Sleep Apnea Va Rating Info

[USMC_HVEQ]

I just wanted to help out people that might have sleep apnea and were wondering what the VA rates the condition. I hope this helps.

6847 Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed):

Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor

pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy.................................................................. 100

Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous

airway pressure (CPAP) machine.........................................................................

. 50

Persistent day-time hypersomnolence ......................................................................... 30

Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing......................................... 0

[WVSERVER]

I have a major frustration with the sleep apnea issue. I was diagnosed and MEB/PEB in the Air Force for sleep apnea. The MEB/PEB found I need to use a CPAP and was C coded and returned to duty. My claim was received by the Huntington RO on the 4^th of March 2011. It had ZERO! Movement since. So it my opinion they are really not wanting to pay out on this issue. I don’t think you could get any more open and shut then my case.

[71M10]

The VA is all over the map on Sleep Apnea.

If you do a careful search of BVA you can find instances where people are SC because they have buddy statements stating that they snored and would stop breathing while sleeping, and were diagnosed years after service.

Then you have denials where the BVA invalidates an outside medical opinon and endorses the non specialist VA examineer. I have seen them refuse to accept in service medical opinions because the Dr. did not do a Sleep study(I find no provision in CFR 38 that that allows the VA to remove a diagnoses from a persons service medical record).

It took three years and multiple written correspondence to get my local VARO to actually make a decision on Restrictive Lung Disease (Kyphoscoliosis and Sleep apnea). They denied, but did not consider the medical opinion on Sleep Apnea. So I am in a DRO process (17 months now). My outside Medical Opinion states I was dignosed in 1999, but it cites medical record data from 1986 that the pulmonologist states is a clear indication I had sleep apnea at that time. They denied restrictive lung because the PFT data. They however don't want to discuss that they used my current measured height which is 1 1/2 inches shorter (due to the bends and twists) and completely ignore the heart echo which clearly states I have an enlarged right Ventricle. Enlarged right ventricle is 100% regardless of the PFT. There is no medical opinion of record that states my right ventricle hypertrophy is not caused by my kyphoscoliosis.

They will eventually have to make a decision on the evidence. I do not expect the VARO to actually make the right decision (I think they are unwilling to find on a 100% P&T condition with 4 years retro) and I will be forced to the BVA.

In 2006 i was SC with a 0% rating, all I wanted was Physical Theraphy on my SC back. They refused, told me I was not entitled to health care even for the SC injury because I was 0%. I am now 90% and paid monthly.....they would have saved a whole hell of a lot of money if they would have just done the PT I requested!!!

Edited June 25, 2012 by 71M10

[Doc904]

I have never seen an active duty member on a C-PAP or Bi-PAP in my 21 years in the military medical field. Chances are if you required this equipment on active duty you'd have been medically boarded out of the service because you wouldn't be 100% Fit for Full Duty, being on a machine limits the type of duty you can do, there fore your not 100% Fit for Full Duty. However I remember many ships I was on there was always one or two or more in quarters that kept me up all night snoring their butts off, most those guys are either dead now or on C-PAP and Bi-PAP machines after they got out of the service. Did they have sleep apnea while in the service , yes most likely, was it noted in their medical records, nope or they would have been discharged with a medical board. Is their sleep apena service connected, yep, because if you had it before you entered the service you wouldn't have passed your physical and been prevented from going into the service. Just like diabetes, can't get in the service with it, will get discharged from the service if you have it, and so goes with other medical issues after the service. Good Luck, keep fighting until you get what you want.

Doc904

[Doc904]

Sleep apnea, bottom line... It's an obstructed airway, which reduces the flow of air into your lungs and other vital organs such as the heart and brain. If Sleep apnea is left untreated and you don't use your C-PAP if you have one, you might die in your sleep or die from complications of other medical problems such as heart failure or storke secondary to your Sleep Apnea. Get those issues taken care of first then take it up with the VA for your service connected disability. Being in the military medical field for 21 years, you the patient have to be on top of things, don't expect your doctor to find everything wrong with you, it's up to you to keep him or her informed as to your health. If your not happy with the doctor you have find another one, be your own advocate when it comes to your health. Best of luck...Doc904

[meghp0405]

There have been and still are individuals on active duty with sleep apnea. This disability use to stop individuals from being deployed until they made CPAP/BIPAP machines that are now battery operated for field use. There were about a half dozen soldiers from the 3rd bde here at Fort Knox that deployed with their machines.

I have assisted a couple veterans that had extremely well written IMO's that were able to get sleep apnea service connected as a secondary condition to PTSD and those that had severe pulomonary conditions that were confirmed by a PFT (pulomonary function test). So it can happen.

But then again, I have also seen individuals apply for sleep apnea with buddy statements that were denied because the va discounted the lay statements because the authors were not of a medical opinion.

I do believe that if you have a strong IMO, and a judge that has an open mind, anything is possible....

[JohnO]

Sleep apnea, bottom line... It's an obstructed airway, which reduces the flow of air into your lungs and other vital organs such as the heart and brain. If Sleep apnea is left untreated and you don't use your C-PAP if you have one, you might die in your sleep or die from complications of other medical problems such as heart failure or storke secondary to your Sleep Apnea. Get those issues taken care of first then take it up with the VA for your service connected disability. Being in the military medical field for 21 years, you the patient have to be on top of things, don't expect your doctor to find everything wrong with you, it's up to you to keep him or her informed as to your health. If your not happy with the doctor you have find another one, be your own advocate when it comes to your health. Best of luck...Doc904

I second this most excellent post. I'm 50% secondary for sleep apnea and have had three open heart surguries (one a quintuple by-pass) and a heart attack with stents. My cardiologist stressed that I use my CPAP. It is on me to use it or not. I can tell you that I've grown lax and it is under my bed right now. Doc904's post got to me. I'm digging it out and hooking it back up.

BTW, VA Houston took my outside neurologist's sleep study and opinion when rating me.