service connection for sleep apnea is granted

See id. There are certain chronic diseases that a veteran may be presumptively entitled to if the disease manifests to a certain degree within a specified timeframe after the veterans period of, In todays society, hypertension is a common diagnosis for most veterans. I stated on my retirement physical that I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night. Along with a direct Nexus, it is also possible to win a sleep apnea claim by claiming it as a secondary condition. 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. 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. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 I filed to reopen my SA claim in 2016. Lesson #2: Sleep Apnea is affectinga LOTof Veterans. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. My claim was approved first time submitting. It is common to have a range of motion (ROM) exercises, stretching a few minutes each day and steadily increase to build a tolerance. % * Many Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange suffer from sleep apnea. I tried going it alone and the insurance carrier pushed me around. Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation theyre due. The question raised in this case is whether this "intermediate step" is limited to . HE WAS A VET, HE AND I SERVED IN NELLIS AFB BEFORE I GOT OUT,the hard way. Winning a VA claim to service connect sleep apnea is hard. 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. Ask your private doctor for a referral to a sleep specialist in your area (a good option if you have private health insurance). 2020 Strategic Veteran All Rights Reserved. Chris, thank you for the posts and training videos you are providing to veterans. I recd another denial (3rd) Jun 30, 2017. How you mix them is the hard part. 7 0 obj Result: Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to service-connected GERD, with history of esophagitis and hematemesis, is granted. solid foundation of Lay and Medical Evidence, read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, Put it to Rest! 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. Sleep apnea can develop for a number of reasons, meaning it can be very hard to pinpoint the exact cause. Favorable BVA Case Law Precedent Example #2: Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. I dont know if Im authorize a second run at the DRO or go straight to BVA. They denied injections the doctor recommended to ease my pain. It's almost as much work - and it can often take as much dedication. The resulting reduction in sleep quality and in the bodys supply of oxygen can have serious consequences on health and quality of life. I understand you want your VA claim to be done as quickly as possible. 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. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. protected, calm and informed Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected its the one thing I hear more about from Veterans than any other topic. Finally, sleep apnea is a complex condition that can present itself differently in the case of each veteran. 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! 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. These temporary breathing disruptions or lapses can occur from dozens to hundreds of times per night. Take a look at my VA Sleep Apneabook learn all you can about PROVING and IMPROVING your VA Sleep Apnea claim. * WHERE to get the Lay Evidence that will give REAL POWER to your Sleep Apnea Claim. 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. Once diagnosed the more difficult step is required, which is proving the service-connection for sleep apnea. That is how I suggest you handle this situation. Its an essential piece of evidence. In recent years this trend has begun to turn around, but it is still one of the more difficult conditions to win a disability compensation claim for. If you need assistance in appealing your claim for CFS,let us know here! Both anxiety and depression can also be linked to sleep apnea. Battle of DUAL-EXPERTS Chris, you called it!!! caused or made worse by your active duty military service OR. 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. As a matter of fact, it may be easier to substantiate with medical records that the sleep apnea symptoms started after the diagnosis of diabetes. Of those who suffer from CFS, approximately one out of four will become bedridden or housebound for periods of theirillness. endobj uuid:7e8f97fd-fbb3-41de-a1ee-403277269d1a There are three types, obstructive, central, and mixed. 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 was diagnosed with OSA 10 years after separation. Were here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. New Rule allows Presumptive Service Connection for Veterans particulate matter (burn pit) claims. 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. There are 3 ways to get it: Chris, Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim 2023-03-04T21:20:56-05:00 Proving Service-Connection for Sleep Apnea. I have sleep apnea diagnosed by the VA sleep study. