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Organized_Chaos

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Everything posted by Organized_Chaos

  1. Negative, jfrie. There was nothing else but the forms to appeal the decision. I posted everything I received. When i submitted my claim, I included over 25 pieces of evidence to support my claims. ( service records, VA records, buddy/lay statements, Medical studies/articles, ect.
  2. This is all I received. The first two pages is just a history of past payments for dependents added to my claim. Where do I find a "statement of the case"?
  3. This is all I received from the VA. The didn't include any additional information. I don't know which documents they looked at and which they dismissed. How can I find out more information? The rest of the document follows the same pattern. Two other disabilities were granted (asthma 30%, hiatal hernia 10%) and 2 were deferred(GERD and Hamstring). The document just states the issue and explination just like the picture above.
  4. This is the sleep apnea denial portion i received from the VA. what i dont understand is how can they say that there is no service connection but yet on the next line they specifically say that there is a record of treatment in service for sleep apnea. how does that make sense? I never had any respiratory problems until I developed asthma in the service. No, I dont have any additional medical evidence. I thought what I submitted would be sufficient. I include my sleep study results from the VA, which the VA diagnosed me with severe OSA, service records showing treatment and symptoms of OSA, sworn statements from family members attesting to no respiratory problems prior to my enlistment and I was even able to get in touch with my former roommate for 2 years in Germany and got a sworn statement from him stating the fact that I had no problems sleeping or snoring when we first became roommates but became a significant problem by the time I MED boarded from the Army because of my asthma. Should I just pursue an IMO instead of a lawyer?
  5. I recently received my initial denial of my sleep apnea claim. I plan on appealing the decision but I need advise o how to proceed because i did all the work myself for my claim. (30% asthma, 10% hiatal hernia, GERD deferred, Hamstring strain deferred). Should I hire a lawyer, VSO, or just get an IMO? Any referrals of lawyers? I live in NYC.
  6. I do have a prescribed CPAP machine that i use every night. I took the sleep study at the VA and the diagnosed me with severe OSA and gave me a the machine. The CPAP machine works. It dropped my AHI from 77.5 to 12.5. In my army medical records these is evidence of me complaining about fatigue and day time sleepiness.
  7. I served from 2000-2004 and my final 2 1/2 years were in Germany. I do have a prescribed CPAP machine. No I havent been seen by a private doc. All my diagnoses came from the VA. They are the ones treating me for my disabilities. I also have submitted sworn statements verifying that I had no respiratory issues prior to joining the Army. I was medically discharged from the Army for asthma (30%) a month before my ETS date. I was waiting to see if anything gets denied and the I will hire an attorney. Is this a good idea?
  8. I was diagnosed with GERD and asthma while still in the army 2002. I just never knew you could claim GERD. When I was diagnosed with asthma while stationed Germany, it was the first time i ever had any respiratory issues. In my in service medical records there is evidence of me complaining of fatigue and sleepiness but the doctors diagnosed me with asthma. They never mentioned anything about sleep apnea. I didnt even know what it was until my VA doctor sent me to do a sleep study. I just thought my sleep apnea symptoms where asthma symptoms. The sleep study was at the VA hospital and my results were Severe Sleep apnea. I also have a sworn statement from my roommate in Germany stating the fact that I didnt snore when we became roommates but as time passed, I began to snore loudly. They used to joke on my snoring lol.
  9. How's it going fellow vets, I am writing in reference to my up coming C&P exam. I submitted my claim on August 30 and just recieved a call from the VA to schedule my C&P exam for GERD/Hiatal hernia, Asthma and Severe Sleep Apnea. I am currently rated at 30% sc for asthma. Has anyone taken any of these exams? What should I expect? How can I prepare myself for the exam and questioning? Has anyone had to deal with the VA hospital In Manhattan? Just looking for whatever advise I can get, thanks.
  10. What's up Fellow Vets, I have a question about back pay. I was medically discharged from the Army in 2004. In my VA paperwork, prior to discharge, I claimed my asthma ( which I am 30% sc) and my left hamstring stains. I was approved sc for my asthma (30%) but my the claim for my leg was denied because they said it wasnt a chronic. Since my discharge, I have re-injured the same hamstring at least 2 times a year. I am currently receiving physical therapy for the same hamstring at the VA hospital. I noticed on Ebenefits that my claim for my leg was still there waiting to be reopened, so i clicked the option to reopen my claim. Do you think I have a case for my leg? If so, do you think this will qualify for back pay since the original claim was filed in 2004? Thanks for the advice.
