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). You can submit a rebuttal Statement In Support of Claim but this will probable result in continued denial. (The Insiders Guide). Sleep apnea treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition. The third part can be satisfied with a nexus Letter from a qualified medical professional, as noted above. 20 percent disability rating: $327.99 per month. 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. These sleep disturbances can occur from tens to hundreds of times per night. In this post we'll explore how to get a service connected VA disability rating for Sleep Apnea secondary to Anxiety, even if you've already filed, been denied, or gave up. Having a doctor connect your sleep apnea to your secondary service-connected disability will greatly improve your chances of winning a sleep apnea VA rating. In order to determine whether you should be referred for a sleep study, a doctor will first perform a physical exam, ask about symptoms, and collect your personal and family history. Learn what youve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation youve earned for your service. Do I need a nexus letter for sleep apnea? Can the VA take away my sleep apnea rating? I was however granted 10% for Asthma, as they said I would have gotten 30% if I had meds, which I did, and did submit that as evidence. Yes, sleep apnea can be service-connectedand will need to be service-connected in order for you to get a disability rating for sleep apnea. This examples proves my point, and it is one worth repeating: To recover VA disability compensation in your sleep apnea claim or appeal, first you must know and understand your sleep apnea diagnosis. Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Loud snoring Gasping for air during sleep Awakening with a dry mouth Morning headache Hypersomnolence, or excessive daytime sleepiness Difficulty concentrating Oftentimes, the symptoms of the three types of sleep apnea can overlap, making diagnosis more difficult. The nature of the diagnosis of sleep apnea narrows the in-service events that we focus on for nexus purposes. I applied for sleep apnea secondary PTSD about a year ago. These include: As youre gathering medical evidence to file your VA claim for sleep apnea, remember that just having a CPAP alone doesnt meet the VAs requirements for service connection. we represent clients nationwide. We can helpreach out so we can show you how. We share our top tips and a step-by-step guide to a successful claim for obstructive sleep apnea! 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. Sleep apnea was noted as the top claimed and granted respiratory condition. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. book: Put it to Rest: Your VA Sleep Apnea Claim. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke), diabetes, depression, and headaches, among others. A disability with a secondary service connection is a condition that was caused or made worse by an already existing service-connected condition. These temporary breathing disruptions or lapses can occur from dozens to hundreds of times per night. The team at Hill & Ponton may be able to assist you with a denial of benefits for sleep apnea. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. In a study of veterans, PTSD symptom severity increased the risk of screening positive for OSA. The major causes appear to be sleep deprivation and chronic stress. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! The constant interruption of breathing can lead to reduced sleep quality, short-term memory loss, irritability and even mood disorders, as well as major metabolic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. 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. How to Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Anxiety (The Insiders Guide), Can I Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Depression? Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. NOW ITS YOUR TURN. may be at higher risk for sleep apnea than the general population. However, VA has not identified literature to support inclusion of sleep apnea as a presumption at this time. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Her husband told her she would snore loudly and wake up in the night often stopping breathing. The VA Regional Office denied his claim. The causes of these disturbances may vary depending on which form of the condition you have: obstructive, central, or a mixed form of both. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Get a Free Case Evaluation, The Link between Sleep Apnea and Hypertension, VA Disability Ratings for Insomnia and Sleep Disturbances, Sleep Apnea Secondary Connection to PTSD VA Disability, Other Medical Conditions Sleep Apnea is Connected With, VA Proposes Changes to Sleep Apnea Ratings, Common Sleep Apnea and Sleep Problems Symptoms in Veterans, VA CPAP Machines for Sleep Apnea Treatment, Establishing Service Connection For Sleep Apnea, C&P Exam for Sleep Apnea and Sleep Studies. Additionally, there are some cases that the VA cannot schedule re-examinations: If you are interested in learning more about C&P examinations, check out our guide! Why? Many of them have been diagnosed with the condition many years after leaving active duty. By covering all the bases in your sleep apnea VA claim processhaving your sleep apnea diagnosed with a sleep study and connecting your sleep apnea to a service-connected condition with medical evidenceyoull set yourself up for success to get a service-connected VA rating for sleep apnea. PTSD is well-known for causing sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and an increase in body mass or obesity due to prescribed medications. It was denied. Sleep apnea can make it hard for your brain to regulate blood flows in your arteries and in the brain itself. All Rights Reserved. The first step we like to suggest (aside from starting with VA Form 21-526EZ) is to get a medical opinion from your doctor when it comes to proving a sleep apnea claim. Lesson learned:Lay Evidence is the Bullet, and Medical Evidence is the rifle. Also make sure to seek the care you need to get relief from the effect of sleep apnea on your health and life. It is essential that you document symptoms and evidence to submit. Your email address will not be published. