Medical Opinions Associates, Inc.

[smoothc100]

Has anyone used Medical Opinions Associates, Inc. for an IMO?  If so what was your experience and the fees.  I'm trying to obtain an IMO for my sleep apnea.  The current company I was dealing with has been nonresponsive as of late.

[smoothc100]

Gastone,

I am finally SCed for PTSD 70% at the moment they are trying to figure out the retro, so I have not received the official brown envelope in the mail.  I saw a copy of the decision in my C-file and confirmed the rating with case management. My SC are: 70% PTSD, 20% herniated L5-S1 disk, 10% right lower extremity radiculopathy, 0% nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and 50% bilateral plantar fasciitis.

[Gastone]

You got the PTSD 70% on Appeal, DRO or BVA? That 2013 DBQ sure looked very Negative for a  PTSD rating, I saw a possible Depression SC. You did something right, to end up with a 70% PTSD SC on Appeal.

My VA math could be off, with what SC's you list above, I see a combined rounded down SC Rating, of 90%.

If that's the case, spending a couple $K for a Top Board Certified Sleep Specialist's IMO, linking your SA to PTSD is definitely worth the $$. That Secondary SA SC on Cpap 50% would make you 100% SC Scheduler, no SGI limitations.

Semper Fi

[Buck52]

 IF you never had any OSA problems or Sleep Apnea or any medical records for it while in the military  it will be hard to get it S.C.

You could see a sleep specialist and ask him/her to link your OSA (Sleep Apnea) secondary to your PTSD or state their opinion that your OSA is

''Aggravated  by'') PTSD''

but they will need to read your medical records and examine you, you could possibly use the sleep clinic that did your sleep study?

Private or VA...>  but good Luck on the VA.

[smoothc100]

Gastone,

Yes, it did look pretty unfavorable, but after submitting all the notes from my therapy sessions (4 years) at the Vet Center and a recent IMO. I then filed a claim for anxiety and depression since the VA already stated I had it due to military service.  When I went to my C&P exam the examiner diagnosed me with PTSD instead then a month later I had a PTSD exam, which confirmed the findings. Yes, you right it will put me around 90%.  

 

Buck,

I never had sleep apnea in my military records just sinus and insomnia.  The VA did the sleep study and diagnosed me with sleep apnea. I'm thinking of a secondary for PTSD or my back pain.  I'm currently looking for a certified sleep specialist in my area. 

[RyanS]

Please keep in mind, if anything, about the relationship between PTSD and Sleep Apnea. The crucial aspect is what type of sleep apnea you are clinical diagnosed with: obstructive, mixed or central. I just got back from a hearing with Judge Kramer (a very experienced BVA judge) and we had an entire argument over when sleep apnea can be linked secondary to PTSD. He threw out the entire argument because my guy had obstructive sleep apnea. And he's honestly mostly correct. Obstructive sleep apnea is mechanical in nature...the muscles are collapsing due to something extraneous, like too much neck fat or skin or terrible sleep posture or a problem with the cervical spine. Mixed and central are where the body's nervous system are in such disarray that it literally interrupts your body's ability to regulate breathing (an involuntary reflex mind you). With PTSD, essentially the argument is that the nightmares and sleep deprivation remove the body's ability to have REM sleep, or at least it's highly fragmented REM sleep. This lack of REM sleep is what, over time of course, throws havoc to the nervous system. It creates not only central or mixed sleep apnea but also a whole host of other issues, although most are cognitive. So, when trying to claim PTSD is causing your sleep apnea, you either need an initial clinical diagnosis or mixed or central or you need a MODIFIED diagnosis with an explanation for the change. Then, and only then, will you get an IMO that is proper to show the linkage. I dare anyone on here to counter my statements that obstructive is medically linked to PTSD...there are no journal articles or scientific studies to corroborate that. There are a ton on central or mixed however, and most BVA judges know this. Just food for thought.

[Palma114]

On 1/12/2017 at 9:31 AM, RyanS said:

Please keep in mind, if anything, about the relationship between PTSD and Sleep Apnea. The crucial aspect is what type of sleep apnea you are clinical diagnosed with: obstructive, mixed or central. I just got back from a hearing with Judge Kramer (a very experienced BVA judge) and we had an entire argument over when sleep apnea can be linked secondary to PTSD. He threw out the entire argument because my guy had obstructive sleep apnea. And he's honestly mostly correct. Obstructive sleep apnea is mechanical in nature...the muscles are collapsing due to something extraneous, like too much neck fat or skin or terrible sleep posture or a problem with the cervical spine. Mixed and central are where the body's nervous system are in such disarray that it literally interrupts your body's ability to regulate breathing (an involuntary reflex mind you). With PTSD, essentially the argument is that the nightmares and sleep deprivation remove the body's ability to have REM sleep, or at least it's highly fragmented REM sleep. This lack of REM sleep is what, over time of course, throws havoc to the nervous system. It creates not only central or mixed sleep apnea but also a whole host of other issues, although most are cognitive. So, when trying to claim PTSD is causing your sleep apnea, you either need an initial clinical diagnosis or mixed or central or you need a MODIFIED diagnosis with an explanation for the change. Then, and only then, will you get an IMO that is proper to show the linkage. I dare anyone on here to counter my statements that obstructive is medically linked to PTSD...there are no journal articles or scientific studies to corroborate that. There are a ton on central or mixed however, and most BVA judges know this. Just food for thought.

Decision by the BVA (Docket No. 11-09 193, Feb 28, 2014) the BVA granted service connection for Obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

Another Board decision (Docket No. 11-01922, Mar 28, 2016) Obstructive sleep apnea granted service connection to PTSD.