ptsd Sleep Apnea help

[armyvet89]

Okay so I have a DX for OSA but the doc said that she wouldn't write a letter for me because she feels that osa isn't linked/caused by ptsd. I told her that it is aggravated by ptsd. I showed several successful VBA decisions granting SC for OSAMA secondary to PTSD. She did tell me that she would fill out the DBQ. 

So here's my question. I have reported several different time that I have/had trouble sleeping and it's in my records. I had a surgery where the surgeon told me to get checked for SA because I stopped breathing. All of this was while in service. I have a buddy statement from a guy I roomed with in Iraq and my wife is going to write a letter too. Without the nexus letter from the doc is it possible to get OSA secondary to PTSD? Thanks. 

Edited April 3, 2016 by armyvet89
Typo

[armyvet89]

I am being seen now by a private sleep doctor. I hope I can convince her that there's a connection and she will write the nexus. She told me that she would fill out the DBQ but was "not sure ptsd and sleep apnea are connected". How would I go about getting an IMO and how much are they?

[Gastone]

Armyvet89

I wouldn't consider spending any money on an IMO, just yet. Now, I could have missed it, don't think so, you help me out, ok. From your above post, you have just recently (Date Please) been DX'd with OSA, CSA or MSA, right?

Just went back to recheck, your profile indicates "Service Connected Disability: None." I see no reference to a VA PTSD DBQ, DXing your PTSD. If this is the case, you'll play hell getting a reversed Nexus to a NON VA DX'd PTSD condition. A non VA Psychiatrist or Psychologist PhD, could have opined in the past, that they think you have PTSD, doesn't really count or help your case. For VA purposes, you don't have PTSD until it's DX'd on a VA C & P Forensic DBQ per the DSM V criteria.

Have you filed a VA PTSD claim yet? If your claim file date, was prior to your SA DX, maybe some hope but I doubt it.

Semper Fi

[armyvet89]

Gas tone,

I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2011 by the VA. I am going to submit a claim for ptsd, OSA second to ptsd and my knee. But the diagnosis of ptsd was from a va psychological in 2011 so would that be under the DSM-IV criteria? If so does that make my diagnosis no good?

[Gastone]

It will be the same as if you were seeing a VA MH Dept Psychologist (PhD ??) currently, does your VMC medical file show a past or current PTSD DX by a VA Psychiatrist or a Psychologist PhD?

In order for a DX of anything, to be claimed as Secondary for VA Comp purposes, the Causative DX must currently be rated as a SC condition.  No VA PTSD DBQ confirming a PTSD SC in your C-File, means no Secondary SA Award.

When you look at your MHV account on-line, what does your list of current medical DX's indicate regarding PTSD and SA. You may have to visit your VMC Med Records dept and pull the Psychologist's DX and Clinician notes from your treatment sessions. Did you attend group or 1 on 1 treatment sessions?

You were DX'd with PTSD by a VA Clinician back in 2011? Why no comp claim filed or was there? How long has it been since you received,VA MH counseling or treatment? No on-going treatment records? Not good for your claim.

Semper Fi

 

[Gastone]

Sorry forgot to mention. Pull up any Medical literature regarding DXing SA, you'll see there is a list of about 12 or so, known  conditions that can contribute to causing SA. How many do you currently have?

BMI, age, snoring, neck size (171/2+), wide tongue, just to name a few. Vet's are supposed to get the "Benefit of Doubt," in a Jump Ball situation. It all comes down to a "Preponderance of Evidence," regarding the SA's actual relationship to a VA PTSD SC.

Semper Fi

[OEF 21B]

18 hours ago, Buck52 said:

How much did it cost you for the private Dr to write this nexus for you? if you don't mind telling me   or how much did your insurance pay and how much did you have to pay out of pocket.

if you don't mind telling us?

This is the PROBLEM for most of us PTSD Veterans.

Hi Buck52 - I think my co-payment was $20 bucks.  I have health insurance from my work to cover my family, and I'm covered as well even thought I get all of my care at the VA.  I am still able to use it if I need or want a "second opinion" from what the VA doc tell me.

I'm not sure about how much it would cost if you asked to pay cash, but I suspect that if you find a good pulmonary/sleep doc, and explain your situation (disabled vet) that you could negotiate a fair "cash" price for him to fill out the Sleep Apnea DBQ and write a nexus letter.

I had my DBQ filled out based on when I had my sleep study (by the VA), and then wrote:

"It is my opinion that it is at least as likely as not that Mr. OEF21B's diagnosed OSA is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.  I also feel that it is at least as likely as not that Mr. OEF21B's PTSD is aggravated by his OSA."

He continued the nexus letter with:

"Mr. OEF21B is on CPAP, and I believe his PTSD causes him nightmares and sleep deprivation and makes it more difficult for him to take his prescribed continuous positive airway pressure mask.  I believe this sleep disruption exacerbates anxiety, and depression and affects mental acuity.  I believe his PTSD worsens his daytime excessive somnolenceone  because he is not able to be treated as effectively for his obstructive sleep apnea."

I filled out the same thing on the DBQ form and he signed that as well...

Hope this helps!