Sleep Apnea

[goose_716]

Has anyone tried to connect sleep apnea to being caused by working a rotating schedule.  I worked 2 days 2 swings 2 mid for about 13 years out of my 20.  Rest of my career was rotating schedule but it was not as xtreme. 

[brokensoldier244th]

You can have some other type of disorder, but sleep apnea is caused by a physical or neurological short between your brain and the muscular action of breathing. Shiftwork disorder might be a possibility, maybe, but probably not sleep apnea. Off kilter work schedules can aggravate existing sleep apnea, though. Note this study discusses apnea events being more prevalent in people that already have sleep apnea. 

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18204146

[goose_716]

Well as I was reading the Sleep Apnea field manual I read about the Obstructive and Central Sleep Apnea.  I was diagnosed with complex sleep apnea which is a combo of the tow.  Anyway I have found many studies on shift work disorder that cause obesity, well Obesity is directly linked to Obstructive sleep apnea.  I also have 3 herniated disk in my back neck that I have been rated on.  which falls under damage to the neck cervical spine nerve paths and have been diagnosed with sciatic nerve.  Wonder if they can be linked back to my sleep apnea as a secondary service connection.   

[brokensoldier244th]

My SA is secondary to my back (lower nerve impingement just above caudal area) and inactivity due to pain and obesity, so THAT is doable. I had to appeal mine the first time, but I did succeed. 

The SA would be secondary to your back and/or shift work disorder- you'd have to get a doctor, obviously, to connect it, though. I don't know much about shift work disorder, other than its a thing so Im not sure if you would have a sleep study, or what for that. Good luck! 

 

[Dustoff1970]

If you have had a sleep apnea study done at a private or VA sleep clinic they might be able to answer your question on shift work causing and or aggravating SA (especially a private sleep clinic or sleep doctor specialist).

[broncovet]

Its "all about the evidence".  Has a doctor opined that your OSA is at least as likely as not due to your shift rotations in the military?  If so, you should be able to get SC.  

If none of your docs have made that or a similar nexus, then you would need an IMO/IME stating the same.  

I dont know if a IMO/IME doc will make such an opinion or not.  YOu can contact them and ask them.  

It really does not matter if WE think shift work is related to sleep apnea, it matters what the docs say.  You could call a sleep docs specialist near you and ask them.  

Its my opinion that VA docs are unlikely to do that, but they might.  

I have an extremely "Veteran Friendly" VA doc.  I "happened" on this doc "by chance" (or, more likely, because God has blessed me).  

If you dont already have a favorable nexus in your file (the only way to know that is to get your medical files and read them) , try asking around.   You "might" be able to get a Veteran friendly doc by going to your VAMC sleep doc waiting room, and ask Vets there if Doc "(your doc)" is Vet friendly when it comes to writing a favorable nexus.  If your doc is not "Veteran friendly" ask to change your doc, until you find one that is Vet friendly.

Now that method is for Vets "who can not afford" the costs of an IMO/IME, which can run from about 500 for a low, to 10,000 plus.  

One "other" method that works well if you can not afford an IMO/IME: 

After your denial, get you a Vets attorney, Nova certified.  I have heard of more than one who will "up front the cost of an IMO/IME" to deserving Vets (where the attorney feels an IMO will seal the deal).   (Mine did).  I paid for the IMO "only after" I got my retro check.  

Edited January 8, 2020 by broncovet

[jfrei]

Not sure I know I was finally treated with sleep apnea at my local VA hospital given a cpap machine and told I have a circadium  rhythm issue preventing me from grave yard shift and sleeping during the day so I tried and I would spend 3 to 4 days up straight every other week for four months before I had to give it up the shift. But my case isn’t yours I have lumped in with my sTBI residuals sleep disturbances and insomnia which would probably make it impossible to try and separate sleep apnea since I have 3 other issues connected with the TBI. But barring you don’t have anything else related to sleep apnea or anything you could claim as secondary with already other issues tied to it I don’t see why not.... sorry if thats confusing ask if you want anything else clarified