Chief276

One of my new claims is for deviated septum caused by a bop on the beak that I have buddy letters for. The somnolence is addressed elsewhere in my notes from MH doc. I was fitted with a new device/appliance similar to a night guard but much more heavy duty. It has stainless steel supports that look like shock absorbers, and it's designed to keep my lower jaw moved slightly forward to keep airway open. I was sent to a civilian dentist to get it made and VA paid the bill. So far it seems to help.

Here are the notes from the sleep clinic doc. Let me know if anything jumps out at you. OSA Notes.pdf

Berta, you are correct. I was working when I got 80% but not working now. The thread you show isn't the one I saw but broncovet's post is more in line with what I saw. What I was trying to say was that when the veteran applied for multiple new conditions/claims (including TDIU), instead of reviewing and exploring them all they just gave the TDIU and said the others didn't matter since 100% was reached with the TDIU. It sped up the process but if in the future the vet is able to find and maintain gainful employment, he will lose the TDIU. That puts him back where he started with the new claims, and since they didn't consider them, his % will drop. Buck, if my math is right you would need to get at least 50% for PTSD in order to make 100% combined. IMO the PTSD will only strengthen your case for TDIU. I have read other threads where vets have had TDIU taken away but it was because they worked and earned too much $. Do you want to work or not? If not, fight it if they try to take away the TDIU. Otherwise, let them take it and you will be free to work as much as you want and still draw 100%.

What is the latest guidance on new sleep apnea claims? Am I wasting my time trying for it? I have had a V.A. sleep study done and it showed OSA, given CPAP, etc. Would it be a stand-alone claim or secondary to my PTSD?

I am submitting a claim for 3 conditions not claimed before, and TDIU due to worsening PTSD & back symptoms. I'm 80% now (70 PTSD +20 back +10 sciatic nerve). I read somewhere on this site recently (but can't find it now) where someone in a similar situation said they were awarded TDIU in a short time, and the award letter said that made the rest of their claim moot (no action taken on other claims). Does that make sense or did I dream that?

After OSA was established I tried CPAP, but it didn't work for me. I took it back and asked for another option. The doc at the sleep clinic recommended the night guard type device, but my VA wasn't set up to provide it. I was sent to a civilian dentist within 5 miles of my house. They made a mold and after 3 weeks I had the device. I thought it was gonna be the same old thing I'd tried before, but this one is heavy duty. It's thick material, and it has metal brace type supports. I don't see how I can chew through it like the others. So far so good, I'm sleeping better. I've been back twice for follow up appointments to make sure it fits right. The bill was $3,300 but my insurance & VA paid it all. That being said, does the fact that the VA paid for it make my sleep apnea SC?

I've been on some type of NSAID since 2011. I started with Naprosyn, then Diclofenac, with 4 Toradol shots mixed in. There's lots of info out there showing a probable link to kidney problems but I don't know about a connection to IBS/GERD.

So if I claim it all, including IU, will they grant IU while the rest is being evaluated or does one decision letter cover it all?

Thanks for all the input so far, good stuff. Buck52 mentioned Housebound. Can I get it without the 100%/60% criteria met? If so, what exactly are my limitations?

I am very new to this and need some good answers since my rep is difficult to contact, and I don't have a warm and fuzzy about what she has already said. I am 80% SC for PTSD (70%), back (20%), and sciatic nerve (10%). I am preparing another claim for stage 3 kidney disease, bilateral tinnitus, sleep apnea, and lung scarring. I agree with all except the lung scarring. I quit smoking 20 years ago (53 now) so that may be the reason for the scarring. I have had pneumonia twice in the last 12 months which also can cause scarring. I was a mechanic for 30 years and exposed to asbestos, fuels, solvents, etc. but I can't prove SC to any of them. The lung claim is her idea and I believe I should remove it from my claim. Any input on that is appreciated. Also, there is the issue of TDIU. I recently resigned from my job because of PTSD. Should I add TDIU to my claim, leave it off, or only claim TDIU and leave the others out?

Got it. The "more than likely" statement is from my PCP. I have an appointment with the renal specialist soon, I'll get more info then. Thanks for the reply.

Can a kidney condition that "more than likely" was caused by VA prescribed meds make the condition SC? The meds are for a SC back problem.