ptsd Sleep Apnea Not Service Connected

[DirtyBulk]

Gents,

I have lurked around these boards for about a year now. This board has helped me in more ways than I could ever explain. I am forever grateful for the advice that I have gained from you guys. I am currently rated at 90% for PTSD/Anxiety, Migraines, L/R Shoulder surgeries, keloid scars and tinitus. I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea by the VA and given a CPAP by the VA, however, when I filed my claim for it, I was denied and said it was not SC. In 2011, a year into my contract, I was diagnosed with anxiety. During one of my visits to the hospital, I had complained of sleep issues and it was documented in SMR. I was also prescribed to Xanax by a military doctor to help with my sleep issues that I was having.

I know how it goes with the VA, but I was pretty damn sure this was a shoe in, but to no avail. I have been assisted by a local VSO and he has been great, but before we sent in this claim, I asked him if I should have "Buddy statements" to support this claim and he advised no, that it could actually make the claim take longer than it should. Those buddy statements I have are from 3 buddies, one of them being the doc that was attached to our platoon in Afghanistan. I complained to him multiple times about my sleeping issues.

I don't know what I should do from here, if anyone has any experience or advice, I would really appreciate it.

Rah

[DirtyBulk]

Gents,

I got my decision letter today on why I was denied. Here's what it says:

"Service connection for sleep apnea is the night since his condition either occurred in nor was caused by service. The evidence is not showing event, disease or injury in service. Your service treatment records do not contain complaints, treatment or diagnosis for this condition. We did not find a link between your medical condition in military service."

There is definitely at least one complaint of sleep issues, I was prescribed Xanax for it to help me sleep. Is there a chance that I can connect my sleep apnea to my Xanax or Ativan prescription? Those were given to me for my anxiety. What concerns me is that the few times I did complain of sleep issues, they were during appointments for my anxiety, so I'm thinking and hopefully I am wrong, that they took the sleep issues and correlated it as a side effect to my anxiety. Thanks for all the input guys, makes me feel great knowing that I'm not in the fight alone.

Semper Fi, do or die!

[DirtyBulk]

Any thoughts or experience in regards to the letter?

[Navy4life]

I can tell you that you are fighting an "up hill battle"...My boyfriend also has SA and did a sleep test a few years ago and was diagnosed with SA and provided a CPAP machine. He too filed for SA S/C and had SMR to indicate "sleep issues" but was denied...You have to be able to prove you had SA while in service or be able to prove a current S/C disability caused SA to have it secondary to a S/C disability.

Having "sleep issues" while on AD is NOT sufficient enough....The buddy statements can help to a point but they don't hold a medical opinion weight.

SA is really tough to get S/C...

Good luck!

Steph

[lotzaspotz]

Anti-anxiety meds taken for a SC disability like PTSD can aggravate a non-SC disability like underlying OSA, thus making it SC.

Take a close look at the side effects of your medications.

http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/66101.htm

Edited May 5, 2015 by lotzaspotz

[Valhalla0321]

Wow,

I have the Almost similar situations, I am at a DRO hearing wait for if they will link Sleep Apnea from Buddy statements (one of them from HM1 Corpsman assigned to my unit and a DBQ from Chief Nero of VA that states in record sleepiness and it the one who also prescribed me a CPAP after his Study and diag of OSA. This request for OSA came 13 years after service, so i will let everyone no about the DRO hearing outcome.. that was done a month ago.. i might wait a couple years.. who know's but i will update the forum.

My Buddy letters One from Doc stated i snored loud in squad bay on deployments, no diag of in service which it is fashionable correct that this is what VA wants and if they don't get that in service treated for OSA then they just deny.. lets see.. Same situation..

Hurry up and Wait..

[Navy4life]

Not sure that article you just posted helps the poster with his issue...

He has to prove he had SA while on AD or prove SA is secondary to his already S/C disability....This is a very tough up hill battle as SA is tough to get S/C