Does VA Doc writeup provide service connection

[Tazinhawaii]

So, I've had sleep apnea since around 2001/2002 when I was in the Navy (Retired in 2012).  I was never diagnosed with it though, only insomnia.  I finally went and got a sleep study done which confirmed OSA and was prescribed a CPAP through the VA.  I was thinking I could never service connect it, but the VA doctor put in my record that I've had the symptoms since 2002/2003.  Specifically he wrote "he reports that his wife has been listening to his loud snoring and observing his apneas since at least 2002 or 2003."

 

So do you think this is enough to get service connection?  I served from 1989-2012.

 

Thanks,

Derrick

[Berta]

I do not feel that is strong enough at all to succeed in a SA claim.

Have you gone over your SMRs very carefully?

Can you get a buddy statement from someone in your unit who bunked with you as to the snoring?

[Buck52]

you would need something of record during your military to connect the Service Connection, buddy statements would be good  and if you have the medical records this VA Dr wrote

'' I was thinking I could never service connect it, but the VA doctor put in my record that I've had the symptoms since 2002/2003.  Specifically he wrote "he reports that his wife has been listening to his loud snoring and observing his apneas since at least 2002 or 2003."

get all the paper trail that concerns your SA as much as you can. VS OR Private.

it may be hard to get a rating for this but you should be able to get it SERVICE CONNECTED at 0%  .and then using your VA Diagnoses and using a Cpap.

Later ask for increase,,, but they may give you a 50% rating right off the BAT....File and see?  you may want to file a ITF first and gather evidence.

jmo

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

[Carl the Engineer]

I wrote a buddy letter for a fellow service member that was in my tent while in Iraq.  He said that the letter helped.  I am not sure how much medical records he had regarding sleep apnea though, so not sure how much the letter helped.

He did get 50% for it first go around.  So it can't hurt.

Hamslice

 

[Tazinhawaii]

Thanks all.  It will be hard for me to get buddy statements since I was on shore duty pretty much the entire last 11 years of service.  Funny the VA will accept statements from other vets, but seem to not care what the wife and family have to say.  Going through that mess with my Migraines appeal.

  I'm going to have the wife try to get a hold of some of the old wives and get in touch with previous shipmates and see what i can get going.

[Berta]

Navy Units and USN ships have plenty of web sites that hold Reunion Rosters, as well as 'looking for ' stuff, and sometimes even a simple google search can find a buddy or two.

"I'm going to have the wife try to get a hold of some of the old wives and get in touch with previous shipmates and see what i can get going."

Great!

 

[broncovet]

Dont overlook secondary conditions for sleep apnea.  

You see, you dont have to have a link to service for secondary conditions.  You need only have a link to a service connected condition.    For example, if you had a stressor in service that caused PTSD, and, later that SC PTSD caused OSA, then you need only link the sleep apnea to PTSD and not to service.