Direction On Nod And Possible Connection Of Another Issue

[HPSE-7]

I have been reading through forums for sometime and appreciate all of the info. I have recently received SC for ankle injury from 1986, it has taken well over eight months and tons of background evidence from many sources that I was finally able to piece together.

I had no ankle issues or pain prior to entry to USAF and subsequent knee pain became an issue within 2-3 years of ankle injury, progressing most aggressively in the last 7 years as ankle pain/aggravation has picked up pace.

VA has consistently denied secondary connection of knee issues that appeared about four years after ankle injury, until the last 6 years just haven't been able to arrange for specialist to look at knee. With this last denial, I immediately asked Ortho for referral for knee specialist who very quickly sent me in for MRI of both lower back and knee. He immediately removes the lower back as source of pain and identifies torn interior ligament that has never been identified, stated it needs to be reconnected or trim or it will compromise the head of femur if unchecked. Dr. says he believes both injuries happened at the same time, but with the severity of my ankle injury the knee had healed as best it could before I was walking on the ankle 5 weeks later.

I originally brought issue to VA in 2001, they denied ankle. Opened the issue back up in 2005-06, again denied for ankle and knee. The VA has never asked/scheduled me for an exam concerning knee, my ankle was x-rayed at time of accident, but not again until 2010. From 2004-present I have gained over 65 lbs because I can't take the constant a irritation of either joint. I have now developed severe sleep apnea. I am working with an American Legion Rep and will be filling a NOD for the denial of the knee now that I have the MRI to prove that there has always been a problem. My question now is, is the onset of sleep apnea something that I should now have documented as a secondary issue or just leave it alone?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.