[Sleep Apnea Evaluation]

71m10,

Thanks. We were just looking over the new ratings but seen the sleep apnea ones did stay the same. I've heard a few friends talk about this changings but I never believe something until I see it.

Appreciate your guidence.

BrookH

[Sleep Apnea Evaluation]

all these elders ????????????

[Sleep Apnea Evaluation]

It wouldn't surprise me, most in charge have a lack of leadership! Those that cannot lead find that the easiest way is to do something is to take it away. It's like the babysitter that doesn't want to be there; because one child acts up then you punish them all.

I would also like to know the answer to the questions as I've been trying to assist someone with a SA claim.

Had a talk with a fellow veteran today and he told me he read somewhere that starting in September the VA will evaluate all cases of sleep apnea and those that aren't combat related will be downgraded. Wondering if anyone has heard the same thing. Sorry if someone has asked this already but I couldn't find it.

[How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain]

John,

Right......so he should see the VA Pain clinic again? He just got a new VA PCP which he sees in a few months for the first time, should he ask her to get back to the pain clinic? He is in VA Counseling I believe he said with his lumbar strain it shows something like "no further examinations needed, no expected to get better".

Brook

The thing is that if he is not in treatment and taking meds the VA concludes he is doing: 1. Better 2. Much better 3. Should be reduced.

[How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain]

John,

He was thinking of getting an IMO but do to finances it doesn't look like he can.They used to attend the pain clinic which they did get him lyrica, tramadol and a TENS which non of them really help. He did stopped going to the pain clinic because they tried to give him nsaids and more nsaids, which, he already has barettes espogus (service connected with H/H and GERD)....the NSAIDS really bother his stomach.......the Nurse at the Pain Clinic would not listen to him about NSAIDS and only gave him more, so he got a print out from the Gastro and said NO NSAIDS. The physican at the pain clinic did say he had abnomal gait but he doesn't have those records nor of his range of movement (he is working on getting these). My friend ended up not going back to the pain clinic because of the hassles he felt like they did not believe him about the NSAIDS and all. He does still use the TENS but does not receive anymore lyrica or tramadol (T did not help). The person that gave him the TENS said it sounds like siatica. When he filed his claim he put DDD cervical and lumbar. they did rate him cervical, shoulder and lumbar as "lumbar strain" but never did a lumbar MRI...but had multiple cervical MRI's while on active duty.

yes, I agree chronic pain causes depression and this is what his neurophysc told him.......but it wasnm't addressed in great detail and he does need those records. Sleeping and being woke up due to pain takes a toll out on you as welllllllllllllllllllll.

Thanks John and if I need to relay any other info to him please let me know......he is just was too fustrated and hasn't worked for a couple of years now.

Brook

He needs to file a claim for depression as secondary to chronic pain due to service connected DDD. He may need to get an independent medical opinion. I would file the claim to protect the earliest effective date and then start to get more evidence. It takes months if not years to get a decision so he has time. Does he go to VA pain clinic? What kinds of pain meds does he get? He needs to tell them how badly his back hurts on a scale of 1-10. The closer to 10 the better. If a person has chronic pain the meds alone will tend to make you depressed. This is common knowledge except at the VA where they are thinking in terms of saving money for taxpayers. Is the VA counselor trying to find an alternative reason for his depression like the fact his mother took away his hobby horse when he was 5 years old? Usually, they will try and convince the vet it is all due to home life or the fact mommy whipped him or dad was a drunk. This is crap, of course, but the VA spent decades convincing combat vets that there PTSD was just due to home life or high school.

[How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain]

Willie 74,

Thanks. I am trying to help out a friend with his claim. He didn't have a fusion or anything but was rated on some herniated discs (has DDD) but as we know things get worse with time and now he is having depression and seeing a VA Counselor for this........but they (the counselor) seems to look for a reason which he has a hard time pointing out.

I had a fusion done two years ago when I was 34. It caused additional nerve pain and chronic pain in general. I claimed secondary depression a year later and recieved 50% for it. I filed for SSD about 7 months ago and got approved soley on my service connected issues. All your disabilities will add up and aid you in your success. I applied for TDIU and have not heard back about the decision. I have learned everything on this site and cant thank you all enough for the great guidence and hope. I just sent a statement in support of claim for the depression issue and they set up a C&P. Stay positive and keep asking questions, you will be ok.

[Cpap Machine/ Insomnia]

John6012,

Do you see a VA or Civ sleep doctor? Maybe they can do another sleep study to see if your CPAP pressure needs to be adjusted. Not sure of the CPAP but some have different pressure exhaust which will help with using. Your health should trump any amount of money the VA could give you, however, it is nice to be compensated. Also some of the CPAP's have software that goes with them that you can see if you are still having apnea's and leaks with your machine. I would talk with the PCM about your ongoing pain, fatigue and your 100% compliance of the CPAP. Do you see a VA Counselor, if not you might try to address some of the insomnia issues with them and to work on your sleep. It is a battle to get everything straight, but take one thing at a time and you can get there.

