Patton

@vetquest as always great advice! I wish I could have saved more of mine, but it went to Medical bills. @jefmil50 Looking at your rating in you signature, how did you go about getting rated for hypersomnolence associated with Insomnia? I filed for Sleep Apnea secondary to Insomnia and it was denied. I truly believe my Service-Connected Insomnia is at least part of the cause for my Sleep Apnea. They have my Insomnia listed as a MH disability. I don't want to highjack this post, so if you could message me, it would be great to receive any insight. Thanks, Patton

AnacortesB, Welcome to Hadit.com! If I remember right, it took about 2 weeks before I got my back pay from an Appeal. Now if they remanded it, then it would take longer, because it has to go back to the Regional Office (RO) before it is awarded. Pay should take affect on your next check. You can check eBenefits to see if they have paid it out. You should get your letter in about 10 days from the award also.

Rallen, I failed a number of times before learning how to successfully submit a claim. The key is to educate yourself and never give up. You have taken the first step in being successful. I am still fighting the battle but one day I will win the battle. Best of luck, Patton

I had this happen once before. I called VES (the Contractor) and asked them to resend my DBQ to the VA. Then I called the VA, stating that I had made the appointment and that VES stated that they would resend my DBQ. The VA stated that the Contractor did not address the questions that the Rater had. Three days later my claim was reopened, so now I am waiting for a new C&P Exam.

You should hear something very soon. You should be able to check eBenefits to see what they gave you once a decision is made.

Welcome to Hadit.com Robert Jones, I did a google search on JP4 and health issues. I found the attached research from https://apps.dtic.mil/ on the subject. GBArmy is correct, if it is not in your Service Treatment Records (STR), then you will need to get an IMO from a Doctor to connect your current condition with a condition/event during service. Below is something I had put together to help another Veteran: Make sure you have a copy of your Service Treatment Record, you can order a copy from here: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html You may need a copy of your Service Records also and you can order a copy from: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records While you are waiting on your records, go to the Doctor to show that you are still being treated for the condition. After receiving your records, go though it and make a copy of anything on this condition. Get a copy of Medical records after Service and make a copy of them also. Go to the 38 CFR here:https://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/bookc.asp#i The 38 CFR shows you how they rate a disability. The Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is a form that a Doctor fills out during your Compensation and Pension Exam (C&P Exam) which can be found here: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=&tkey=DBQ&Action=Search Both of these links has good information on what they are looking for. Then you will need to write a Statement in Support of Claim (VA Form 21-4138). In this statement include a what happen and a timeline of treatment for that condition (attach the copy of your medical records that you made a copy of and referred to them in your statement). You also need to include how this affects your daily life and work. I would have somebody else read your packet, to ensure that it makes sense and easy to follow. If you have not done so yet, setup a eBenefits account at: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage You can apply for benefits here or you can find a local Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to submit your packet for you. If you submit it thru eBenefits, it will ask you about submitting a claim for PTSD. A PTSD claim is a lot of work and I would research it before applying. eBenefit will walk you thru the whole process to include VA Form 21-526EZ. If you go thru a VSO, make sure you find one that you feel comfortable with. There are good and bad ones out there. If you do go thru a VSO, they should review all your Medical records, and help you apply for everything that they feel as though is service connected. Also bring any after service Medical records with you as there maybe secondary conditions that you could claim. Make sure that you keep a copy of everything you do, as you will need them someday. I hope this information is helpful and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. KEROSENE-BASED JET FUEL HEALTH EFFECTS.pdf

That is great news! Best of luck!

Buck is correct and I would like to add that when I have used a IMO in the past, the Doctor included Medical research documentation to back up his finding. Attached is one that Dr. Burgest did for me for an increase for GERD. The VA approved my increase without a new C&P Exam. He also included my Medical Records backing up his opinion. Page 3-10 GERD Increse-DBQ.pdf

I had my Doctors appointment today and he said that he will write a IMO. He still want to read more of my records, but he said that the Meds the VA has me on, more than likely caused my weight gain which in turn caused my Sleep Apnea. We also talked about GERD and Insomnia. He is also going to do another sleep study, to see if he can help me with some of my sleep issues. Hopefully he will have the IMO done in 2 weeks, when I see him for the sleep study.

VA math, I am not sure how they came up with 3.5% but my bilateral factor also included secondary conditions. The sad part is at 80% I still need another 110% to reach 100% and that is going to be very hard to do. I will get there but it is going to take a lot more work. I should have started this years ago, when my Brother-in-Law had told me that I needed to file.

Here is mine: 40% from 05/20/2014 60% from 08/11/2016 (Bilateral factor of 3.5 Percent for diagnostic codes 5271, 5257, 8520) 70% from 06/08/2017 (Bilateral factor of 3.5 Percent for diagnostic codes 5271, 5257, 8520) I am at 80% now, but this is what it said after receiving my C-File in 2017.

It is but when they add the VA math it comes out to 6.3%. You are lucky I only got 3.5%

This year, they added Insomnia to my Depression/ Anxiety (they would not call it PTSD in my case). It did not raise my rating (30%) but now it is SC. I have a feeling that he will look at Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) or GERD as the cause of my OSA. The Depression/ Anxiety/Insomnia is also an option, because the Medication they put you on to lack of motivation which all can cause weight gain. The VA still believes that OSA is caused by being overweight which is not true. So if your BMI is more than 25, use it, as it maybe the golden ticket. Best of luck and keep me posted on the outcome!

That is great news. Hopefully you have better luck than I did. I have wrote the BDD, in hopes they can help me locally. I know that they have full access to my records, as they have printed things out for me in the past. So let's see what happens.

Not unless you have something to add to your Claim. You are just saying to make a decision.