a better chance of building your claim. <>/Parent 3 0 R/Type/Page/Contents 4 0 R/Tabs/S/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Font<>>>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Rotate 0>> My emphysema is connected. endstream endobj 39 0 obj <> endobj 40 0 obj <> endobj 41 0 obj <>stream Jessica joined the Hill and Ponton team in the summer of 2017 and was excited to use her skills to help veterans. 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). Most of the time, a person just deals with it for many years until they eventually go to a doctor and undergo testing. I want you to think about the BEST Path to proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. I talked to several doctors and sleep experts. All Rights Reserved. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. 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. 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. I think that far too many raters and BVA judges think of sleep apnea as made up medicine. Make sure to have your sleep study done. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke), diabetes, depression, and headaches, among others. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. 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. Second example.lets say the veteran has service connection for PTSD. Has camp Lejeune exposures been linked to sleep apnea? Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! * WHAT evidencetouseandwhich path to Service Connectionto use. Ill also show you: * The problem with your particular type of Sleep Apnea from the VAs perspective, * The Key Question to be resolved in EACH scenario, * Solutions to the Most Common Errors in Sleep Apnea claims. 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. Otherwise, I would properly ended up in mental health facility or going insane!!! Will be some time before answer but getting all the info I can. Symptoms of CFS include thinking and memory issues, orthostatic intolerance such as dizziness, weakness, fainting when upright, and much more. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 Your airway narrows and closes, leading to pauses in the breathing cycle. You do not have to be prescribed a CPAP machine to be service-connected for sleep apnea. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. 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. 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. VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. I haven't met anybody, who's been in the military, who's worked with the VA who couldn't benefit from this service. Thanks for your concern and the blog. I talked to hundreds of Veterans and read their C-Files to see where they went wrong. Therefore you should be well prepared before submitting your claim. about the threat of COVID-19 and Coronavirus. 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. Sounds easy enough, right? 7 0 obj yet assertive representation for our clients. VA claim for sleep apnea denied? Your VA rating for chronic fatigue syndrome will be higher the worse, or more severe, your symptoms are. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection. Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected its the one thing I hear more about from Veterans than any other topic. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. injury case. Hepatitis C also causes insulin resistance. I dont want you to think about the EASY path to proving Sleep Apnea is service connected. 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. This is described as being foggy by patients. * Can I service connect sleep apnea without a sleep study in service? Can I Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Depression? All Rights Reserved. endstream endobj 43 0 obj <>stream Even without a definitive cause of the disorder there are noted risk factors including being between the ages of 40-50, difficulty managing stress, and women are more commonly diagnosed (possibly because they report symptoms more often). 4 Common Scenariosfor Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. THANK YOU AGAIN. 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. A sleep study is critical to confirming whether you meet the clinical diagnostic criteria for sleep apnea. 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. 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). I dont want you to think about the EASYway to Service Connect Sleep Apnea anymore. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. If you have this condition, it causes the throat muscles to relax while sleeping. Jessica Rodriguez has a degree in Health Information Management and has 15+ years of experience in patient care as a Nurses Assistant. Which primary disabilities make the best claims for secondary service connection of sleep apnea? Ask your private doctor for a referral to a sleep specialist in your area (a good option if you have private health insurance). This opens doors for many veterans who were unable to service-connect these respiratory conditions previously. We would be happy to talk to you. Hot Dogs for Heroes 4th of July Event This Thursday! Your VA Sleep Apnea Claim, Ill give you the recipe for each of those 4 scenarios. Its over 165 pages long, and took 9 months of research. 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. <>/Parent 3 0 R/Type/Page/Contents 8 0 R/Tabs/S/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Font<>>>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Rotate 0>>