ptsd OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) question

[commodog]

Hello!

I am a 80% SC vet (PTSD/TBI/Tinnitus/Hearing Loss).
I was recently diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

In the report, my doctor specifically writes, "Veteran has complained about sleeping difficulties since 2004...", in the report.

First and foremost, it needs to be said that I'm not overtly looking for compensation, and for the moment, I really do feel I am fairly rated according to my symptoms.

That being said, in 2005 I was having some serious issues with "waking up", and was told by my best friend at the time (A guy from another squad) that he always had problems waking me, and that I always seemed tired. (He always brought me lunch though, which was cool!)
Specifically, he came into my house one morning after duty (I was on 12 hour guard shifts @ III Corp command), and said I was snoring loudly, and difficult to wake up (He was standing in my room, looking at me, saying my name. That's how I recall this event.).
I often had headaches, and felt lethargic after waking up.
At the time, I was on Wellbutrin and a few other meds. (Just trying to be as informative as possible here.)

Lot's of you guys have been riding this "train" for a long time, and I am wondering if you think it is worth putting in for the Sleep Apnea service connection, even though it is not present in my service member medical records?

I have not talked to the doctor yet, but you know how the VA docs can be. It's like it's hugely taboo to recommend a vet in the event they think that it's likely said service member had the condition during the period of service.

Thanks in advance, and I hope all is well!

Edited March 2, 2016 by commodog

[commodog]

Thanks a ton guys for all of the insight.

I am currently 80%. I will fix my profile shortly.

I have also heard that it can be "aggravated" by PTSD, or aggravate PTSD?
Is this a viable connection?

I am setting up an appointment with the Doc soon. I will see what she has to say.

Again, appreciated!

[Slick]

On ‎3‎/‎3‎/‎2016 at 9:46 PM, Slick said:

This has been covered more times than I can remember.

being diagnosed with OSA- do you have a CPAP machine?

Others will chime in, but I say submit a claim as secondary to PTSD- not separately.  That's the way I got it SC'd without a service record entries about it

Granted getting SC for SA is hard and getting harder. Below is from the determination letter .

I retired in 2004 and filed for PTSD and SA separately in 2011 or so. PTSD approved & SA denied in Dec 2011 decision letter.  Refiled for SA in Jan 2012 (after getting smart reading BVA decisions) as secondary to PTSD and approved Dec 2013. 

Note decision made no mention of it being secondary and I did not have anything in 36 years of military med records detailing SA issues

 

Quote

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been established as directly related to military service.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Slick

[toddt]

You need to study up on sleep apnea and its causes.  You need to have a certified Sleep Apnea specialist do an IME (Independent Medical Examination) where he/she states that your OSA is "at least as likely as not" secondary to your service connected PTSD and he/she must site the reasons for this.  Here are some articles/citations you can peruse to get a better handle on OSA and being service connected:

http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/Files2/1316035.txt

http://www.disabledveterans.org/2015/05/21/new-study-links-ptsd-to-sleep-apnea/

http://www.answersforsleep.com/neurological-disorders/the-ptsd-and-sleep-apnea-connection/

A lay statement or two especially from someone who is close to you helps a lot. 

Best of luck to you .

[bolt_vet23]

I've been down this path and high recommend that you do your due diligence before submitting a claim.  I would definitely create the claim ASAP online so that the pay is retroactive, but you'll need an IMO letter from a doctor stating that it's "more likely than not" SC.  I ended up paying for a private IMO letter and then asked my VA doc to write one, which he did.  My case is currently being appealed since this documentation was not submitted with the original claim.  I had thought that they would automatically award me SC for it since the VA diagnosed me with OSA and issued me a CPAP, however, that's not the case.  Good luck.

[Buck52]

Slick 

I'd say you got lucky on this one.

''Note decision made no mention of it being secondary and I did not have anything in 36 years of military med records detailing SA issues''

  Quote

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been established as directly related to military service.

 

............Buck

 

...............Buck

[Gastone]

PTSD as a SA SC Nexus seems to be a very hard sell with VA Raters.

There's a Medical List of "Most" probable "Possible" causes of "OSA," not sure PTSD is even on it. I think there is a general consensus among SA Specialists, that PTSD can be a causative factor in the development of SA. However, when their confronted with multiple well established Physical or medical problems, a recent MH DX of PTSD is difficult to say with any certitude that the PTSD is the 50% or more the likely cause.

How PTSD stacks up against the other Major causative problems, is the big question. Give yourself a little quiz, how many of the other possible causes of SA do you have? If you've really Porked Up over the years and have had a 17+ neck all along, a recent PTSD DX would be almost impossible to sell as the cause of a recent SA DX, from my lay perspective.

I think most SA & PTSD Clinicians agree that neither condition is apt to present overnight. May of been going on for months or years before actual DX. Big problem, VA Raters usually go by DX Date, even if you have verified symptoms going back years.

Semper Fi