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. I am a Veteran of United States Air Force and was awarded my first 30% in 1996 and have been fighting for my rating for 26 years I came to Perkins and Studdard in 2019 while my mom was in a terrible incident and was given to much anesthesia and through GODS Grace she was spared her life, She is disabled since 2018 and I have been struggling with my life and issues and yet I didnt call the law firm every 10 minutes or call being rude anytime, I mentioned this as I got to know Jessica more than just a phone call and Mr Studdard was always available when not working on other cases or in court, They always called back and Never had to do a call back, My Review is Simple in Life there peaks and valleys and it doesnt stop because you have issues, Perkins & Studdard took my case in 2019 in 2021 I received my 100% from VA, I Was Never Rude, I was Never Promised Success, I Was Never Lied too and I was Always Treated with Respect, Friendliness, and Kindness the Real Stuff not a (Money Thing) If You want a firm that Cares about the Client and will work on your case even through a pandemic, Will not lie, will not promise anything will communicate your case and will Give you their Best ALWAYS THIS IS THE Best Law Firm for VETS HANDS DOWN Perkins and Studdard THERE IS NO OTHER 100% we had 5 calls Total Case Thats Taking Care Of Business. Then present the proper records for service connection with a professional opinion on the Nexus of the sleep apnea. 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. In our experience, an upper respiratory disability is one of the easiest choices for claiming OSA secondary to another service-connected disability. THANK YOU AGAIN. I want you to think about the BEST Path to proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. Microsoft Word 2010; modified using iText 2.1.7 by 1T3XT We cant possibly cover each of those and the ways to service connect all of them in this one article. * The SPECIFICEVIDENCEyou will need to prove another medical condition caused your sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. 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. 2017-05-30T18:09:36-04:00 I filed NOD in early 2017 request an informal DRO. 67 0 obj <>stream about the threat of COVID-19 and Coronavirus. 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. Thinking and memory issues such as not able to think quickly, difficulty remembering things, and unable to pay attention to details. This is because the fact is that many veterans suffer from PTSDand sleep problems are a common symptom of PTSD. But most veterans are not service-connected for this sinus condition. I talked to hundreds of Veterans and read their C-Files to see where they went wrong. 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. VA Disability Claim Timeline For Active Duty Members & Veterans, Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy, Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine, Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing. I cannot get the sleep apnea connected. If you are hurt at work, this is the firm you want on YOUR side. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. =XG\b?pjbAp{SB~,L8G2*`'x;7i2uPC=Lo:ITXwKVm /! We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! I can teach you: * HOW toproveyour Sleep Apnea Claim for any ofthe 3 types of Sleep Apnea you have. The VA and frankly most of America still thinksof Sleep Apnea asa condition for theobese male with a big neck. They think wrongly that sleep apnea is not the kind of disability associated with a wounded warrior. One of the most common service-connected sleep disorders is sleep apnea, which is a sleep-related breathing disorder. I disagree. This is what is called the Nexus. For doing an awesome job. 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). The VA uses two options for rating most sleep apnea claims. This opens doors for many veterans who were unable to service-connect these respiratory conditions previously. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Even if youve been denied before, its not too late! Local Wounded Veterans Gifted with Opportunities to Go Fishing. Lets begin today's post with the Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): It is HARD to get service connected for Sleep Apnea secondary to Depression. Listen: you have got to know this: sleep Apnea is a complex medical condition, and presents differently in each and every Veteran. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 That is, until he damaged his knees in-serviceand had to geta knee replacement at amilitary hospital. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Many conditions that are service related can cause obesity, like diabetes (and diabetes medications), depression, and injuries that result in lack of mobility. 38 U.S.C.A. A/8un$zjHNSPU%=8HF Z*v@l(?6Nx/ If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! uuid:9ecae647-b430-492b-9ebf-3254b1d19b42 Many veterans receive wrongful denials when they apply for service connection for sleep apnea. Therefore, records of an in-service injury, illness or other events that could have caused the sleep apnea condition are essential. There are 3 things that the human body cannot live or function without: Blood/Oxygen, Food/Water and Sleep. yet assertive representation for our clients. If you use a CPAP machine, then this should warrant a 50% rating. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Veterans are assigned a 0, 30, 50, or 100 percent rating depending on the severity . Veterans ask me more questions about sleep apnea than almost any other question about VA Benefits Law. This may be even easier for you now because of a new VA new rule as of August 2, 2021. Since many things can cause sleep apnea (like diabetes, insulin resistance, sinus problems, deviated septum, acid reflux, PTSD, heart problems, stroke, prior injuries to the head and spine, anything that deviates the diaphragm like degenerative changes of the spine, and ascites from liver disease, cirrhosis or hepatitis c), if the veteran has service connection for any of those conditions then you can add the sleep apnea as being caused by those conditions. 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. In order to help you with your secondary claim, we have put together this Insiders Guide! Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear?