paulstrgn

I do get the salesman calling every few months to let me know they will be sending the new supplies. Since I have been getting this through tricare I have been paying a co-pay for all supplies. This is why I am trying to get on with the VA to send me the supplies.

Vetquest and Shrek are spot on. You need to wait for the BBE and go through the decision with a fine tooth comb. I have had one win at the BVA and they granted both conditions but sent it back to the RO to decide the percentage and the effective date. Good luck with your case.

In order for me to have my OSA approved (had to go to the BVA to get it approved) I a DBQ from my first sleep doctor and an IMO (which was done two years later) from a secons sleep doctor. The IMO indicated how he reviewed all my medical records and how my obesity (I listed all my weight while in the USAF) where it showed I was over weight as well as my hypertension which went undiagnosied while in the servie. Those two as well as a buddy letter form my NCOIC, a letter from myseld, ex-wife and adult daughter helped get me approved for OSA. I went through serveral denielas and finally the BVA in order to get it apprved. I did the leg work byproviding my doctor a spread shet with all my weights while in the service as well as a chart for my hypertension. My original claim was filed in 7/2015 (I retired in 1995) and was approved by the BVA on 7/2/2019. So don't give up, just go through all your SMR and list all your weight of when ever you went to the doctor while in the service, with the weight and your height also list you BMI (body mass index) this is what indicates if you are obiest or not. Bottom line is do your homework and go back to the doctor who said you had OSA and see if they will write an IMO for you, if it was the VA then you may need to find a civilian doctor to write one for you. I would do this for all your denied disabilities. Good luck

There are good VSOs and not so good VSOs, I suggest you pick carefully. Some VSOs are there just to have something to do and be around other people where others are truly wanting to help. I don't necessarly blame these individuals it just that they are not realizing they may be causing harm to vets who really need help. As I have said in other posts you are your own best represenative, no one cares more than you do. Always check the advice given and if you don't agree then let them know. It is always your choice on what actions to take, no one elses. The nice thing with this site Hadit you are never alone, there is lots of sound advice to be given. Everyone on this site is here to help!!!

@vetquest I am hoping I can find the right one also. I am thinking I may also need to do a saline rinse each night as well. I hae it when the air leaks around the mask, it will wake me up every time. I appreciate you shwing hw the mask works outside of a comercial, real life is much better. I am thinking they need a new SMC K for those who wear a mask...lol

Buck I am hoping it does, I would love to get a mask that will work all night or at least most of the night. Having SA is such a pain, I hate wearing the mask. When I wear the mask I am a real ladies man....its a real turn on for them...lol

Tricare is the same way, when I hit 65 I must get tricare for life. I will also still be paying premiums under tricare for my wife and kids. In my case my military ID will expire when I turn 65 and in order to renew it I have to have proof of tricare for life (am=nother name for medicare part b).

I was reseraching the mask and found it for $99 and free shipping. for orders over $99. I may buy it, not sure if my insurance will cover the cost of it or not but the price seems good. https://www.thecpapshop.com/resmed-airfit-n30-nasal-cpap-mask-with-headgear?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o9&scid=scplp64223-BUNDLE&sc_intid=64223-BUNDLE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrvyi16Hy5QIVDZSzCh15eABBEAQYCSABEgItvvD_BwE I need a mas that will work.

I don't disagree with what you are saying Buck, but I interpit the requirements as needing one not that they use one but require one. But with that said a veteran is placing their health at a greater risk by not using one. I do recommend that they use one if it is needed, it does help. Plus in case I am wrong (which won't be the first time) you don't want to lose that 50% rating but not using it. Just wondering Buck, how often do you go to the sleep shop at the VA? Since I got mine through tricare I don't ever go. I do get a new sleep study though every few years per my PCM.

I have received my C-File twice, once in 10/2017 and 5/2019. As far as I can tell the second one has all the first ones info plus everything that has happened since then (2,500 pages in first one and 3,750 pages in the second one). I requested another copy of my complete C-File last week, I expect to see it in April or May 2020 (they are slow). I was not charged anything for the second disk. I would suggest emailing the Chief of Staff of the VA and ask for her assistance. I am sure once she is contacted it will be unlocked.

I am lucky to have tricare also, I don't want to use the VA except for CPAP equipment. I guess I will need to have the VA PCM also do annual physicals even though I have them at Ft Eustis where my tricare PCM is located.

wow...that is so tough...i pray they find the right meds for you...ones that don't upset your stomach. Hang in there it will all be a bad memory soon.

I will have to research this, it sounds interesting.

I will try thesaline nasal rinse to see if that will help. I am hoping that either with the device or a combo of the device with the CPAP machine I will be good to go.

This I understand, but I see it as being required for the SA. It does not say the veteran must use it (now it would be stupid not to), I think is what would happen is the VA would stop issueing CPAP machine and the supplies. I have hypertension if I am stupid enough not to use my meds I would still have the same rating. I might die quickly from not using them, but it is not a requirement. My last C-PAP I got through tricare which means I had a small co-pay, my last sleep study was last year. My doctor on base said I should have a a sleepstudy every few years. I need to get a PCM at the VA so I can get referred to sleep medicine, I would like it if I could at least get my supplies through them. It is such a hassle to get a PCM with the VA, I have been waiting for a week for them to call me back. It will probably be a civilian PCM which is fine with me, I just need my paperwork forwarded to get my supplies and possibly a new CPAP machine.

Sherk I am sorry you needed to go to the ER, I pray you get better quickly. If you are referring to filing for an increase I would go ahead and file it now. I would submit all the doctors notes that relate to this. You may need an IMO to get the increase. Good luck and hope you get better.

As stated above an IMO does go along ways (even though it is sad to have to spend our own money to prove our disability) but in my case that is won my appeal to the BVA. tHE doctor gave sound reasoning plus mentioned that they went through my STR, in fact he referrenced some of my doctor visits in my STR. In my case I looked at spending the money for an IMO as an investment to winning my VA claim. When I won I received a nice retro check since my original claim went back over 4 years. Good luck

Vync, I don't disagree with you but no where does it states you must be using the CPAP to maintain SA as a disability. You only need to have one prescribed as needing one. Now with that being said I highly recommend using your CPAP if for no other reason to help your condition. I have been using my CPAP machince since 2015 and I am still struggling to get the right mask to work for me. It seems like no matter what I try I can only use it for 5 hours more or less per night. I have a hard time sleeping with it. Having scolosis does not help. I have thought about going to see my dentist to see if they could make me an appliance to use at night to help me breathe better.

If your decision was sent oit on 10/29/2019 then you only need to wait 10 business days 11/13/2019 was day 10. You can call the 800 number and they will fax you a copy of the decision.

You are spot on, we could be getting nothing. I am grateful for whatever I can get.

I would suggest submitting the additional evidence. Anything that helps his claim to be granted should be submitted. I don't believe it should slow down his process, but if it does it will be well worth it to have his claim granted.The effective date will be the same.

For normal claims (not HLR/NOD) you can find your pending claim in eBenefits by clicking on your disabilities and at the bottom it will show you pending claim. You can click on it and it will take you to that claim. HLR/NOD you must use va.gov

I can look at your CUE but I am not the best person for that @Berta is awesome with CUEs there are also others here who are much more qualified than I am when it comes to CUEs.

The VA pays after the fact, Octobers pay comes in November. It is my understanding that that the partial month (9/2 is considered a partial month) you do not get paid for, only for full months. So in your friends case October is the first month he is paid and November 1st is the pay date. I ran into the same situation, it stinks but it is the way the VA does it. I am happy to hear your friend did get 100% to begin with.

Thank you for creating the business cards...they look very professional.