Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts | Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users
- 0
ptsd Sleep Apnea Granted
Rate this question
Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts | Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users
Rate this question
Question
brokensoldier244th
My sleep apena claim, started in Oct 2011 has been approved. My contention was that my apnea is aggravated by my weight caused by inactivity and drugs used for depression and chronic pain. When I get the decision I will analyze it and its relevant notes for the decision to see if I can identify anything that might be helpful to others. I was not diagnosed before discharge with apnea, nor was I receiving treatment in service. I didn't even get checked for it until September of last year, when a CPAP was issued. I've read so much on here about how difficult it is to get sleep apnea service connected, especially if you don't have an in service finding. Here's to hoping that my decision renders some insight into what their rationale was. Many others here and on VPN have tried to service connect apnea with varying degrees of success and failure, but the arrow seems to point more towards failure if there is no in service finding.
In True VA Fashion ™ it makes little sense. I submitted all sorts of documentation, because id read on here that it is such an uphill battle to get this service connected especially with no in service diagnosis.
My finding letter came, and despite the list of reviewed material, the actual Reasons and Basis is about 2 sentences long:
"We have assigned a 50 % evaluation for your obstructive sleep apnea based on:
0-Requires use of breathing assitance device such as continuous airway pressure machine."
Thats it, folks. No quoting my material, no quoting of things in my Dr's letter, not quoting of the record itself or the sleep tech's finding.
I claimed it secondary to weight gain, pain and inactivity due to chronic pain, depression, and intervertebral disc syndrome.
Ill post my Dr's letter below that was submitted. The rest of what I turned in was pretty standard. A statement from my wife, the sleep tech records, there was a C&P that was about 20 minutes long.
I had some treatment notes that had been submitted for ED that I mentioned my issues sleeping with her as well, but I can't find those.
CLAIM: Sleep Apnea W/CPAP secondarily aggravated by medications, pain, obesity, and depression due to service connected lower back injury.
In Aug 2001 I was diagnosed with a lower back trauma that was LOD directly to an injury incurred during training at Ft. Jackson SC. At that time I was still actively serving, under profile with a weight of 192-195 lbs. I was transferred to Ft. Lee, VA for AIT to await a decision about a MEB/PEB. As I was under strict PT restrictions and duty restrictions, and in a state of constant (albeit treated) pain, my activity level plummeted and my weight started to increase. Being that I was in a training environment at Ft. Lee my diet and activities were still restricted as that of any other trainee. I left Ft. Lee in January of 2002, still just under 200 lbs.
In the later part of 2001 I was prescribed Elevil to help with sleep disturbance issues by either Doctor _________ (Kenner Army Health Clinic) or Dr. ________(Kenner Army Health Clinic). I was not diagnosed with sleep difficulties prior to this time-having been married before enlistment, this would have been noticed by my wife. This prescription for elavil was filled to excess before I processed out of Ft. Lee, VA so that I would have time to set up civilian or VA health care. I continued to take Elavil for sleep disturbances, along with Ultram, Flexaril and Ibuprofen for pain until my prescriptions ran out a few months later. In that time I received a C&P for my lower back injury which was ruled service connected. During this time my weight continued to increase due to inactivity and pain. In my initial C&P examination by PA-C J_______ I was noted to be obese 4/29 /02. In December of 2002 . I sawcivilian _________ Medical center (Dr. _____) to refill current medications for pain and sleep issues, including elavil. In a later examination by PA-C __________, Lincoln VAMC I was noted in January 2003 to weigh 257 lbs when I saw him about pain and medications for pain. I declined to add elavil to my VA medications at that time, hoping that my sleep issues would work themselves out with better pain management.
My psychology treatment records by Dr. R_______ indicate sleep disturbances, and my struggles with weight loss/gain as well, and they are incorporated into my overall rating for depression. Inactivity due to pain is also noted throughout, and prior history is established that I was active prior to military service (theater/music) and obviously during service until my injury. I currently weight (10/15/2011) 312 lbs.
Post service I have struggled with my weight due to inactivity or due to medications taken for pain that have side effects of weight gain. I may lose 5-10 lbs on a severely restricted diet, or an increase in activity, but pain, motivation issues, and depression issues cause me to gain it back. I take one medication, Hydrocodone, in a direct attempt to BECOME more active to try to lose weight but thus far it’s results are unquantifiable because of the myriad other issues contributing to my weight.
In October of 2011 I was diagnosed at the Omaha VA Hospital with Sleep Apnea, and, on the basis of the sleep study, issues a CPAP machine (thank you!) This has helped control my apneic sleep disturbances that I feel are a result of my weight gain from my medications, depression, and lower back injury. It may be that since Elavil was not prescribed until after my injury in 2001 that the beginnings of sleep apnea extend to that point where I started to gain weight before discharge from the Army, and have steadily increased since. PA-C D_______ (Omaha VAMC) opined during counseling that Sleep Apnea is a result of either genetics/physical jaw issues, medications, Psychological issues (PTSD, etc), or obesity, and that it can be caused by, or CAN contribute to obesity and depression, and that my issues with both most likely come at least in part, from this etiology. He also advised to “avoid etoh/sedative/narcotics (do not increase hydrocodone dosage)”. His advisement directly contravenes my attempts to be more active to lose weight, by reducing the options available to me for pain management. However, dying slowly in my sleep is not an attractive option, either, and so I am inclined to follow his reasoning. In doing so, however, I must limit my activity.
My psychology treatment records, military medical records, and treatment records from Lincoln VAMC are in my CFile. My consult from Johnson County Medical Center is in my CFile. My Omaha records from my sleep study are in VISTA. Please find and adjudicate accordingly. Per prior rulings by the DVA, with sufficient evidence, Sleep Apnea post discharge has been granted service connection in cases as secondary to obesity , MH issues, and medication when one or more of those are service connected.
Citation Nr: 0905272
Decision Date: 02/13/09 Archive Date: 02/19/09
DOCKET NO. 04-16 673A ) DATE
)
)
On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St.
Petersburg, Florida
Thank you. Here is what I filed:
Edited by brokensoldier244thLink to comment
Share on other sites
Top Posters For This Question
4
3
2
2
Popular Days
Mar 29
7
May 26
6
Jul 7
4
Dec 13
3
Top Posters For This Question
john999 4 posts
brokensoldier244th 3 posts
ArNG11 2 posts
bangajay85 2 posts
Popular Days
Mar 29 2012
7 posts
May 26 2016
6 posts
Jul 7 2014
4 posts
Dec 13 2012
3 posts
Popular Posts
brokensoldier244th
My sleep apena claim, started in Oct 2011 has been approved. My contention was that my apnea is aggravated by my weight caused by inactivity and drugs used for depression and chronic pain. When I get
brokensoldier244th
Because if one of us dies from SC in our sleep and its not service connected our spouses do not qualify for DIC. We are well aware that our other claims are subject to scrutiny but once they have been
Buck52
I disagree filing for a new claim will cause a reduction. I filed a new claim after being 100% for 14 years and they never mention a reduction! Usually the VA only will propose a reduction if the
33 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now