I have a CPAP machine for OSA and it doesn't work because I also have RLS medicated under control, HTN, insomnia, arthritis of both shoulders and tinnitus that keeps me awake or wakes me after I go to sleep. I keep the CPAP machine on all night and wake up exhausted. I had depression during my military service in 1984 but never sought treatment do to the stigma. I've been miserable for years, motivation is down and frankly I feel like I'm a mess. I'm on 100% IU and want to get the insomnia and inability to sleep SC but feel as though it'll be an uphill battle. Beside, anytime one opens their case there is the chance that one will be downgraded especially in today's eonomic climate. Who knows what the VA is going to do to cut expenses. Even if the aforementioned medical problems are considered to be SC I still won't be at 100% due to the fuzzy math. Cutrrently I'm 70% adn you add the 50% for Sleep Apnea and it totals a little over 802% if I'm not mistaken. The HTN is SC as is the arthritis and tinnutis but...

[Cpap Machine/ Insomnia]

MRB,

Yes insomnia CAN be a secondary condition for OSA a long with many other medical conditions or on its own. Insomnia is not tied to OSA in any means, but it would be who of you to get a sleep study before you get pulmonary hypertension. There are many doctors on this board but your PCM will be your best bet! My sleep study doctor did diagnosis me with OSA and insomnia......however, I had insomnia years before I was ever diagnosed with OSA.

Your mind controls a lot of things.......reading a book, warm milk, a long bath, yoga, breathing exercises all could solve your insomnia and we can go on and on ............but if you are diagnosed with insomnia and no sleep apnea you WILL NOT get a CPAP at least not for the sleep doctor.

Brook

Insomnia is usally a secondery condition, my case is arm pain. I read on the pebforum that a guy was given a cpap machine for insomnia not sleep apnea. Im still doing some research. Probably more to the story. I know that sleep pills are given for insomnia, trying to find out if the cpap machine will do some good. It would not hurt to try. Im just going to set up appt with a sleep specialist.

[Cpap Machine/ Insomnia]

MRB,

I might be lost on this side but CPAP's are for sleep apnea, which there are a few different types of sleep apnea; central, obstructive, mixed. I see someone replied about GERD and insomnia but I did not see you mention anything about GERD. GERD can make compliance of a CPAP difficult and to many CPAP's are a saviour for their sleep apnea.

What is the cause of the insomnia?

Brook

Wondering if anyone has used a CPAP machine to help with INSOMNIA. I know people that use it for sleep apena, and I also heard it has been given for insomnia.I heard this can possibly help. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain]

Thanks to all that have allowed and whom have jacked my thread. I thought there were rules about thiss.

Best wishes.

Brook

[How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain]

John,

The member said......the va neurphysc said the depression, anxiety and memory loss was due to his pain, he did not point out the SC pain or what. He also seesa va counselor and psychiatrist only for the past few months. The drepression seems to be from loosing the ability to work, pain sleeping and insomnia because of the sc, pain walking/sitting.

I guess he needs the records to see what has been documented.

Tia

[How To Apply For Anxiety/depression Due To Chronic Pain]

Hi,

A friend of ours is rated at 50% with lumbar, cervical, carpal tunnel, gerd /h-h, shoulder raduicaphy, high blood pressure and something else. Anyhow they had a neurophysc visit while on active duty and the specialist said something like unknown reasons but problems like other pgw vets qualify with dsm iv (I think), now after retired they had another appointment because of memory problems, depression/anxiety (seeing a va counselor and such). The neurophysc tests came back good, brain is working well. A few things our friend said was the neurophysch seen sleep apnea and asked if treated with a cpap now. The answer was yes, so neurophysc said (not sure if he wrote it down) but possible reason test were bad back on active duty was maybe sleep apnea and good now because cpap has fixed that. Also said memory problems and depression now is probably because of current pain.

So it might be a stretch but if the military doctor on active duty thought svcmbr had sleep apnea could this neurophysch thoughts be help.......there are smr notes but not diagnoses.

Also would it be reasonable to claim depression/anxiety due to chronic pain and how is this rated?

Opps, also the person claimed sciatica on their claim but examiner said no sciatica but a lumbar strain. No MRI was given but probably 5 years later went to pain clinic and received a tens was also told pain was sciatica. Can that get reopened or not worth it and how to change to ivds or idvs?

Appreciate it and will pass all info on.

[What Does This Mean?]

Just a question. The cat is 70% rated, put in for bi lateral CTS. I don't know what his other ratings are for but wouldn't it seem a good chance of being approved for TDIU?

BrookH

Pete,

I didn't put in for TDIU. I put in a claim for Bi=Lateral CTS secondary to SC conditions. The changes to the Ebenefits site were made while my current claim is at the raters.

[New To Hadit]

Thanks for the hail's.

[New To Hadit]

Greetings,

New here and have some questions concerning my husband and VA claims. I hope to learn a lot and share my new knowledge with other Veterans.

Brook