Higher Level Review for Sleep Apnea secondary to Allergic Rhinitis.

[Sancheezy05]

Hello all,

I am new to the forums and looking for some guidance. I was denied service connection for sleep apnea through a claim that provided a Physicians Assistant nexus letter and dbq linking sleep apnea to my service connected conditions of allergic rhinitis, hypertension and bilateral plantar fasciitis. I went with the higher level review route and now my VA.gov site shows:

The Veterans Benefits Administration is correcting an error

During their review, the senior reviewer identified an error that must be corrected before deciding your case. If needed, VA may contact you to ask for more evidence or to schedule a new medical exam.

 

Not sure if this is a good think or just standard. I felt like my informal conference was literal 2 minutes and just explained what the HLR was. When I requested my C-File a few months ago, I noticed that the VA was originally going to rate me at 100% with sleep apnea being service connected to my allergic rhinitis referencing my IMO as the favorable evidence, than five days later they redid the final approval letter and denied the service connection. My C&P Nurse Practitioner stated that Allergic Rhinitis doesn't cause Sleep Apnea but I have seen Board of Appeals be granted and other veterans as well get Sleep Apnea as a Secondary to this condition. Just seeing if anyone else knows what the next stage in the process will be and what an unofficial timeline for something like this would be? I am roughly around day 110 for the HLR and overall this claim dates back to December of 2019.

 

Thank you again and sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum.

[GBArmy]

Vync I couldn't agree more. It's a small step but if they actually use the data/info it could improve service. We hope!

[pawmbi]

Hi All

Just chiming in on the OSA.  I have SC GERD and got my OSA secondary to GERD.  Paid a company to write my nexus letter, took their advice and did my own DBQ (through the same doctor) and did a statement from myself (on how the GERD and OSA affected each other) and submitted all 3 documents and got OSA secondary to the GERD.  I'll add that I had a sleep study back in 2013 and had a CPAP issued by the VA and just added those bits of evidence (which was also attached to the DBQ) to the claim.  I remember the claim was submitted on like middle of the week and decided that Friday and I got the back pay a little less than a week later.  Hope this helps.

Edited May 2, 2021 by pawmbi

[Fat]

Rhinitis can be divided into allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis, particularly allergic rhinitis, has been shown to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea; a condition characterized by repetitive upper airway obstruction during sleep. Allergic rhinitis increases the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea by two major mechanisms: 1) increase in airway resistance due to higher nasal resistance and 2) reduction in pharyngeal diameter from mouth breathing that moves the mandible inferiorly.

[Sancheezy05]

Well...... after two years of fighting the VA I am officially in the 100% club. Thank you everyone for the motivating advice and kind words along the way!

[benenlow]

@Sancheezy05 P&T?

[Sancheezy05]

Yes sir.