Can weight loss lead to sleep apnea rating decrease?

[mb76]

If weight loss leads to OSA going away then wouldn't the rating go away as well? I am 50% and use my CPAP.

[brokensoldier244th]

Theoretically, yes but I've only heard of people saying " I let a lot of weight so im off my CPAP" and that was in fitness magazines, so....

 

It might, just based on one of the causes of OSA, but there are other things that can contribute to OSA specifically. I know thin people on cpaps. 

[broncovet]

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"If" your OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) "actually improved under ordinary conditions of life", and it was "sustained improvement", then, yes, it could result in a reduction.  

[deedub75]

Are there future exams for OSA?  

[broncovet]

VA can schedule "future exams" for any condition.  

However, they are not supposed to schedule (re exams, for purposes of reduction) If you are over 55 or P and T, "under ordinary circumstances".  

What I have seen is that you normally order masks for a cpap at least once a year if you are using it.  If you dont use it, no.  

Its likely gonna be a red flag if you stop using the cpap masks and or stop seeking treatment for OSA.  

[brokensoldier244th]

Not to mention potentially deadly. I fell asleep last night without my mask on and my acid reflux woke me up choking- in part because my CPAP helps control that as a side effect of forcing my airway open. 

 

[Vync]

@mb76 Welcome to Hadit!

As @brokensoldier244th indicated knowing a bunch of skinny people on CPAP machines, I'm one of those borderline people - not thin, not heavy. He's correct about the CPAP helping with other conditions like reflux. I also have chronic sinusitis/rhinitis. That CPAP machine helps to keep my sinuses open while I sleep. Even if I lost more weight and ended up not actually needing to wear it from an apnea perspective, I probably would continue to wear it to keep my sinuses open.

When I had my sleep studies, they started me off without the mask to determine if I was having apneas. After they noticed them happening, they put the mask on and the number dropped.

My machine is a Philips Dreamstation and I connected it to my phone via Bluetooth. In the app, I can produce a report showing the number of apneas (AHI) for each night. Sometimes I have very few, other times I have a bunch. My machine does call into the VA daily to report the previous night's results, so I don't have to bring in the SD card and have it read every six months. 

If the VA wanted to reduce you, it may be due to non-compliance if you are not using the machine as prescribed.

[deedub75]

3 minutes ago, brokensoldier244th said:

Not to mention potentially deadly. I fell asleep last night without my mask on and my acid reflux woke me up choking- in part because my CPAP helps control that as a side effect of forcing my airway open. 

 

Not only does my CPAP control the apneas, it also keeps me in the sleep stages for the appropriate amount of time.  I was having virtually no REM sleep and was spending way too much time in stage 2 before the CPAP.  It's amazing how using a CPAP balanced all of that out. 

[GBArmy]

I have OSA, but not (yet) s-c for it. Like Brokernsoldier, I also have GERD. Same situation, I try not to take any naps, although it is very hard to do. I won't let myself fall asleep without being hooked up to the CPAP. Just don't need to have that acid reflux acting up and it will if I don't hook up. But to answer the question, I asked for more masks  and the shipped them. But they also said that was it until I get my regular follow-up eval. My guess is a regular "re-exam" is o  a 3 year cycle.

[GBArmy]

Just to add, I'd prefer to lose the weight if I could and take the chance of being reduced from 50 to 30%. Obesity and overweight contribute to a lot of health problems.

[brokensoldier244th]

14 minutes ago, deedub75 said:

Not only does my CPAP control the apneas, it also keeps me in the sleep stages for the appropriate amount of time.  I was having virtually no REM sleep and was spending way too much time in stage 2 before the CPAP.  It's amazing how using a CPAP balanced all of that out. 

Thats that part that SUCKS when you are undiagnosed. You sleep and sleep, and yet feel like nothing is happening. 

[brokensoldier244th]

15 minutes ago, Vync said:

@mb76 Welcome to Hadit!

As @brokensoldier244th indicated knowing a bunch of skinny people on CPAP machines, I'm one of those borderline people - not thin, not heavy. He's correct about the CPAP helping with other conditions like reflux. I also have chronic sinusitis/rhinitis. That CPAP machine helps to keep my sinuses open while I sleep. Even if I lost more weight and ended up not actually needing to wear it from an apnea perspective, I probably would continue to wear it to keep my sinuses open.

When I had my sleep studies, they started me off without the mask to determine if I was having apneas. After they noticed them happening, they put the mask on and the number dropped.

My machine is a Philips Dreamstation and I connected it to my phone via Bluetooth. In the app, I can produce a report showing the number of apneas (AHI) for each night. Sometimes I have very few, other times I have a bunch. My machine does call into the VA daily to report the previous night's results, so I don't have to bring in the SD card and have it read every six months. 

If the VA wanted to reduce you, it may be due to non-compliance if you are not using the machine as prescribed.

Id love to have one of those, but my Resemed won't die. Ive had it almost 10 yrs. Pretty good for a durable medical device. Ive only had to replace the humidifier pan once. 

