ptsd Sleep Apnea Disability Benefits Questionnaire

[usaf66]

I am filing for an increase in my VA rating for PTSD and my VSO advised that I should put in for sleep apnea as well.  I was never diagnosed in the service but did have a sleep study done at the VA a few years ago.

The VA doctors at the sleep clinic don't offer anything, as far as advice, and I just use the CPAP and go to a private ear nose and throat doctor who initially diagnosed my with an at home sleep study.

My private ear nose and throat doctor had mentioned that the xanax I take at night contributes to the sleep apnea in the past.

I now have 30 days to get the information back to the VA.

If I have him fill in the remarks section something to the effect that "It is more likely than not that the xanax that my patient takes contributes to the sleep apnea" would be sufficient.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[lotzaspotz]

Just my opinion, but I would suggest that your doctor also explain exactly how the Xanax that you take to treat PTSD causes YOUR sleep apnea, specifically.  What is it about that medication that leads to sleep apnea?  Add what clinical evidence exists to back him up, like in a journal or something like that, then have him attach his curriculum vital (aka resume).   VA raters who review these forms are not healthcare professionals and need things spelled out in plain English.

[Buck52]

Its very hard to win a S.A. claim  if you don't have Medical Records about any type of Sleep Disturbance/OSA while in the military.

it can be a secondary from another S.C. Disability ''Aggravated by''  but  a specialist sleep Dr would need to detail why it is aggravated by.

A S.A. DX and using a C-PAP prescribe by the VA is not enough to win a S.A. Claim 

Just saying

''It is more likely than not that the xanax that my patient takes contributes to the sleep apnea" would be sufficient.''

Is not enough!

I agree with Lotz about the detail explanation of the med Xanax

However its true the  VA raters are not Medical Dr's but they have been trained to  read medical evidence and have a medical manual for the claimed disability to  point out certain possibility's of the  causes /aggravated  by  ect,,,ect,,

[usaf66]

  Thank you both for your advice, it is greatly appreciated.  The issue I have is that everyone is amazed, including my private ear nose and throat doctor, that I suffer from sleep apnea.

I'm not overweight, do not have any structural issues, normal neck size and the only thing that he had pointed out over in the past is the amount of benzo type medication I've been prescribed and how that relaxed my throat at night leading to the sleep apnea.

As I've gone down on the amount of benzo type medicine, like xanax, it has improved but even with the cpap I still have about 10 episodes a night according to the machine.

I did deal with and encounter sleep related issues during my time in the service and that is documented.

However, back then I never had a sleep study.

It had been advised that I list it on my request for an increase for my gad, which is now shown on my records as ptsd, for there has been quite a bit of information regarding the connection between ptsd and sleep apnea.

It was also suggested that even if I get 0% at least if it gets worse, I'm in very good physical shape now, as I get older with weight gain that it is wise.

If you have any other advice it would be great to hear.

Thanks!