  11. What's up Fellow Vets, I have a question about back pay. I was medically discharged from the Army in 2004. In my VA paperwork, prior to discharge, I claimed my asthma ( which I am 30% sc) and my left hamstring stains. I was approved sc for my asthma (30%) but my the claim for my leg was denied because they said it wasnt a chronic. Since my discharge, I have re-injured the same hamstring at least 2 times a year. I am currently receiving physical therapy for the same hamstring at the VA hospital. I noticed on Ebenefits that my claim for my leg was still there waiting to be reopened, so i clicked the option to reopen my claim. Do you think I have a case for my leg? If so, do you think this will qualify for back pay since the original claim was filed in 2004? Thanks for the advice.
  12. I'm waiting to see if they want me to have a C&P exam. Hopefully then i can further explain my case for the OSA and asthma link. I also submitted 2 medical studies that support the link between asthma, GERD and sleep apnea. hopefully they take them into consideration. The following is the full BDQ for the sleep apnea: LOCAL TITLE: C&P GENERAL MEDICINE STANDARD TITLE: INTERNAL MEDICINE C & P EXAMINATION CONSULT DATE OF NOTE: SEP 08, 2017 ENTRY DATE: SEP 08, 2017 AUTHOR: *******,******* EXP COSIGNER: URGENCY: STATUS: COMPLETED Sleep Apnea Disability Benefits Questionnaire REFERRAL CLINIC --------------- Name of patient/Veteran: ****** Is this DBQ being completed in conjunction with a VA 21-2507, C&P Examination Request? [ ] Yes [X] No If no, how was the examination completed (check all that apply)? [X] In-person examination [X] Records reviewed Evidence Review --------------- Evidence reviewed (check all that apply): [X] VA e-folder (VBMS or Virtual VA) [X] CPRS 1. Diagnosis ------------ Does the Veteran have or has he/she ever had sleep apnea? [X] Yes [ ] No [X] Obstructive ICD code: g47.33 Date of diagnosis: 2017 2. Medical history ------------------ a. Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's sleep disorder condition (brief summary): Veteran reports excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep ,snoring and frequent awakening. He had a sleep study at Northport VAMC on 8/11/2017 whihc showed severe obstructive sleep apnea with AHI 77.5 events per hour. He had a CPAP titration study on 8/23/2017 which showed improvement to AHI of 12.9 events per hour. He just got his CPAP machine yesterday. As of now, he gets about 4 hours of sleep per night. He does not restorative sleep. He does find himself falling asleep during the day. b. Is continuous medication required for control of a sleep disorder condition? [ ] Yes [X] No c. Does the Veteran require the use of a breathing assistance device? [ ] Yes [X] No d. Does the Veteran require the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine? [X] Yes [ ] No 3. Findings, signs and symptoms ------------------------------- Does the Veteran currently have any findings, signs or symptoms attributable to sleep apnea? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, check all that apply: [X] Persistent daytime hypersomnolence 4. Other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs, symptoms and scars a. Does the Veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs or symptoms related to any conditions listed in the Diagnosis Section above? [ ] Yes [X] No b. Does the Veteran have any scars (surgical or otherwise) related to any conditions or to the treatment of any conditions listed in the Diagnosis Section above? [ ] Yes [X] No c. Comments, if any: No response provided. 5. Diagnostic testing --------------------- a. Has a sleep study been performed? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, does the Veteran have documented sleep disorder breathing? [X] Yes [ ] No Date of sleep study: 8/11/2017 Facility where sleep study performed, if known: ******* VAMC Results: severe obstructive sleep apnea with AHI of 77.5 events per day b. Are there any other significant diagnostic test findings and/or results? [ ] Yes [X] No 6. Functional impact -------------------- Does the Veteran's sleep apnea impact his or her ability to work? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, describe impact of the Veteran's sleep apnea, providing one or more examples: he is tired throughout the day. His poor sleep has led to foggy thinking and poor short term memory. 7. Remarks, if any: ------------------- No remarks provided. I haven't had a C&P yet
  13. I just want to say that we need more sites like this one. The whole VA filing system is pretty intimidating. By reading posts submitted by fellow Vets, it helped ease the stress. Thank you for the response. My concern is with the SC. In my army medical file, there are records of me complaining of fatigue and orthopnea but there is no mention of sleep apnea. Since I was diagnosed with asthma, I just thought my OSA symptoms were asthma symptoms. I never knew about sleep apnea until I was diagnosed with it. Plus on my DBQ there is no mention of my history and/or linking it to my army service. I submitted the following evidence: BDQ (but history not mentioned) copies of army medical records stating fatigue and orthopnea VA medical records (all medical treatments are with the VA hospital in NY) Sworn statement stating no respiratory or sleep disorders prior to military (parents) Unemployability form from my current job I there any other evidence I should be submitting? I also submitted a claim for my Hiatal hernia / GERD. There is evidence in my service medical file diagnosing me with GERD and I had an endoscopy done last year and it showed that I have a Hiatal hernia. I submitted all evidence for this claim.
