Here are a few examples of how Sleep Apnea has affected Veterans from all different eras of service: * Don D. (he asked me not to use his real name) served mostly during the Cold War was in the best physical shape of his life he was an avid weight-lifter. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Youre welcome, Sam! LIFETIME Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Quarterly Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Annual Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog. 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. See id. There are 3 things that the human body cannot live or function without: Blood/Oxygen, Food/Water and Sleep. All Rights Reserved. Winning a VA claim to service connect sleep apnea is hard. 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. 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. 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. 0 Do I Need a CPAP Machine to be Service-Connected? application/pdf I dont want you to think about the EASY path to proving Sleep Apnea is service connected. endobj hb```f``rb`a`} @ odoF@z&I*B{!C*!H12*0`$I +Nw`ubL6iF bICg!|F % This may be even easier for you now because of a new VA new rule as of August 2, 2021. Thats $901.83 a month. and Coronavirus. I can teach you: * HOW toproveyour Sleep Apnea Claim for any ofthe 3 types of Sleep Apnea you have. Microsoft Word 2010 4 Common Scenariosfor Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. 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. Service-Connected Sleep Apnea VA Claim | Strategic Veteran 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. And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. Symptoms can become worse with exertion by either physical or mental activity, such as going shopping and having to take a nap in the car before driving home, or staying on task at work and needing the evenings and weekends to recover, taking a shower and becoming bed bound for a couple of days afterward. 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. I absolutely agree I think that Mr. Harris was way out of line, and was not educated about the issue he was commenting on. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Sleep Apnea in Gulf War Veterans - Public Health I filed NOD in early 2017 request an informal DRO. Cognitive training is important to be able to talk to someone about CFS and its limiting factors on life, and how to cope on a daily basis. 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. put your Sleep Apnea Claim together right. Weight gain can be tied to several different conditions. FREE tips for Veterans to stay Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. 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. They were at all times attentive and on top of my case. * The SPECIFICEVIDENCEyou will need to prove another medical condition caused your sleep apnea. We would be happy to talk to you. Tender lymph nodes usually in the neck and underarms. 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. No wonder Sleep Apnea is affecting so many Veterans sleep apnea can be the result of other disorders or medical conditions. Finally, sleep apnea is a complex condition that can present itself differently in the case of each veteran. 7 0 obj Whats the VAs Problem with Sleep Apnea? I read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, BVA Decisions and Veterans Court Decisions. Simple tasks that we take for granted every day may cause great exhaustion for those with CFS. No current medical diagnosis (within the last 12 months), or improper diagnosis, #3. Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected its the one thing I hear more about from Veterans than any other topic. 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. Regardless of whether you are dealing with OSA, its important to pursue all the benefits available to you as a veteran. Has camp Lejeune exposures been linked to sleep apnea? Are you a veteran who suffers from sleep apnea? One step at a time, one claim at a time, one veteran at a time.we vets are winning!! How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed? While we still have our home base in Florida, endstream endobj 42 0 obj <>stream When Daniel laid it out and told me almost specifically, "Here's your timeline, here's how you do it, "here's what you do, here's what you need, "here are the things that you need," that sealed the deal. My sleep apnea is worsened when I lie on my back and I still have loss of breath. This will confirm a medical diagnosis and current symptoms, especially if theyve become more severe over time. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea. 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. VAs expert indicated the RISK-FACTORS of my SP was a results of what he had listed. I am service connected for chronic sinusitis with a 30% rating. Were Veterans, just like you, whove learned how to navigate within the VA system. Is Sleep Apnea a Disability? A Guide for Veterans Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 The information contained on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and not legal advice. Therefore, sleep apnea can be filed secondary to either a musculoskeletal condition with weight gain or a mental health condition with weight gain. (6.[,P)BLd?8e:}]eS8Sx| XvKdEP,Zbl65k8 x!KSToHjbrC. How to Connect Sleep Apnea to Military Service. VADisability Benefits for Chronic Fatigue, Fatigue not relieved by sleep or bed rest which was not always present throughout life. I told you at the beginning I wantto change your thinking. 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 See R. at 8-9. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. How to Hire an Attorney For Your VA Claim or Appeal. Ann Margaret really took the time to explain things to me. The question raised in this case is whether this "intermediate step" is limited to . Worsening of symptoms after activities. As this represents a total grant . You are going to have to get a LOT of 5-Star Evidence. I read hundreds of cases. What about PTSD? endstream Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Jessica Rodriguez, Claims Advocate Updated: June 27, 2020. * How do I appeal the VAs denial of my Sleep Apnea? By law, there are three evidentiary elements that must be satisfied for sleep apnea secondary conditions to prove secondary service connection: The first part can be satisfied with any existing medical evidence service treatment records, VA medical records, or any private medical records, assuming you do have a diagnosis of sleep apnea. To find the definitive guide for service-connection for sleep apnea, check it out here. 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. Chills and night sweats as well as low-grade fevers. solid foundation of Lay and Medical Evidence, read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, Put it to Rest! Just had C& P exam for sleep apnea. Both sinusitis and rhinitis are linked to sleep apnea. For doing an awesome job. In April 2013, the RO reopened the sleep apnea claim, but denied service connection, and found no new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the tinnitus claim. ; claim denied; hearing aids supplied but disability denied;pre-diabetic; high blood pressure. Follow the steps below to remedy the above-listed typical reasons for denial, and youll be much closer to a winning claim! Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear? I have also had a stroke. 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. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection. If you need assistance in appealing your claim for CFS,let us know here! 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). Your email address will not be published. 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. Since there is no cure for CFS the treatment focuses on relief of the symptoms. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Broadly, it's defined as the occurrence of five or more breathing-related "events" per hour, measured by polysomnography (sleep study). I spoke with DRO via phone for 5min confirming she received my NOD and evidence. I think that far too many raters and BVA judges think of sleep apnea as made up medicine. I cannot recommend Jason and his staff enough. hUmoF+1QNH6,65B.E]>XH?a8D Ht"B)\5H($>f_+:TPT!UBPTVR$Xz.c-sKGkzlYz;j&]&Lra)"6"x\?gY(5vZlbQn]wEutI&q$+}on~[]#mg])jqY_`jh]W7|E}Ag\SV VA Disability for Sleep Apnea: Proving Service Connection