[General Compensation Question]

2 hours ago, PEACHES1962 said:

I am currently 50% from sleep apnea secondary to fibro. 

Ok, great! I'm glad you won that. I'm in the process of filing a similar claim as you listed above.

Same thing, great IMO and am now just waiting.  

It's good to see sleep apnea secondary to fibro  win.  

Thanks again for all of your previous posts, very informative.

Waterboy

[General Compensation Question]

On 9/12/2019 at 3:51 PM, PEACHES1962 said:

This is my first time writing on this site even though I read it alot. I submitted a claim in July 2019 for sleep apnea secondary to chronic fatigue syndrome (Secondary), sleep disturbances (related to: Environmental Hazard in Gulf War) (New), sleep apnea (secondary to: sleep disturbances) (New). I have had my exam through LHI in August with the following remarks from my examiner:

Veteran was also diagnosed with OSA and is compliant with a CPAP machine therapy.

Concerning the contention of Sleep disturbances due to environmental hazards in Gulf War. Veteran has sleep
disturbances that are likely a result of PTSD type symptoms with nightmares, insomnia which are both hallmark symptoms of PTSD and trauma based
disorders. Her sleep disturbances are also a result of her diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and other Gulf War medical issues.

In fact, it is highly likely her sleep disturbances have incurred from both all stressor occurrences while she was in Army.

I also have a supplemental claim in progress for PTSD that was initially denied in 2008 and the examiner stated:

Veteran's previous C & PReview PTSD Examination was completed on MAY 13,
2008 by Cristina Gamez-Galka, Ph.D., of Houston, TX. Dr. Gamez-Galka diagnosed veteran with PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder. A C & P Initial
PTSD Examination completed on MAY 6, 2002 by Dunn, Ph.D. (Houston VAMC) also diagnosed veteran with PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder,
recurrent.

Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood

My question is, would this be enough to qualify me for compensation or is it a chance I will be denied?

I must add that I am currently seeing a VA psychologist for PTSD.

Thank you guys for your responses.

Hi Peaches.  I to have a similar case and came across your post. Excellent info and thank you for sharing it.   I was wondering how you made out or are you still waiting?

I am a Gulf War Vet.  I have 40% Fibromyalgia service connected as Environmental hazard in Gulf War as well as 30% PTSD combat related.

I was diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea and am currently using a CPAP.  I am in the process of filing a claim for Sleep Apnea secondary to my Fibromyalgia.  I am waiting on my DBQ and IMO in the mail.  There is a solid study published in 2017 by Turkish Thoracic Journal called " Is there a link between OSA syndrome and Fibromyalgia syndrome".  Listed with PubMed.gov which hosts US national Library of Medicine and national institute of health. This study is a great piece of information to justify the phrase " at least as likely as not".

Their results and conclusion were:

RESULTS:  OSAS was detected in 50% of patients with FMS. The most prominent clinical findings were morning fatigue and sleep disorder, which were similar in three groups. In polysomnography (PSG) evaluation, patients with FMS had mild (33%), moderate (25%), and severe (42%) OSAS. In correlation analyses, negative correlations were observed between fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) and mean oxygen saturation, visual analogue scale (VAS), and minimum oxygen saturation, whereas a positive correlation was found between FIQ and desaturation times in patients with FMS.

CONCLUSION:

Detection of OSAS in 50% of the patients with FMS, and similar rates of complaints of sleep disorder and morning fatigue of OSAS and FMS cases are important results. Detection of correlation between the severity of hypoxemia and FIQ and VAS scores are significant because it signifies the contribution of increased tissue hypoxemia to the deterioration of clinical status. Diagnosis and treatment of OSAS associated with FMS are important because of their favorable contributions to the improvement of the clinical picture of FMS.

Thanks

Waterboy

 

[Sleep Apnea linked to PTSD or Fibromyalgia]

20 hours ago, broncovet said:

Let the "evidence" decide, they wont award per your opinion anyway.  

For secondary service connection "to either" PTSD or Fibro, you need a doctors report that says your OSA is "at least as likely as not" due to (PTSD or FIBRO), assuming you are SC for both.  

You also dont need to "choose" when you apply.  Instead, "apply" for OSA secondary to any of your sc conditions or primary.  You dont need to be a doctor...let the docs be docs and the raters be raters, and you, well do what you do and dont try to be a doctor or a rater.  

Personally, my sleep doc said that depression, ptsd and OSA all have similar symptoms and are intertwined.  But, its about what YOUR doctors say about you, not what my doc says about me or someone else.  

Just apply, like this:

"I want to apply for OSA both primary and secondary to my sc condition(s).  

Then ask your doctors if they think your (PTSD OR FIBRO) is at least as likely as not releated to your osa.  It soes not matter what we think or even what you think.  Its what the doc and the evidence supports.  

 

Thank You broncovet! 

[Sleep Apnea linked to PTSD or Fibromyalgia]

1.)  Which is better for Sleep Apnea to be linked with when filing a claim / appeal, PTSD or Fibromyalgia?  Sleep Apnea as secondary to my 30% PTSD (Chronic Sleep Impairment is one of the symptoms) service connected or my 40% Fibromyalgia service connected? I was diagnosed with Severe Obstructed Sleep Apnea in 2009, sleep studies and use of CPAP.  Stopped CPAP due to issues.  Fast forward to present day, had a current sleep test, same severe OSA and am on and will continue to use a CPAP. All done through the VA.  I've done tons of research.  There are good, solid studies for both linking Sleep Apnea to them.   Can you claim simultaneously that both conditions aggravate it and vice versa? Get a Nexus Letter from both doctors in each field and DBQ's from both as well or have one doctor write they both have a correlation... Then submit it all together showing that...  Just curious on all of your thoughts before I go ahead and file.  I am currently working on getting IMO's / Nexus Letters, shortly...

I know these phrases are key as well:

"is due to" (100% sure)
"more likely than not" (greater than 50%)
"at least as likely as not" (equal to or greater than 50%)

Based on my evaluation of the veteran, it is my opinion that it is at least as likely as not that SoandSo's diagnosed OSA is aggravated by his service connected PTSD or Fibromyalgia. I also feel that it is at least as likely as not that SoandSo's PTSD or Fibromyalgia is aggravated by his OSA."

2.)  Also, as a back up, has anyone ever used Valor4Vets to get a Nexus Letter or DBQ? If so, were they worth it / reputable?  I'm currently arranging for my own doctors but if they get all weird on me...

Thanks

Waterboy

1989-1992 101st Airborne/ Air Assault

Infantry

Persian Gulf War