  14. What's up Fellow Vets, I am new to this site and I wanted to explain my case and get advise. I was medically discharged from the Army in 2004 due to a diagnosis of asthma (30% disability). I never had any kind of respiratory problems until I arrived in Germany in 2003. I started experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, excessive snoring, dry mouth, fatigue, ect. After several trips to the doctor and several tests, the Army doctors diagnosed me with having asthma. I never had asthma so all the symptoms i was experiencing were new to me. Fast forward to 2017, I was having trouble with the hormones in my body. I was experiencing ecessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, memory problems and loud snoring (ask my wife). After several tests and appointments, it was requested by my doctor that I have a sleep study performed. I didnt know why I would need this test but reluctantly, I agreed and took the test. After the test, I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea with an AHI 77.5. Moderate is 5 and severe is 10+. So it turns out that the symptoms i was experiencing while in the army were of both asthma and severe OSA. The doctors in the Army never even mentioned or tested me for sleep apnea. I had a DBQ done at the VA Hospital in which i am being treated. In the DBQ, the Dr states: a. Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's sleep disorder condition (brief summary): Veteran reports excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep ,snoring and frequent awakening. He had a sleep study at Northport VAMC on 8/11/2017 whihc showed severe obstructive sleep apnea with AHI 77.5 events per hour. He had a CPAP titration study on 8/23/2017 which showed improvement to AHI of 12.9 events per hour. He just got his CPAP machine yesterday. As of now, he gets about 4 hours of sleep per night. He does not restorative sleep. He does find himself falling asleep during the day. Does the Veteran's sleep apnea impact his or her ability to work? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, describe impact of the Veteran's sleep apnea, providing one or more examples: he is tired throughout the day. His poor sleep has led to foggy thinking and poor short term memory. I just went on ebenefits and submitted a claim for sleep apnea and Unemployability. Do you think i have a valid claim?
  15. What's up Fellow Vets, I am new to this site and I wanted to explain my case and get advise. I was medically discharged from the Army in 2004 due to a diagnosis of asthma (30% disability). I never had any kind of respiratory problems until I arrived in Germany in 2003. I started experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, excessive snoring, dry mouth, fatigue, ect. After several trips to the doctor and several tests, the Army doctors diagnosed me with having asthma. I never had asthma so all the symptoms i was experiencing were new to me. Fast forward to 2017, I was having trouble with the hormones in my body. I was experiencing ecessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, memory problems and loud snoring (ask my wife). After several tests and appointments, it was requested by my doctor that I have a sleep study performed. I didnt know why I would need this test but reluctantly, I agreed and took the test. After the test, I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea with an AHI 77.5. Moderate is 5 and severe is 10+. So it turns out that the symptoms i was experiencing while in the army were of both asthma and severe OSA. The doctors in the Army never even mentioned or tested me for sleep apnea. I had a DBQ done at the VA Hospital in which i am being treated. In the DBQ, the Dr states: a. Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's sleep disorder condition (brief summary): Veteran reports excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep ,snoring and frequent awakening. He had a sleep study at Northport VAMC on 8/11/2017 whihc showed severe obstructive sleep apnea with AHI 77.5 events per hour. He had a CPAP titration study on 8/23/2017 which showed improvement to AHI of 12.9 events per hour. He just got his CPAP machine yesterday. As of now, he gets about 4 hours of sleep per night. He does not restorative sleep. He does find himself falling asleep during the day. Does the Veteran's sleep apnea impact his or her ability to work? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, describe impact of the Veteran's sleep apnea, providing one or more examples: he is tired throughout the day. His poor sleep has led to foggy thinking and poor short term memory. I just went on ebenefits and submitted a claim for sleep apnea and Unemployability. Do you think i have a valid claim?
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