Hi All! New And Need Help - Sleep Apnea And Bulging Vertebrae.

[freeda]

Hi everyone. Big thanks to the Patriot Guard member who pointed me in this direction.

My husband just retired with 20 years active duty MC in October. So far he's been diagnosed with sleep apnea and been given a CPAP. It is my understanding that the SA is an automatic 30%?

He also has, but needs further followup on bulging vertabrae due to degenerative disk disease, and some problems with both feet and a shoulder. Oh, and a skin condition that only came up after his last trip to Iraq. And some hearing loss... stuff like that. Oh, and hypothyroid.

Part of me wonders if it's worth bothering with, as concurrent receipt doesn't kick in until you hit 50%, so it's dollar for dollar reduction for anything up to that. Plus he's working fulltime, so taking the time to go to the doctor (plus paying the 20% after Standard) kind of eats into our time and budget.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Edited December 27, 2006 by freeda

[freeda]

Right now all of his stuff is going thru the Great Lakes VA. We live in southwest Michigan, though, and there is a VA hospital 1/2 hr away in Battle Creek. Don't know if that makes a difference at all.

We do have a complete medical record, and I've been getting copies of all the clinicals from his appointments (sleep study, etc). He does take medication for the hypothyroid, although it just seems to make him more tired.

The apnea and thyroid only came up in his outprocessing, but he saw them for his back off and on for years and was diagnosed with the DJD maybe 2 years ago? They sent him to a chiropractor. His sleep study, etc, was not done until he was on terminal leave. I tried to get him to go to the doctor about it earlier but he didn't want to.

I will go thru his SMR tomorrow and put postits where the relevant conditions are noted, so I can see where we stand with that.

It seems like a steep learning curve... I better get real smart, real fast!!

[Pete53]

Freeda welcome to Hadit.

[Guest terrysturgis]

Freda, Welcome aboard from the Patroit Guard member that told you about HADIT. No better place on the internet to get for real help. TOLD YOU! Seriously, if you study as Carlie and others have volunteered the information and the benifits you deserve will be awarded.

Also I did not say to you the other day "Thank You for your Service too". Take care. Terry Sturgis

[Nathan104]

Freeda, welcome to Hadit. Im sure you will get lots of great info from this site. I know I have.

I was diagnosed in service with a mild sleep apnea but did not need the machine. Ive had bad insomnia for years now. I claimed Insomnia when I got out but not the Apnea. I received a 10% rating for Insomnia. Im wondering now if I should claim the sleep apnea as well or if that would be considered the same thing. They mentioned in my rating decision for insomnia that I had been diagnosed with sleep apnea in service. Not sure what Ill do on that.

Good luck on working the claim.