Sleep Apnea Secondary To Physical Disabilities

[JayBrown1]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was issued a CPAP machine. My PCP at the VA told me it was because I am over weight and told me I needed to exercise and watch my diet. I have a fused left knee(40%), Lower back(40%), I was told by Ortho doctor I am in need of right knee replacement(20%), right hip(10%), left foot(10%), and scar(10%) with all these physical problems how am I to exercise, not to mention my PCP also told me not to aggravate my problem by lifting, stooping, bending or walking long distances or standing over too long. I contend that because of my seditary lifestyle I became over weight and developed sleep apnea. Do anyone know of have experienced this? If so, do I have a claim for sleep apnea as secondary?

[Ricky]

Jay - basically overweight is not a disability for which compensation is paid for under VA law. Now do not take this the wrong way for I am a full figure guy with no use of my left leg/foot and bad back, however, its kinda like being in the military - you get hurt and put on profile but you are still required to maintain the proper weight. That is why the military prescribes PT within the limits of your profile and spends millions of dollars a year on diet and health programs. Usually guys like us with physical disabilities, me especially since I have DM, have to discuss types of excerise with our docs and really, really have to listen to those pretty ladies and guys in the dietician's office when it comes to eating properly and appropriately within the limits of our disabilities.

Thats enough preaching buddy for as I said I have the same problem with the weight. However, the bottom line is weight is not a VA disability so SA secondary to a weight problem (which it is 90 percent of the time) is out of the question. This is just my opinion. Vike, Six or one of the other VA experts will chime in and give you the straight poop. Hang in there, work on the diet. Most say that after wining the weight battle they have been able to kick their need for a CPAP machine.

[JayBrown1]

Jay - basically overweight is not a disability for which compensation is paid for under VA law. Now do not take this the wrong way for I am a full figure guy with no use of my left leg/foot and bad back, however, its kinda like being in the military - you get hurt and put on profile but you are still required to maintain the proper weight. That is why the military prescribes PT within the limits of your profile and spends millions of dollars a year on diet and health programs. Usually guys like us with physical disabilities, me especially since I have DM, have to discuss types of excerise with our docs and really, really have to listen to those pretty ladies and guys in the dietician's office when it comes to eating properly and appropriately within the limits of our disabilities.

Thats enough preaching buddy for as I said I have the same problem with the weight. However, the bottom line is weight is not a VA disability so SA secondary to a weight problem (which it is 90 percent of the time) is out of the question. This is just my opinion. Vike, Six or one of the other VA experts will chime in and give you the straight poop. Hang in there, work on the diet. Most say that after wining the weight battle they have been able to kick their need for a CPAP machine.

Thanks Ricky, diet is not a problem for me, I have been a vegetarian for 11 years. I take oxycodone 4 times a day and methadone 3 times a day for pain. I was a solid 225 years ago, I ran 5 to six miles a day, I was in the military for 10 years before they discharged me for medical reasons.

Since my last post I have been reading Board decisions and I found Docket No. 98-12 648A dated 6/17/05 where a vet was granted sleep apnea as secondary to left knee service connected disability because of weight gain. Some of the effects of weight gain is the developof sleep apnea, high blood pressure and diabetes. There are several other Board decision that were granted that are similar for physical disabilities.