Were Veterans helping Veterans Worldwide, and since 2016 weve helped 10,000+ Veterans just like you INCREASE their VA disability rating! about the threat of COVID-19 Broadly, its defined as the occurrence of five or more breathing-related events per hour, measured by polysomnography (sleep study). 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. 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. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! I dont know if Im authorize a second run at the DRO or go straight to BVA. There are three primary ways for veterans to get a sleep study: Once youve finished your sleep study, its important to review your results with a sleep specialist to confirm whether you have a medical diagnosis of sleep apnea. This will confirm a medical diagnosis and current symptoms, especially if theyve become more severe over time. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Scenario 2: The Veteran has a current diagnosis of sleep apnea. 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. Closely followed by PTSD, Hearing Loss, Tinnitus and TDIU. * Damage to the brain from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Theres lots of literature available to back it up. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 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. How to Hire an Attorney For Your VA Claim or Appeal. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. 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. 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 use a CPAP machine, then this should warrant a 50% rating. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. You are going to have to think through your case as objectively as you possibly can. I recd another denial (3rd) Jun 30, 2017. Were Veterans, just like you, whove learned how to navigate within the VA system. As this represents a total grant . LIFETIME Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Quarterly Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Annual Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog. And you are going to have to presentit neatly andpersuasivelyto the VA. Cardiomegaly enlargement of the heart makes me thing of a damage resulting from a chronic sleep apnea condition. Take a look at my VA Sleep Apneabook learn all you can about PROVING and IMPROVING your VA Sleep Apnea claim. Broadly, it's defined as the occurrence of five or more breathing-related "events" per hour, measured by polysomnography (sleep study). VA denied it again (2nd) in late 2016 No treatment in service, VA totally ignoring evidence submitted. There are three types, obstructive, central, and mixed. When I turned my case over to Jason things turned around, QUICK. 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). How you mix them is the hard part. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Was your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) VA claim denied? yX;~yh- C[+olP,)bh\JV$wrl&JL4ikP4dBVLA&0czP\wA*ya1(2!hGVc~TldI0!Hvi,w*9ZE.#G"EmyU 6+((4c They were at all times attentive and on top of my case. 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). If you are a veteran and have been struggling with sleep problems, you may wonder if a VA sleep study is the right solution. %PDF-1.4 You are going to have to get a LOT of 5-Star Evidence. Dear Mr Attig: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Listen: you have got to know this: sleep Apnea is a complex medical condition, and presents differently in each and every Veteran. Thats what Sleep Apnea does while you are sleeping, you stop breathing. 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. Favorable BVA Case Law Precedent Example #2: Then present the proper records for service connection with a professional opinion on the Nexus of the sleep apnea. My expert agreed to write a rebuttal opinion to the VAs expert. Need help claiming this crucial part of your claim? Many conditions that are service related can cause obesity, like diabetes (and diabetes medications), depression, and injuries that result in lack of mobility. Lesson #2: Sleep Apnea is affectinga LOTof Veterans. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! 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. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 You will need to follow one of the paths to service connection, which will likely require lay evidence and expert medical evidence. How can you learn more about these things? PTSD can cause insulin resistance (fasting Blood sugar results above 100 prove you have insulin resistance) and insulin resistance causes sleep apnea. <>stream 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. yet assertive representation for our clients. See you on the inside! * WHERE to get the Lay Evidence that will give REAL POWER to your Sleep Apnea Claim. SvKve5.YmPE}=;vpb -GW2RN Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 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. solid foundation of Lay and Medical Evidence, read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, Put it to Rest! If you were diagnosed with this condition while in the military, you have a straight forward shot for service connection. This disorder can also lead to more complications like depression, social isolation, lifestyle restrictions, and an increase in absences from work/school. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 203, San Jose, CA 95134 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. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Otherwise, I would properly ended up in mental health facility or going insane!!! lh20EnM.svSI}][PFkaq-h;qm,=4b~7d #XEBJkb8_]3VL ,zYvA "FJh=2b6`E\ouXj/'|fg The VA uses two options for rating most sleep apnea claims. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! Jessica Rodriguez has a degree in Health Information Management and has 15+ years of experience in patient care as a Nurses Assistant. And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. 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. Sleep apnea is extremely common among veterans, as the disorder is frequently caused or exacerbated by time in service. aggravated beyond its natural progression by another service-connected condition (for secondary service connection). You do not have to be prescribed a CPAP machine to be service-connected for sleep apnea. Give us a call at 800-477-9027 to see if we can help you. 3. * The SPECIFICEVIDENCEyou will need to prove another medical condition caused your sleep apnea. HV6+jsl1q$=Yn3 N>% YQUVUOICzR4'By!-v'QZI`+2c.T\`~]Klovk*\3x9$vx%C _FjOBFECxm]WoZ>H*:zR/yuY(r( I filed to reopen my SA claim in 2016. * What if it wasnt diagnosed until years after service can I service connect it then? HtT0DRO`" m)R,aep/>An)`?52nZ^ 3x3Qeo3R}8'h-=d2efHCQ I have had cardiomegly X-rays while on active duty. I did not have a va physical until about 13 years after seperation from service. Many Veterans suffering from emotional distress overeat and lack the motivation to work out. Sleep apnea can be your link or nexus for filing claims for: Sleep apnea is a high-value claim in the VA world of ratings. And then in three months, I got a response back, and it was a favorable response, and that just, that just blew me away. The second part can be satisfied with your existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher. lJ[bKeZ?LF;$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 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. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Either way, Veterans have an uphill fight to get their sleep apnea service-connected. BVA Decision Since there is no cure for CFS the treatment focuses on relief of the symptoms. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you or a loved one suffers from CFS do not be afraid to report symptoms to your doctor. Contact Us The VA disability ratings for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 100% all dependent on the severity and other factors of your symptoms. I have sleep apnea diagnosed by the VA sleep study. *A good medical understanding of the unique CAUSE/ORIGIN (what doctors call etiology) of YOUR sleep apnea. VAs expert indicated the RISK-FACTORS of my SP was a results of what he had listed. endstream endobj 42 0 obj <>stream 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. Veterans Court reminds the VA: the BVA must adjudicate the logically related informal claim. 38 U.S.C.A. Service Connection for Sleep Apnea and Sinusitis To file any claim for VA disability benefits, veterans will generally first need to become service connected. Ann Margaret really took the time to explain things to me. Perhaps theyll have to spenda night with someone that suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, hear the suffocating snoring, experience the fear that the person will stop breathing altogether, they will continue to not take seriously claims for sleep apnea. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Most Veterans are not proving sleep apnea is service connected. c}gn7 Ds?4S&}eLg\Qz}3l>tN`MA&DDz5:/v When filing a VAdisability Claim for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome there are specific things the VA has to see before service connection can be considered and disability compensation granted. A sleep study is critical to confirming whether you meet the clinical diagnostic criteria for sleep apnea. Just had C& P exam for sleep apnea. Allergies or sensitivities to foods, odors, chemicals, or noise. I believe that the VA and BVA do not take Sleep Apnea seriously. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. From 2013-2014, the VA and BVA denied VAbenefits for sleep apnea in 76% of the appeals. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. 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. uuid:7e8f97fd-fbb3-41de-a1ee-403277269d1a In the year thatI spent researching theSleep ApneaField Manual, I learned that there are 39 medical conditions common among Veterans thatcan cause or aggravate sleep apnea. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection.