hypertension Denied Sleep Apnea Claim

[paulstrgn]

I am new to this site and I will apologize ahead of time incase my question seems pretty basic. I was recently denied sleep apnea and hypertension as not being service connected. I will only ask about my sleep apnea at this time. I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea (I retired from the military in 1995). I use to snore very loud while in the military according to my ex-wife. My question is will a statement from my ex-wife be enough to justify my sleep apnea? I was also given a service connected rating for my scoliosis of 20%, I have read online that spine problems can cause sleep apnea. Do you feel that between a statement from my ex-wife and the problems I have had with my spine would be enough to receive a rating for sleep apnea? Any suggestions on anything else I should add to the appeal? Thanks in advance for your advice. 

Edited April 15, 2016 by paulstrgn

[Fat]

Remember sleep apnea is primarily a upper airway obstruction during rest.

You will have to show by medical rationale (provided by doctor) how the service connected issue caused or greatly aggravates the upper airway obstruction.

GOOD LUCK.

[paulstrgn]

Thanks I will. I am not sure what the doctor will say when I ask him as to whether or not my Scoliosis contributed to my SA.

Thanks

[Andyman73]

1 hour ago, paulstrgn said:

Hi Andy,

 

I tried to send Berta a message and it says she cannot receive any. Do you know what I may be doing wrong?

 

Thanks,

Paul

I think she mentioned something a week ago, or so, about getting a new computer and trying to learn how it works.  So if the error message says she can't receive, well, then maybe it's not your end that's causing the issues.  My tech skills are limited to plugging in, turning on, and pushing play!

[paulstrgn]

I am happy to see we have the same computer skills

[Berta]

I have had no personal contact info here for many years. .  I don't answer claims questions in my profile either.

I feel you will need at least one strong buddy letter as well as  a strong IMO/IME to establish the SA as service connectable.

Also were you ever late for AD because you overslept, or had great fatigue while on duty? If these are documented in your SMRs , even maybe in your 201 service personnel file, because sometimes these problems caused discipline problems, then that type of documentation could help.

A buddy could verify above problems and even might be able to tell  them if you snored loudly at night, if they bunked with you.. Of course the buddy has to give their unit info and same time of service as yours to render the statement valid. Always good if they get their signature notarized too and make sure they give the VA their contact info.

It is easier these days than ever due to the internet and the many unit web sites and even Re Union rosters, to find a buddy .

 

[Andyman73]

Berta,

My wife and I started dating 18 months before my EAS, would she qualify to write a "buddy statement" testifying to my snoring, talking in my sleep, and long pauses between breaths?

I know I was late more than once, slept right through the alarm. Tho' I don't believe I was written up for it.  And boy did I ever have trouble staying awake, especially by mid day!!!  That was long before I discovered coffee. By 0900hrs I couldn't sit down longer than 2-3 minutes before my head started nodding.