paulstrgn

Thank you everyone...I just need to get my act together and make sure I get on a schedule to keep my equipment cleaned.

I have washed my mask in water all the time, I was not aware that I should not get it wet.

Buck thanks that I did not know about the cleaning of the cleaning machine. I like the idea of using mouth wash on the hose and mask. I agree it may be a hassle at first but like anything it just getting use to the steps, I really like the part for saving money.

Thank you Vync for your feedback. I am looking at something that makes it easier to clean (I seem to forget to clean it as often as I should). I am not sure if my reservoir is dishwasher safe or not, I got my CPAP back in 2015. I was looking at this one since I have a 40% off coupon for CVS which makes it only $160.

Has any one ever used the Sleep8 CPAP Cleaner for cleaning their CPAP equipment? I know there are a couple out there but I was wondering about this one. I am trying to figure out which type is best to use, as those that use CPAP machines knows we need to clean the hoses on a regular basis. Thanks in advance for any and all information

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone. I am so thankful for the friends I have made on this site and the amazing help that is so willing given to all the vets, no matter what!! Hadit is a site that helps all veterans with their claims while still making them feel a part of a community. Thank you @Tbird for starting this site, because of you starting this site you have helped thousands of vets work their way through the VA maze.

Thoughts and prayers are with you...wishing you a very speedy recovery!!!!!

Buck have you tried calling Tri West to see if they can send the approval physical care center, you shouldn't have to but it might speed things up. Here is their number in case you don't have it 1-855-722-2838. I got their number from http://www.triwest.com/en/contact/. Hopefully they will help you.

That is good news. I must say it is sad when someone answers there phone at work is a good thing. Are we not all supposed to answer our phones at work?

This is so very true, they would write everywhere on the STR. How I wish I was in when the military used computers to enter in our medical information. It is so challeneging to read the chicken scratch the doctors wrote.

I suggest an NOD to keep the same effective date that you originally filed. Did you have a sleep study? If you did was it the sleep doctor who stated your OSA was because of your back? Did they state why your OSA was caused from your back and support it with medical evidence and sound medical opinion to connect the OSA to your back? They also need to state that they reviewed all your medical records when giving the opinion. The VA should have stated further down in your decision letter how they came up witth their decision. It should state why this was grouped together. File the NOD, remember you need to do this within 12 months of the decision. Good luck

@lawbro I got the confirmation my fax machine printed, I did call the 800# about a week later to make sure it was in the "intake" system (can't remember what they call it) which it was.. It took about 3 weeks for it to show up in the system. I had faxed it on 9/10/2019 and I had a call and it was completed by 10/16/2019. Yes that is the fax number I sent it in to. I have always faxed in my HLRs, I did fax my BVA and also mailed everything in to make sure. If you faxed it in on 11/20 I would give it a few more weeks for it to show up in VA.gov (it won't show up in eBenefits). Good luck.

I would never had thought of sending a good rating back to the BVA but what Vetquest is suggesting is excellent advice, you have nothing to lose by having sent back to the BVA. Buddy letters do help especially at the BVA level. Good luck

That is hitting the nail on the head...getting the VA to just read the evidence submitted. It really would cut down on their work.

Going from 90% to 100% can be the hardest part, I know it was for me. I would not worry about the C&P I am sure you will do fine, but I do suggest to take copies of your IMO, DBQ and Nexus letters to each exam. They may or may not except them, most of the time when I do they are happy that I brought them with me. Always remember whether a disability is SC or secondary to a SC disability they are rated the same way. OSA will be 50% either way. Good luck.

As stated above, if your condition has gotten worse then file for an increase. I would suggest not worrying about something that has not happened. There is nothing you can do if they do re-schedule you, but don't worry about it. Only worry about it IF it happens, after all we have no control over these things. Here is a link in case you were not aware of when you live overseas, it tells you want benefits you can still get when living overseas. https://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-abroad.asp Also as a side note, did you know that the VA has an office in the Philippines? I believe it is the only foreign office they have. Relax and enjoy your life!

I have had good luck filing with eBenefits, in fact I prefer it since it shows me right away that I have submitted a new claim vs faxing it in (both work though). Plus when I use eBenefits I can also submit all my supporting documents. This app mentioned by brokensoldier sounds like a good solution if you don't have a scanner. Remember no matter which way you file, whether by mail, fax, or ebenefits just as long as you file the claim. Good luck with your claim.

Unfortunately which seems to happen more often than not with the VA, they did not like your DBQ/medical opinion. I have had that happen to me when I filed for OSA, it took an appeal to the BVA to win it. You may need to get an IMO where it shows the reason why they feel you have degenerative osteoarthritis in both knees and how it is service connected either or is secondary to a connected disability. Always make sure when you do get an IMO that is clearly states their rationale as to why its service connected or secondary and that they have reviewed all your medical records (that is important). Also include their CV so it will clearly demonstrate that the doctor is qualified to render the IMO. Good luck but don't give up. Get the IMO and file a NOD, remember it must be filed within 12 months of the denial date.

@lawbro Yes I did, The whole process took less than 45 days for the EED on SA (including retro pay). The VA for the hypertension is call it "correcting an error" and will be scheduling me for a new C&P to determine what my rating would be. I am not sure how long that portion will take. But to be honest, I am not to concerned about the hypertension rating not being finished (it's currently 0%) because the rater made me 100% P&T back to Aug 2018. Originally I was only 100% not P&T. Once the hypertension is decided it will just add to the percentages but won't change my final rating. I also do not expect any retro for the hypertension as well. I have had good luck with HLR (I only had one denied) the rest were approved. Good luck with your HLR

Your best chances are one page, think of the first page as "Cliff Notes". Let it be your talking points covering all the documents you are submitting. Don't count on them reading everything, they will usually read the first page. But submit all the documents so if necessary you can use it for an HLR/appeal.

Okay, I am glad they notify you when they make a change.

Technology today is amazing. Do they ever send you a message if they adjust the pressure?

Shrek is correct, depending on the decision you should appeal it since they did not do a C&P. I understand the medical file review but they need to also do a C&P. They need to determine how bad your disability is which you cannot do with SMR.

I have a feeling that the VA will require me to have a new sleep study to get a new CPAP, I am not sure how often they should be replaced (the one I have is about 4 1/2 years old). My last sleep study was 4/2018 and I bet they will say that is too old to use, I hope I am wrong. I like the look of the CPAP machine above, it looks much smaller than the one I have. Now I just need the VA to set me up with a PCM, I was told it will be an outside doctor since they don't have any space available at my local VA.

I am just waiting for them to assign me a PCM so I can give the last sleep study results to be sent to the sleep medicine section. It seems so crazy that I must go through a PCM just to give them my paperwork. Now that my SA is SC I thought I might as well get this stuff for free. I do think I need a new machine. I like the idea of only sending a message to get my supplies. The app is nice to use. Thank you @Vync the information you provided has been very helpful.