Many civilian doctors have NO CLUE what a Nexus letter is or the importance of it! It occurs when airflow is impaired repeatedly during sleep due to blockage in the upper airway. LIFETIME Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Quarterly Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, Annual Subscription to the Veterans Law Blog, there are 39 medical conditions common among Veterans thatcan cause or aggravate sleep apnea, result of other disorders or medical conditions, Sleep Apnea is going to be as big an issue for our current generation of Veterans. This may be even easier for you now because of a new VA new rule as of August 2, 2021. * Can I service connect sleep apnea without a sleep study in service? Sleep apnea is extremely common among veterans, as the disorder is frequently caused or exacerbated by time in service. 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. However, if you use one, it does provide you with a higher rating. That is how I suggest you handle this situation. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. and Coronavirus. Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 2-9% of adults (about 15 million Americans) but is believed to be frequently undiagnosed. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices You DESERVE a HIGHER VA rating.WE CAN HELP. 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. My claim was approved first time submitting. 4 0 obj One step at a time, one claim at a time, one veteran at a time.we vets are winning!! 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. Which primary disabilities make the best claims for secondary service connection of sleep apnea? * WHAT evidencetouseandwhich path to Service Connectionto use. And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. 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). VA claim for sleep apnea denied? They all treated me as though I was family and helped me with my work comp case in more ways than the average would have.Thank you Jason and Thank you Tina! Thats what Sleep Apnea does while you are sleeping, you stop breathing. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. How to Connect Sleep Apnea to Military Service. My emphysema is connected. HE WAS A VET, HE AND I SERVED IN NELLIS AFB BEFORE I GOT OUT,the hard way. * How do I appeal the VAs denial of my Sleep Apnea? Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 38 0 obj <> endobj Elizabeth M. Walsh appeals the Board's denial of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea. This is what is called the Nexus. Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear? Were Veterans, just like you, whove learned how to navigate within the VA system. Regulation Update: VA Ratings for Kidney Disease and Renal Dysfunction. In our opinion, the only time a veteran should pursue direct service connection for sleep apnea is if you had a sleep study performed while on active duty, which confirmed the presence of a sleep apnea condition (medically diagnosed) during active-duty service. Winning a VA claim to service connect sleep apnea is hard. hb```f``rb`a`} @ odoF@z&I*B{!C*!H12*0`$I +Nw`ubL6iF bICg!|F % The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation theyre due. The most important thing to keep in mind is that, no matter what the VA may tell you, the law does allow for VA disability for sleep apnea. If you use a CPAP machine, then this should warrant a 50% rating. These pauses can happen several times an hour when the apnea is severe. Hepatitis C also causes insulin resistance. hTOo0| Thanks to additions to the VA presumptive list, you may be able to presumptively service-connect rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis or asthma if you served in particular theaters during specified time periods. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most noticeable signal for those who live alone. <>stream I dont want you to think about the EASY path to proving Sleep Apnea is service connected. In our experience, if you did NOT have a sleep study while on active duty and you did not get a medical diagnosis of sleep apnea in the military, you should only attempt to service-connect your sleep apnea VA claim SECONDARY to another service-connected disability. HV6+jsl1q$=Yn3 N>% YQUVUOICzR4'By!-v'QZI`+2c.T\`~]Klovk*\3x9$vx%C _FjOBFECxm]WoZ>H*:zR/yuY(r( Lesson #2: Sleep Apnea is affectinga LOTof Veterans. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection. Wc%X$(:ss!LCO^?4d *$ Both anxiety and depression can also be linked to sleep apnea. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim z`tsd#Ex>@"A"M@+5;$ if our guys/gals have SLEEP APNEA in the field THAT COULD KILL THEM.!! Since there is no cure for CFS the treatment focuses on relief of the symptoms. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Source: Department of Veteran Affairs Regional Office New Orleans, LA. 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. * What if it wasnt diagnosed until years after service can I service connect it then? Its over 165 pages long, and took 9 months of research. Broadly, it's defined as the occurrence of five or more breathing-related "events" per hour, measured by polysomnography (sleep study). Heck, I get an email or more a day from a Veteran that says this: My Sleep Apnea claimwas not granted. I have also had a stroke. There are three components to proving direct service connection for any VA disability claim: For the legal principles of direct service connection, see 38 CFR 3.303. Chills and night sweats as well as low-grade fevers. injury case. <>/Parent 3 0 R/Type/Page/Contents 8 0 R/Tabs/S/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Font<>>>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Rotate 0>> %PDF-1.4 If you were diagnosed with this condition while in the military, you have a straight forward shot for service connection. THANK YOU AGAIN. People with sleep apnea are four times more likely to have depression than people without a sleeping disorder. She has always had a passion for helping others and found inspiration from those she cared for. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 Secondary Service Connection Even if youve been denied before, its not too late! If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. However, the VA. I have a diagnosis and a CPAPwhy arent they granting my claim?. While we still have our home base in Florida, 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. The second part can be satisfied with your existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher. I met with my expert who offered opinion on my behalf and she was amazed by the decision, but not surprise by the level in which the VA are denying veterans SP claims. Sleep apnea comes in different forms, but the most common type with veterans is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Result: Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to service-connected GERD, with history of esophagitis and hematemesis, is granted. Favorable BVA Case Law Precedent Example #2: You are going to have to think through your case as objectively as you possibly can. Hence, the weight gain. From 2013-2014, the VA and BVA denied VAbenefits for sleep apnea in 76% of the appeals. sleep apnea is not the kind of disability associated with a wounded warrior. Learn how your comment data is processed. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 A sleep study is critical to confirming whether you meet the clinical diagnostic criteria for sleep apnea. DRO sided with VA expert (not surprise) who claimed SA was least likely as not occurred or caused by service, moreover, VA expert justified opinion by THE FOLLOWINGS;(time 12yrs since retirement, age 50 at the time of sleep study, and weight gain ?). I also have central and obstructive sleep apnea which has been denied service connection. Your voice is important especially when it comes to your own health care. 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. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Of course, I dont give legal advice on the Veterans Law Blog.

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