I am planning to file a claim for sleep apnea after talking to my VSO. I was diagnosed with OSA last April, and separated early 2013. I don't have anything in my service medical records about sleep issues, so I understand that it will be an uphill battle. I've also gained weight since I got out, although I have lost weight since receiving my CPAP.
I have a statement from my wife talking about my symptoms over the last 10 years and how I would never go to medical for it. I also have several buddy letters stating that I snored loud enough to wake them up, had to be moved into our server room to sleep, was tired and would doze off at work, napped during lunches and breaks, and woke often at night. I also have a buddy statement that verifies I spoke to a Corpsman in Iraq and was given an OTC sleep aid. We were attached to an infantry platoon and that never made it into my records.
I have two videos that my wife took shortly before I separated that show me snoring loudly and sleeping with my mouth open. I also had weight issues off and on while I was in. I was assigned to BCP twice, and "diagnosed" with obesity a few times as well. My neck is the same size or smaller since I got out.
If I'm able to give all this to a sleep specialist and get an opinion that it's likely that I had undiagnosed OSA while I was in, do I stand a chance at winning?
The reason I ask is that I've been told by my VSO and my doctor that I probably won't win it because of my weight gain, and I'm considering pulling it off until I lose some more weight.