Insomnia

[Louie]

How is insomnia rated? What criteria are used and what are the DC?

[Berta]

Insomnia standing alone as a claimed condition- has to be related to another disabling condidition- such as depression, anxiety, sleep aphnea etc-

"an assessment of insomnia alone, absent a diagnosed

or identifiable underlying pathology or condition, is

insufficient to constitute a disability for which service

connection can be granted"

from:http://www.va.gov/vetapp00/files1/0009126.txt

This claim is interesting- the veteran claimed his insomnia is from his service connected tinnitus- yet the VA said the claim was "not well grounded" under regs at that time-and the vet had no medical evidence to support the tinnitus -insomnia link.

[Louie]

Thank you. The C&P report says sleep disorder due to fibromyalgia. (The fibro is service connected.)

Should I NOD?

[Berta]

Should I NOD -

Absolutely-

it might take a letter from the wife or significant other- to support this as current problem-

Also -could the insomnia also be due to any of the meds you take as a side affect?

[Louie]

The C&P eval report says that I currently have severe sleep disorder as a side effect of my fibromyalgia. Do you think I'll still need another witness?

[Scott D]

Will the insomnia be rated seperate or combined with a previous S/C condition (Anxiety,depression, etc)?

[Berta]

Good question -

I bet they would combine it-

I wonder how much money the VA saves on the issue of combined ratings-I never see the point of that-

This is interesting-just found it

direct SC for insomnia-no other SC

http://www.va.gov/vetapp97/files2/9717351.txt

But no idea how they rated this- and as I read it, it made me angry- this vet most probably has other disabilities from all that service- which he did not claim-

and maybe his insomnia is due to the stressful events he must have witnessed- but no one at VA probably even suggested that he might have problems more serious than the insomnia.

Or maybe the vet doesn't want any psychiatric comp award. ???