Sleep apnea

[Mantana 5]

I am getting ready to file secondary sleep apnea. I plan to file secondary to my depression, weight gain caused by depression, and possibly GERD.

Can I file all these at once? Am I allowed to claim multiple conditions caused or activated this, and how do I do that?

Any advise on this is great, do i have a strong case or should I get a nexus letter just incase? 

[GBArmy 1,436]

Mantana If you take meds for depression, it could lead to weight gain; do your research on the specific drugs you take. GERD can also be caused by prescribed meds and/or depression. For any secondary condition to  a s-c condition, you need a professional medical opinion, IMO, that ties your s-c disability to your current diagnosis for a new disability. Without the IMO, you won't fair too well.

[Proudvet 8]

Fill out the dbq's and submit to www.va.gov. 

[Mantana 5]

14 hours ago, GBArmy said:

Mantana If you take meds for depression, it could lead to weight gain; do your research on the specific drugs you take. GERD can also be caused by prescribed meds and/or depression. For any secondary condition to  a s-c condition, you need a professional medical opinion, IMO, that ties your s-c disability to your current diagnosis for a new disability. Without the IMO, you won't fair too well.

Thanks for that answer, I'll seek IMO

[Carl the Engineer 673]

"For any secondary condition to  a s-c condition, you need a professional medical opinion, IMO, that ties your s-c disability to your current diagnosis for a new disability"

This is good advice, however, all of my secondaries, which are 3 or 4, were because of the C&P examiners opinion.  In all of these cases, the Rater asked the examiner to opine on the "50% or greater" etc.  

As an example.  I claimed "irregular heartbeats" secondary to my service connected hypertension (HBP) with just the civilian doctors exam, and was awarded.  No mention of anything attributing it.  The C&P examiner made the connection.

Another example.  I claimed right elbow tendinopathy (arthritis) secondary to my service connected right shoulder tendinopathy (arthritis) with just civilian doctors and x-rays.  No  mention of anything connecting the two.  The C&P examiner made the connection.

But, keep in mind, I think my VA works a little different then what I read on here about others experiences.  Hence my post on DBQ's.

FWIW,

Hamslice

 

[bellrungboxer 9]

Do you have a current diagnosis of GERD? I have been fighting for my GERD secondary to TBI/depression/anxiety and despite there being notes of "reflux" in my STRs, statement of self treatment with diet and otc drugs, and an endoscopy confirming GERD. They keep hanging their hats on a doctor's note that misquoted me when I said that my self treatment reduced the frequency of symptoms...it's frustrating.

I don't know what symptoms you have, but because I was having difficulty swallowing and regurgitation, my speech pathologist ruled out everything but GERD with a swallow test. They then sent me for an endoscopy and it scored me the diagnosis. 

I'm still waiting on my complex sleep apnea claim from my TBI as well, so I'm pulling for you!

[ruby 14]

I ask my Psych doctor who said my sleep apnea is probably due to my  PTSD but will not write it.  She won’t buck the system its not her job to make those decision.  And I probably won’t get it since the VA doesn’t recognize the connection.  The sleep apnea doctors said your fat that’s the cause and yes he said that however I wasn’t fat when I was dx.  I chose not to challenge him at this time but I will.

Someone I know gave me the name of a specialist to get an IMO.