tanker267

I used one for my right shoulder for almost ten years, wouldn't leave home without it! It gave me enough relief to distract me from the constant pain. I've had no ill effects from using it. Only when the pads slipped off and gave me an unwelcome jolt. LOL :D

broncovet & Carlie, Thanks for your insight. Very good ideas. My weight gain and OSA started after my knees gave me trouble and I couldn't do cardio-vascular exercises anymore. I was on Vioxx, celebrex, nabumetome, relafin and ibrupofen at different times from 2001 to present. Now on atenolol for hypertension and simvastatin for chorlestoral. My knee surgeries in 2003 and 2004 put me out of work . The last one I was out 7 months 100% for VA comp. I retired under federal disability May 05. This really set me up for OSA. I was finally VA diagnosed in Dec 05. I didn't get cpap from the VA but had the Pillar Procedure there which didn't last. Just got on a cpap in Apr 09 from my civilian Dr. who won't give his IMO on OSA. So now I will get ready to win this, which I feel I will. They awarded me 0% for hypertsion for my weight and inactivity but not OSA.

broncovet, I believe you hit the nail on the head! I see many flaws in the Decision letter. Now I have to fight with stronger words. For instance: The VA Doctor who did the C&P in Aug at the Albany, VAMC stated "The veteran had a pillar procedure in an attempt to correct a flaccid soft palate. This, rather than central fat deposits, was more likely than not the cause of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea." Central fat deposits and a flaccid soft palatte to me mean the same thing - fat deposits and lost muscle tone due to lack of cardio-vascular exercise.

Bergie, Teac & halo2 - Thank you all for the great inforamation, insights and tips. You surely make this site a "Band of Brothers" and Sisters. One of the most revealing statements in the SOC was "When weighting the medical statemet from Dr_____ and the VA examiner's opinion, it is noted that Dr._______ did not base his opinion on a review of your claims file to include service treatment records. The VA examiner reviewed your entire claims file to include your private treatment records. As a result, greater weight is given to the VA examiner. Resonable doubt is not resolved in your favor as a preponderence of the evidence is unfavorable. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied." That being said, yes my DR.'s statement was sent in before I had my C&P. The day before I received all my treatment records from the VAMC. So now I will let the Dr. have them. By the way he has been my civilian PCP since I met him in 1982, as a resident in the VAMC!

Thanks Vync, I plan on listing point by point every discrepency they made. I had a copy of the C&P Doctor's report and I thought it read in my favor. But the rater saw only what he wanted and rated unfavorabably.

Today I received what I had hoped to be "Good News". But Noooooo! I was denied!! Sleep Apnea, bi-lateral knee increase and Hypertension now 0 percent service connection (only plus). I had to retire under disability from the USPS with 33 years because of my service connected disablities. I submitted a claim for Obstructed Sleep Apnea and Hypertension secondary to my knees and having had Sarcoidosis in my lungs, and 18 months of prednisone treatments in the early 80's. The VA Doctor who did the C&P in Aug at the Albany, VAMC stated "The veteran had a pillar procedure in an attempt to correct a flaccid soft palate. This, rather than central fat deposits, was more likely than not the cause of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea." I am SC 40%, 30% for bi lateral Osgood- Sclatter's Disease, 10% for tinnitus , Sarcoidosis 0%, 0% for hearing loss. I submitted various VA-4142's, VA 21-4138 from my wife along with 2 sleep studies, one conducted at the VA. My Family DR. wrote it up "as least as likely as not" caused by Service Connected Bi-Lateral Osgood- Sclatter's Disease and lateral meniscus tear/right knee. Due to his physical limitations he is unable to participate in cardio-vascular exercise, this has led to his weight increase, obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension. To add another bit of info, I had the Pillar Procedure done in May 2006 for severe snoring at the VA which helped for several months, it wasn't successful. The C&P Dr even stated that it "failed". I met and was treated in the VA Hospital in 1981 by my family Doctor! He was a resident there. He has been my PCP since then, so he is completely familiar with my medical history. The denial letter said that my Doctor didn't review my SMR and the C&P Doctor did. WTF???? The decision also stated that I was seen at the Buffalo VAMC, wrong. They left out thePillar Procedure done at the Albany, VAMC completely. They didn't review the VA clinic notes which showed my BP on two separate occassions over 100 distolic. Instead they showed the C&P BP = 125/ 90, 122/92 and 125/95 ( on medication ) They stated that I had arthroscopic surgery to repair my lateral meniscus tear /right knee - Not True I feel I have been, like many here completely let down by the system. There were many other technical mistakes made in the decision and C&P. What are your suggestions? I haven't been able to get a hold of my VSO. Please Help! Thank You!!