ptsd Sleep Apnea Secondary To Ptsd

[windy city]

I did some research about sleep apnea and PTSD and was surprised to know that ther is a connection between both of them. I also cheched the va site for any cases relating to this problem and found to cases in which sleep apnea was granted secondary to PTSD. Has anybody on this forum been s/c sleep apnea sec, to ptsd?

[OldFisherman]

I did some research about sleep apnea and PTSD and was surprised to know that ther is a connection between both of them. I also cheched the va site for any cases relating to this problem and found to cases in which sleep apnea was granted secondary to PTSD. Has anybody on this forum been s/c sleep apnea sec, to ptsd?

I also have a claim for sleep apnea being secondary to PTSD and am preparing a response. This address contain a BVA winning settlement :

http://www.va.gov/vetapp01/files01/0102100.txt

I have a meeting next week with a new sleep apnea Dr. and would like to pull your information you mention above where there is a documented connection. Please share the URL.

Thanks----OldFisherman

[Pete53]

Thank you for that link Old Fisherman

[Ruffcreek]

I have a claim in for sleep apnea being secondary to and/or aggravated by service connected PTSD also.

My understanding is that when filing your claim it should be filed as: Sleep Apnea AGGRAVATED by S/C PTSD not SECONDARY to PTSD because sleep apnea is not caused by PTSD.

Anyway I had my C & P last week and now will go back to my Pulomanary Specialist for an appointment in January and I will be asking him for an IMO. Since it will only be my 2nd appointment with him and I don't know him very well I will be crossing my fingers hoping he goes along with it. Don't know at this point how he should structure the IMO. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Then I will also get an IMO from my personal physician and send along with a copy of the case submitted by OldFisherman. I've already had this one in my possession and it looks good to me.

Anyone know if it helps at all to have your wife write a letter in support of the claim?

Again if anyone has anything to add please let me know. I'll do same.

Thanks, Ruffcreek

[john999]

I think PTSD and other severe anxiety disorders is like having a monkey wrench thrown into your nervous system. It just screws you up in so many ways including heart problems. If your system is switched on to full alert all the time something has to breakdown.

[Berta]

A spouse can always write a statement in support of a claim as to symptoms etc-

I tell vets who feel they had sleep apnea in-service to try to get buddy statements as to whether they snored loudly-

check out my post under search feature at top of the forum page called "Getting an Independent Medical Opinion".

There is a criteria to follow and the VA can reject any IMO if the nexus statement and full medical rationale, SMRs, all med recs etc are not mentioned and referred to in the opinion.

I ordered another IMO recently and the cost was lowest one yet as I didnt need to send too many records- but Med Ops called me up and felt they could do a different type of opinion that would be better than what I suggested so they need many more med recs now-

Any IMO doctor has to support whatever they say with records, SMRs , etc anyhow-and most of these IMO docs on the net have gotten experience with the VA format so they dont leave anything out.

If the spouse writes a statement always good idea to put an oath on it for her/him to sign-

I always ut this-with some personal symptomatic stuff for my claims-

"The statements I am making here are the truth to the best of my knowledge and I know I can be found guilty of perjury if I lie to the VA." Then they can sign it.

I think there is an oath on the 21-526 and also the TDIU form-and it isnt really needed but I use it sometimes.

Edited December 17, 2007 by Berta

[Pete53]

Beg to differ with you 1968 but what will do the trick can be as simple as a medic jotting down the symptoms and having it fleshed out later by a good IMO.

That is unless you call treatment handing out valium and drugs used for some conditions as an example.