Sleep Apnea

[militarynurse]

Does anyone know if a SC'd respiratory dysfunction could aggravate obstructive sleep apnea allowing for a secondary claim? It would seem logical that a low oxygen level from any restrictive lung condition, ( atelectasis, COPD etc. ), would have some adverse effect on OSA. Any help appreciated.

[jbasser]

It could be done. You need a Doc to write a Nexus.

J

[jackba57]

It could be done. You need a Doc to write a Nexus.

J

While I am not sc for sleep apnea or any COPD, when the VA gave me morphine after my last surgery I fully coded, had a heart attack and failed liver function. Needless to say i was pretty messed up for awhile. Now I have sleep apnea and I never had it before. It does seem any restriction of oxygen for whatever reason deepens the threat of sleep apnea and can be a cause...google that! The previous poster was right on get your doc to write it up in your chart then go for it!

[militarynurse]

Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 69, Issue 5 1863-1868, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society

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ARTICLES

Atelectasis affects the rate of arterial desaturation during obstructive apnea

E. C. Fletcher, S. Goodnight, T. Miller, R. A. Luckett, J. Rosborough, D. Munafo and S. Muniz

Department of Medicine, Houston Veterans Administration Medical Center, Texas.

[jbasser]

That is a very good article.

The worst side effect of lung disease and OSA is the development of Pulmonary Hypertension can be deadly.

That is why it warrants a separate 100 percent ratig.

On a sad side, This condition kills a lot of people who dont even know they have it.

J

[SLEDGE]

This reminds me of several different cause and effect illnesses.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Obstructive sleep apnea will throw so many things outa-whack that a lot of medical types will not consider apnea unless the apnea is observed first by a specialist, like my daughter.

Anybody who is having multiple weird things going on should consult with a sleep specialist and have a sleep test before deciding that all hope is lost.

sledge

[sixthscents]

It is a good article. The problems I have had with getting sleep apnea approved are the nexus's. I have had a bunch of vets do the sleep studies, but the only real success Ive had repeatedly was with lung conditons, with apnea secondary... and sinus as well. Ive yet to get a PTSD apnea claim thru.

Anyone else had any other better results, maybe I am just missing something with this condition. I think its because so many things cause apnea, just heavy sedatives or pain meds for example...