Sleep apnea

[Shanesplanet]

Is there a time limit for submit a claim for sleep apnea? I got out in 2003 and was recently diagnosed with the and CHF. The docs are concerned about the apnea because it's central sleep apnea and apparently I am to young for that.

Shane

[john999]

Do you have evidence of OSA in service?

[Gastone]

Without a DX or treatment for sleep problems while on active duty, big problem. Your not currently SC'd for anything, right?

As for your CSA and CHF. My lay opinion is your CHF is secondary to your CSA. Are you currently on Bipap and oxygen (02)at night?

I recently got a 2014 PH award as Secondary to my MSA which was awarded 2010 as Secondary to my SC'd CAD from AO Nehmer Award 2010.

Looks like your going to need SMR's and buddy statements regarding in-service symptoms and or treatment.

SA can kill you, use the Cpap or Bipap, Good Luck.

Semper Fi

[USMC_VET]

This is simplistic but for sleep apnea you need to either

1) show that you HAD sleep apnea in service, whether a DX (best) or had symptoms that can be verified.  You will also need to show that the symptoms were present from then to now. 

2) that your sleep apnea was caused by something else that IS Service Connected.

 

For 1, if you have a DX in service you are pretty much golden.  If you are relying on buddy statements that say "he snored alot in service" "i heard him stop breathing when he slept" that can be a harder row to hoe.

For 2 it is a very tough road in many cases to get Sleep Apnea as secondary to a SC.  I know that medical evidence suggests, in the real world, that PTSD and other mental illness does cause sleep apnea.  The VA has been much slower to recognize it and denies it any chance they get.

 

As someone who is currently getting ready to make a claim for sleep apnea (if my sleep study confirms it, if not then as CFS) what i have found is that UNLESS you have a DX for sleep apnea or inservice medical history that notes very specific sleep apnea symptoms without a direct DX you will want to get your ducks in a row evidence wise and will want to get a GREAT IME for this.  get a board certified sleep specialist, someone with a very impressive resume and give them your evidence and if they can connect it to the SC that it is secondary to stating more likely than not, etc then thats the best way. 

I would get the following.

1) DX for sleep apnea (looks like you already ahve it)

2) IME as described above

3) buddy statements in sworn declaration form from guys who can testify under penalty of perjury (that is what a sowrn declaration is) that you exhibited symptoms of sleep apnea (fatigue during the day, heavy snoring, stopped breathing while sleeping, etc.)  Also get ones from a spouse and family along the same lines that connect the Service years to now.  If you dont have a spouse, then people who have been in contact with you throughout the night in the same room, however that fits for you.

4) sworn declarations from yourself that talk about those symptoms, etc.

 

I would also look at buying Christ Attigs ebok \"Put it to sleep\" on filing a sleep apnea claim.  I bought it and it is exceptionally helpful.

[Shanesplanet]

I have a 30% rating for lower limb injuries. They denied my claim for headaches because when I left Bragg my records from my concussion where at the head injury program and never merged with main main medical record which was at the 82 tmc.

I have two sleep studies that show apnea. The first one show obstructive so I had the surgery a few years ago. The recent one show central SA with the MD concerned because I am only 40 so she thinks it's CHF. She also mentions that I am 6 foot and 200 lbs so not sure why I am having this. 

Its been a crazy couple of weeks but the SLC VA seems to be on top of it. And all because I applied for a job with TSA. Two months later I have hearing aides, a cpap, and heart disease.

Shane

[dvikings]

 

I filed a NOD after being denied CO for sleep apnea I rec'd this in less than 3 weeks of filing, I recently seen the Judge on 21 Sept 2015 for NOD.(thought it went well) My status on Eben has change from assigned docket number (not sure what it is) to With Veterans Law Judge. Things seem to be moving fast. I filed NOD in early 2012. Anybody know what comes next and how long the remaining process will take.

mental/anxiety 70%

back 40%

legs 10% ea

hypertension 20%

brain aneurysm/tia's  10%

hearing 10%

tinnitus 10%

something else not sure 10%

 

[desertshield]

Shane, You indicate your 2nd sleep showed CSA. It's not at all unusual it didn't show up on your first sleep study which you indicate only showed OSA because that's how it is with the brain. Sometimes they catch it the problem on the first study, sometimes they don't. I don't know anything about CHF causing CSA, however, I think a TBI could cause it.