Claiming sleep apnea as a secondary to restrictive lung disease

[navyguy357]

I have a service connected disability with zero rating for restrictive lung disease. How can I claim my recent VA diagnosis for sleep apnea as a secondary? How can I find a doctor who will write me a nexus letter? How can I request an increase for restrictive lung disease? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[navyguy357]

18 minutes ago, Gastone said:

Finding a SA Specialist shouldn't be too much of a problem. Generally speaking, all major hospitals should have a Pediatric/Adult Sleep Dept.

You should be able to get an appointment for follow-up care, preferably with a Board Certified Sleep Neurologist. I see mine once a year to review my BiPaP Download, costs about $200.00 if paying cash. Each time I leave his office I have a copy of his Clinician Treatment Notes, at no additional cost.

More important right now, what is your precise Restrictive Lung Disease DX and how long has it been Rated at SC 0%?

After a cursory review of relationship of RLD & SA (see attachment) there could be a Nexus depending on severity of RLD (SC 0% ain't severe). When was your last VA LFT, no worsening of results?

Case Report 4 Sleep Apnea and Restrictive Lung Disease - Team 3 P451 Spring 2012.html

I have been SC for restrictive lung disease   (6840) since I was discharged in 2005. On my awards letter listing my disability it states next to respiratory lung disease, "claimed as sleep apnea". I always thought i was rated for 0% for sleep apnea until recently. So now I'm trying to connect the two so I don't have to go through the process of filing a new claim that is currently not service connected. 

Edited January 13, 2018 by pshaw

[Gastone]

Restrictive Lung Disease is an overly broad term, what was the specific in service problem? Check out the 38 CFR 4 for Restrictive Lung Disease, which one are you?

How about printing out a copy of your E-Ben SC Award page and posting a redacted copy?

Since your Discharge in 2005, you haven't file for an Increase to the Mystery SC 0% Rating? Why not? Do you have a copy of any VMC Med Records Clinician Treatment Notes discussing the Lung Condition?

[navyguy357]

28 minutes ago, Gastone said:

Restrictive Lung Disease is an overly broad term, what was the specific in service problem? Check out the 38 CFR 4 for Restrictive Lung Disease, which one are you?

How about printing out a copy of your E-Ben SC Award page and posting a redacted copy?

Since your Discharge in 2005, you haven't file for an Increase to the Mystery SC 0% Rating? Why not? Do you have a copy of any VMC Med Records Clinician Treatment Notes discussing the Lung Condition?

I am 6840 Diaphragm paralysis or paresis. I've always put it off and always assumed I was SC 0% SA until recently. 

[Gastone]

Now we're getting somewhere. Bear with me for a bit but were you medically discharged because of the Resp DX condition? You're currently Rated by the VA with a 0% SC for DX code 6840, did you have a VA C & P (DATE?) and subsequently receive an SC Award Letter (Date?)?

Just from what I've recently gleaned from review of a couple Respiratory Condition articles, it's not unusual for the respective conditions to worsen to the point of needing either a BiPAP or CPAP and quite often supplemental 02 either full time or just at night while on the Breathing Machine. Have you had Daytime and overnight Pulse 02 recording performed over the past couple years? Your Overnight SA Sleep Study should mention P02 recordings. Anything below 92% in the low to mid 80's should be of concern.

While you're getting your SA Ducks in a row, give consideration to immediately filing an FDC for an Increase of your SC 0%. Let the VA figure out if you actually have SA or your current SC has actually worsened. You could wind up with a 6840 Increase and/or a SA 50% Rating.

[navyguy357]

1 hour ago, Gastone said:

Now we're getting somewhere. Bear with me for a bit but were you medically discharged because of the Resp DX condition? You're currently Rated by the VA with a 0% SC for DX code 6840, did you have a VA C & P (DATE?) and subsequently receive an SC Award Letter (Date?)?

Just from what I've recently gleaned from review of a couple Respiratory Condition articles, it's not unusual for the respective conditions to worsen to the point of needing either a BiPAP or CPAP and quite often supplemental 02 either full time or just at night while on the Breathing Machine. Have you had Daytime and overnight Pulse 02 recording performed over the past couple years? Your Overnight SA Sleep Study should mention P02 recordings. Anything below 92% in the low to mid 80's should be of concern.

While you're getting your SA Ducks in a row, give consideration to immediately filing an FDC for an Increase of your SC 0%. Let the VA figure out if you actually have SA or your current SC has actually worsened. You could wind up with a 6840 Increase and/or a SA 50% Rating.

No I wasn' medically discharged. she disability was given based upon something that they saw in my record. I claimed sleep apea but they rated me for respiratory lung disease at 0%. I'm going to assume i had an exam sometime before I was discharged or maybe I didn't go to the exam not sure. I need the letter that states why they made their decision and basimed upon what facts.

I also have two sleep studies that resulted as diagnosed obstructuce sleep apnea. one was referred by a navy doctor in 2012 and recent one last year by VA. I don't physically have my VA sleep results but attached in my older one.

[navyguy357]