ptsd Question About Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder

[mwarstler1]

Hello, first post here at IHADIT.com.

I am still currently active duty Navy and plan to separate in about 18 months.

I have recently been diagnosed with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and was told to treat it with melatonin pills. This made it a little worse so I stopped taking them...

I have read multiple posts on this site about the disorder compensation but it appeared to always be related as a secondary symptom to PTSD or Sleep Apnea and in my case I just have been diagnosed with the REM Sleep Disorder by itself.

So my questions are:

Does REM Sleep Behavior Disorder qualify as a service related condition that the VA will provide compensation for?

Does the condition have to be treated or documentation of treatment? (It's something that I will live with the rest of my life).

What is the general percentage if the VA does compensate for this condition?

Since my command is so remote the sleep study was approved by my local PCM and I had the study completed by an actual sleep disorder center (not at a Naval hospital or MTF) and the documentation will be submitted to my medical service record.

I have to go back and complete another sleep study since they wanted to see how I react to sleeping with melatonin.

Thank you for your responses, it is greatly appreciated.

Mike Warstler

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit. I don't knw the answer but you should check out if you have sleep apnea which is compensatable.

[Mikemmlj]

It will be listed as a service connected disorder in the CFR if it is right?

[Pete53]

I thought about this if you acquired it while you served and it causes you problems it should be rateable.

[justrluk]

REM sleep disorder was not evaluated for my last C&P, but influenced the decision/rating for depression/BPII. It's on the interview questionnaire.

[mwarstler1]

Thank you all for your replies,

I do not have sleep apnea and that has been verified through the last sleep study.

They have diagnosed me with the REM Sleep Disorder though and as far as I am reading it is under the umbrella of PTSD.

And as far as that goes, I don't have PTSD or any other related psychological disorders and have never been in combat at all!

This is just a condition that has developed since I've been in the service (almost 7 years).

Thank you for your help and I would appreciate more input if you have it.

Mike

[john999]

Have you had a TBI? People have all sorts of sleep disorders including lots of movement in sleep. Sleep walking is a disorder. Some don't have the inhibition of movement in dreams and act out their dreams which is dangerous. Any sort of head injury or brain illness can result in sleep disorder. Have you seen a neurologist?

[mwarstler1]

John999,

No I have not...

Unless I hit my head so many times in my rack due to the dreaming ;).

It's possible that this is a condition that I had prior to the military but seeing that I don't remember my dreams or even know that I'm "acting out" anything this condition was only discovered upon my entry in to the Navy where I was at that point sleeping in open barracks and then on the ship with bunks... near other people. I used to scare the hell out of the people that slept near me! Basically from what I'm told the reacurring dreams involve myself thinking that I'm going to die or something so it was always humorous to place the new boots next to my rack and see how they react when I start having blood curdling screams in the middle of the night.

My wife hates my dreaming, but at least (in my dreams) I'm always trying to save her life even if that means tackling her off of the bed (not recommended if they are 8 months pregnant)!

Hey, I have to have a positive attitude about the condition at least ;).

Seriously though, I wasn't sure if this is a condition that others have recieved entitlements for because it is slightly debilitating to the point of sleepiness during the day because my mind is so active at night time.

Mike Warstler