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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). Sleep apnea VA disability claims account for nearly 1 in 4 respiratory claims. Diagnosing Sleep Apnea PTSD, may be at higher risk for sleep apnea than the general population. As youve seen, claims for obstructive sleep apnea can be trickyyet important to pursue if youre suffering from this disability, so you can get the benefits you deserve and care you need. Traumatic brain injury and physical pain are also conditions that affect many veterans and can lead to sleep apnea. Being honest and thorough is important so everything can be properly documented. The Office of the Inspector General found that 1.3 million veterans enrolled in VA Healthcare have a sleep apnea diagnosis. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! The VA refers to mixed sleep apnea as a combination of the obstructive and central forms of the condition. Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear? I submitted a supplemental claim adding some articles and VA reviews showing correlation with PTSD. By the way, these examples come directly from 2 actual BVA decisions. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain either does not send signals to the muscles that control breathing or those signals are interrupted. For veterans who have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea without a sleep study by the VA, the veteran may have to undergo a sleep study done by the VA in order to confirm the diagnosis for benefit purposes. Aug 11, 2021 #1 I was recently denied my claim for sleep apnea. 24% of those Veterans Sleep Apnea appeals were Granted. See our article Burn Pit Presumptive Conditions. Weve supported more than 15,000 veterans to win their claims and increase their ratings. 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). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. If youve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low ratingor youre unsure how to get startedreach out to us! Veterans NEED Information and Education to Improve their VA Sleep Apnea Appeals. If you have a breathing machine, you need to provide . As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. The VA assigns the following ratings for veterans based on the severity of their sleep apnea: PTSD, Hypertension, Asthma, Cardiovascular Conditions, Type II Diabetes, Mental Health Conditions, Respiratory Conditions, Alzheimers disease. 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. According to the VBA , there were over 282,300 service-connected sleep apnea claims that were awarded in 2017. Though the path from your nose to your lungs is a short one, there are a lot of parts of your body that air has to pass through. Unfortunately, VA does not always apply the law correctly. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. This study will serve as medical evidence for the veterans case and can help to prove the medical condition or medical conditions that go into a total rating. This means that a veteran has an already service-connected disability that caused the veteran to have sleep apnea. In this blog post, we will discuss how. The VA will usually order a sleep study to be performed in order to confirm a current diagnosis of sleep apnea. #3: It passes through the throat muscles, between the vocal chords, and enters your lungs. I hope this post can give you some insight into how to improve your VA sleep apnea claims. Although all of these symptoms contribute to the interaction betweensleep apnea and PTSD, the main culprits seem to be sleep deprivation and chronic stress. aggravated beyond its natural progression by another service-connected condition (for secondary service connection). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Youll need to make the call on direct service connection versus secondary service connection. There are risk factors that overlap in both disorders affecting sleep apnea and symptoms of PTSD, oftentimes aggravating the conditions. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. This is the most common route of veterans' claims for sleep apnea. How do I prove VA disability for sleep apnea? High Blood Pressure Secondary to Obstructive Sleep Apnea: What Veterans Should Know Are you suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and hypertension? The three most common conditions resulting in a secondary service connection for sleep apnea and therefore a are: Research shows that combat veterans with PTSD may be at higher risk for sleep apnea than the general population. Denied again. While appellate litigation proceeded, the veteran underwent a VA sleep study, which diagnosed mild obstructive sleep apnea. Here are some of the most common symptoms of central and obstructive sleep apnea: Morning headache Having a dry mouth when you wake up Loud snoring Periods in which you stop breathing when you sleep Difficulty staying asleep Trouble paying attention while awake Irritability Daytime sleepiness Sexual dysfunction 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month. Your email address will not be published. Is a CPAP machine the only treatment for sleep apnea? 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. Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) 1. Learn what youve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation youve earned for your service. are still among the most common treatments. Loved ones like family or close friends could also be a good help in sharing how your sleep has changed. It occurs when airflow is impaired repeatedly during sleep due to blockage in the upper airway. For this reason, a secondary service connection for sleep apnea is much more common. 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.. VA Sleep Apnea claim denied I recently received word back from the VA that my sleep apnea claim was denied. This is especially relevant for veterans diagnosed with sleep apnea long after leaving the military. You DESERVE a HIGHER VA rating.WE CAN HELP. What DOES Drive the VA Sleep Apnea Claim? Lets look a little deeper at OSA for a minute Obstructive Sleep Apnea is by far the most common type of Sleep Apnea that affects veterans. Phone. Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Why do so many veterans have sleep apnea? If your initial rating decision letter says that future examinations are scheduled, or you dont have a 100% permanent and total rating, then your disability rating is not considered permanent or static by the VA.

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