 

[Buck52]

I can't say for sure but what caused me to get OSA ? but  after VA diagnosed with chronic PTSD they gave me certain medications  to take and sleep meds as well.

  I don't take naps during the day because I stop breathing ,  so my  VA therapist mention this to the VA  MH  Phyistrist  and I had to go see her and she ordered a sleep study by the va  VA could not do it in a timely manner  so they out sourced me to a private sleep study...the results was I has moderate OSA and required  the use of a C-PAP Machine  the VA Diagnose me for OSA but never said why?

Anyway VA had me to come to the sleep clinic and pick up a new C-PAP Machine and a class to learn how to use the machine and the maintenance and cleaning.

This was over 5 years ago...and I have not filed a claim for Sleep Apnea  or OSA.

.I need to file a claim  secondary to my PTSD but it maybe to late to file being it was over 5 years ago?

..I do not want to go though all that stuff anymore sleep studys and show evidence of what the Dr mention that my sleep apnea is likely as not caused by me medications I take For Chronic PTSD prescribe by the VA..

.the only reason I mention this to my VA Therapist  my wife said I snore and some time stop breathing  She wakes me up and tells me I stopped breathing  and it scared the living daylights out of her...so I mention it to my therapist.

not sure I could still get service connected for it? I still use the C-pap And get the supplies from the VA Sleep clinic.

Do you guys think I should file?   this would be in case I die from it  because no more $$in the pot for me   just be to service connect it.

[GBArmy]

I have OSA, but not (yet) s-c for it. Like Brokernsoldier, I also have GERD. Same situation, I try not to take any naps, although it is very hard to do. I won't let myself fall asleep without being hooked up to the CPAP. Just don't need to have that acid reflux acting up and it will if I don't hook up. But to answer the question, I asked for more masks  and the shipped them. But they also said that was it until I get my regular follow-up eval. My guess is a regular "re-exam" is o  a 3 year cycle.

[GBArmy]

Buck You are 100% so it's kinda on you whether or not to file. Symptoms for OSA with use of CPAP is a 50% rating, so for future SMC's? It's never too late to file.

[GBArmy]

Buck If you decide to file, you're going to have to get an IMO from a doc linking it as secondary. That might not mean you have to take another sleep study, especially if you have been using the CPAP all along. It is a high value disability rating though, so the IMO is going to have evidence that your specific meds for MH has been shown to be a direct cause. I'd do it if I had a good IMO.

[Buck52]

Roger that GB

i think my VA MH Dr would say the medications I take for PTSD would be the cause or related to my recent  5 year OSA   NO PROBLEM THERE  BUT THE SLEEP DR'S MAY NOT? I ask my VA SLEEP DR ONE TIME ABOUT IT  SHE SAID SHE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET INVOLVED WITH CLAIMS.

Beings I never had it while in the military  even if I snored  back then a lot of us snored and never mention it to the Doc's. WE JUST NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT CAUSING US ANY SLEEP PROBLEMS  ECT,,ECT,,,BACK THEN

 OSA was not all that common 48/49 years ago or so. but I am sure people did have OSA

[deedub75]

13 minutes ago, Buck52 said:

Roger that GB

i think my VA MH Dr would say the medications I take for PTSD would be the cause or related to my recent  5 year OSA   NO PROBLEM THERE  BUT THE SLEEP DR'S MAY NOT? I ask my VA SLEEP DR ONE TIME ABOUT IT  SHE SAID SHE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET INVOLVED WITH CLAIMS.

Beings I never had it while in the military  even if I snored  back then a lot of us snored and never mention it to the Doc's. WE JUST NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT CAUSING US ANY SLEEP PROBLEMS  ECT,,ECT,,,BACK THEN

 OSA was not all that common 48/49 years ago or so. but I am sure people did have OSA

My primary care doctor at the VAMC sent me for a sleep study at my request because I told him my wife complained about me snoring and my breathing would stop. When it came back that I had mild sleep apnea and my oxygen levels were dropping, I asked him if my allergies and chronic sinusitis was causing sleep apnea and he agreed that those were more than likely the reasons for my sleep apnea. He wrote that in my medical records and that’s all it took for me to get my sleep apnea claim granted. 

[Vync]

23 hours ago, brokensoldier244th said:

Id love to have one of those, but my Resemed won't die. Ive had it almost 10 yrs. Pretty good for a durable medical device. Ive only had to replace the humidifier pan once. 

I had an older Philips model (provided from a non-VA hospital) and there was nothing wrong with it. The VA made me replace it with the new one on me because it had the cellular modem. 

[Jon Hudson]

According to a blog post, there is a connection between sleep apnea and weight along with many other factors that contributes to this sleeping disorder.

[GBArmy]

brokensoldier Never thought of that. I have a CPAP and also have GERD. I never thought about the CPAP actually helping my GERD symptoms, because it must. I don't have nearly as many acid reflux issues while lying down since I started on it about 3 years ago.