Black3018

I finished my claim, and I submitted buddy letters and copies of my sleep study conducted by the VA. I filed my claim as a secondary to PTSD which I have a 50% rating for. Is there anything else I need to bring to the C&P with me? I was given a CPAP machine and was given a diagnosis for OSA. For some reason this exam has me extremely anxious and nervous. Thank you guys in advance.

Buck my total is 60%. 50% ptsd, and 10% for tinnitus. Im also putting in for my scar under my eye from where I took shrapnel. Im gonna put in for it and see what happens. Im still waiting on a couple of buddy letters to come in. Thank you all for thegreat advice and motivation. I wish I could help people more but the VA stuff confuses me.

I wasnt going to get any help until my wife woke me up and said that I scared her because I stopped breathing while I was sleeping. Thats honestly the only reason I went to the VA for help. I didnt snore before I was in.

Buck, if youre not receiving PTSD meds is it still possible to link the sleep apnea to PTSD? I received a rating of 60% and included as my symptoms sleep issues. had the sleep study done and was diagnosed with OSA. just got the CPAP. Any advice would be appreciated.

I wish you the best of luck. I was in the same boat as you are. I have a purple heart for shrapnel to the face that I received in Fallujah in 04. I got out in 05 and didn't think I had any issues. It took until 2014 for me to realize that I needed help. I was jumpy, getting more and more paranoid, plus I couldn't operate in large crowds due to situational anxiety. When I first put in for my claim, the C&P examiner didn't have my file, I ended up getting denied. They said I had PTSD but none of my issues were service related. I went to therapy, built my evidence and the filed to reopen due to new evidence. Had to do a new C&P and it lasted about 2 hours. I ended up getting 50% but in order to make all this happen I had to get my congressman involved. I only had to write two stressor events and I used the two that I still think about everyday. Good luck and most importantly don't get discouraged. Its a process and You WILL WIN if you keep fighting.

I agree with buck, I havnt been to my therapy in a few months due to scheduling conflicts. Ive noticed a change in myself and I honestly don't like it. The main thing is realizing that people are there for you and once you establish a relationship with your treatment person it gets easier. Things will still be tough but they give you tools to help. Like buck said im not sure if its working but I do feel better when I go. I have a scheduled appointment in the next 30 days but I may bump it up to something closer. Good luck and remember there are people who are there to help. for some that's the hardest part to accept.

Well, I didn't go to medical for sleep issue because it was a normal thing in my unit. I have the contact info for an attorney who specializes in fighting the VA and has done several sleep apnea cases. Im going to contact him and get help because it seems like Im goin to need it. I have made contact with people I was stationed with and they are writing letters saying that I snored and had breathing issues while I was living with them. Thank you guys for the advice. I am also going to file a claim for my scar under my eye where I received shrapnel. Its going to be a process and I will fight on. Thanks again. Im also getting my full medical and service records. that might take some time but It needs to be done

Well I just got my results back from the sleep study. I have mild obstructive sleep apnea. I'm going to pick up my CPAP machine on Friday. I'm going to file a disability claim for sleep apnea. Since the VA gave me this diagnosis what else do I need to put into my claim? Do I need letters from people I served with stating that I snored loudly? I never had a sleep study while on active duty

Ok. I will do my intent to file. Now can I use my personal doctor as a quailifed medical specialist? and would it be smart to have a second sleep study through my personal insurance provider? I don't have any PTSD meds prescribed to me so the MEds shouldn't be an issue.

I got my equipment for the at home sleep study. After i give it back the staff said it could be 3-5 weeks before i get my results back. Should I set up my claim now or wait for the results of my sleep study? I dont want ot jump the gun and make this harder for me to claim. Also, how do I go about doing a secondary symptom claim? Thank you in advance everyone

I do have my wife statement that she has woken me up several times because I stopped breathing. and my snoring is getting worse. My wife sleeps in another room. I do have a depression diagnoisis from when I was in but that's about it. I have my sleep study scheduled for jan. 23rd and its the at home one. Im hoping I can get some help because Im exhausted all the time and Im driving my wife nuts with the snoring.

Hello everyone, I just had my initial consult for sleep apnea. I havnt had the sleep study performed yet but I did get these numbers from the initial questionnaire: Berlin Questionnaire: POSITIVE (+++) Epworth Sleepiness Scale: 9/24 Fatigue Severity Scale: 42/63 Insomnia Severity Index: 18/28 Based on these results and suspicion for sleep disordered breathing, an oligosomnogram was ordered. Sleep Clinic follow-up scheduled in ~6 months. I wasn't diagnosed with any sleep issues while I was active but when I was explaining to my PTSD therapist about how I was having issues sleeping she stated that it seems like I have insomnia and possibly a major sleep apnea issue. My wife had to wake me up several times a night when shes home due to either snoring or breathing issues. My question to you guys is what would be the best way to put a claim in for sleep apnea? Should I do the secondary issue and attach it to my ptsd (rated at 50%)? this will be only my second claim and I want to make sure I do it right. Please help me

It says 4/8/2016 but that can't be right. They opened my original case back up and it should be 2/2014 as an effective date like the other part of my original claim

I received my decision last night. 50% PTSD and depressive disorder for a total of 60%. Thank you guys for the encouragement. Now how do I find out what the effective date is? They reopened my case so it should go all the way back to February of 2014 due to my first claim being a fully developed claim. They also added my wife as a dependent which is a good thing. Thank you guys very much!!!

i just check Ebenefits and my new claim has been changed to a reopen and it has a decision date of 5-18/ 5-20. does the reopen mean my original date is still good?