Jump to content

Ask Your VA   Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read VA Disability Claims Articles
 Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

Top 10 VA Disability Claims Articles

  • homepage-banner-2024.png

  • donate-be-a-hero.png

  • 0

CPAP battery backup ?

Rate this question

Riplip

Asked by Riplip,

 Share

Question

Riplip Community Regular

Riplip

Posted
Posted

Hello, I have had my CPAP machine for about 8 months now and can't sleep without it. It helps me so much. I was wondering if anybody has a battery backup system in case of loss of power in the middle of the night? I lost power due to a storm last night and I just waited it out the couple hours but lost all that sleep. I also know the VA has grants all over the place but you have to ask the right people. If that is possible, that info. would be outstanding as well. Thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Answers 14
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

Popular Days

Top Posters For This Question

Popular Days

Popular Posts

broncovet
broncovet

I contacted my VA sleep med/respiratory department, and they sent me a battery backup, as I share your concern.   Also, my local utility knows my health condition, and, therefore, my area has "hi

pacmanx1
pacmanx1

Not all VAMC's and VARO's make the exact same decisions, it seems like it is a luck of the draw. 

brokensoldier244th
brokensoldier244th

No kidding? Cool! Ive been looking at solar charged battery power stations with 12v inverters. I didnt know I could request a backup from VA (or at least ask). Thanks, Bronc

14 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
Riplip Community Regular

Riplip

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Pacmanx1, you are correct. My VAMC doesn't give these out to CPAP patients. I got the reply this morning saying it isn't economically feasible to do so. Some do and some don't. A veteran can get care any any VA. Can I send a request to a VA sleep medicine that does it? I doubt it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Riplip Community Regular

Riplip

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I was told its the policy at Manchester NH VA hospital to not give them out to CPAP patients. I was told this by 2 different specialists there.  Seems odd. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
blahsaysme2u Mentor

blahsaysme2u

Posted
Posted
On 12/2/2022 at 11:51 AM, Riplip said:

prosthetics but we only give them out to life safety requests. I then told him that people die from sleep apnea and I have a chance to not wake up if my CPAP stops working.

this was my exact arguement when i asked for one and i think my original request went through prosthetics.

when the battery stopped working, i let the sleep lab know and they put in the order- i am not sure who it went to though? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
pushbroom Rookie

pushbroom

Posted
Posted

OK. So I figured this out. Just like when I filed my claim or when I originally registered at my VAMC--I was lied to and treated poorly. So here is a step by step of what you need to do. 
 

My VAMC is one of those that refuses to issue batteries to anyone period. They cited "policies" and other nonsense. They claimed Denver sends them out and to contact Denver. I'm fact Denver does not. No matter what anyone tells you. 
 

1--You need a letter of "medical necessity" from your primary care. Have them write it. If you lose power or are going camping or have some instance of spending the night without power and have sleep apnea...and the VA sent you a CPAP...then you have it. Ask them if you can swing by and grab a copy or whatever would be easier. 

2--Give the letter to prosthetics. 

3--Prosthetics will order you the battery and it comes from some place other than Denver. 

Please remember. Your local VAMC has no real power in this. They answer to The Honorable Denis Richard McDonough  Who is the secretary of VETERAN Affairs currently . I challenge all of you to ask them what his policy is. Then ask for their email so you can  CC them in your email to him asking for clarification on his policy. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Riplip Community Regular

Riplip

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well, I shall try this Pushbroom. I tried a couple times before and exactly like you said. My VA said they will only issue them if it is life or death and if the power goes out I'll only snore. Go figure. I've used the CPAP every single day since they issued it to me. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to question listing


  • Tell a friend

    Love HadIt.com’s VA Disability Community Vets helping Vets since 1997? Tell a friend!

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      RICHKAY
      RICHKAY earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Great Content
      pacmanx1
      pacmanx1 earned a badge
      Great Content
    • First Post
      czqiang1079
      czqiang1079 earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      Vicdamon12
      Vicdamon12 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Year In
      Panther8151
      Panther8151 earned a badge
      One Year In

  • Our picks

    • Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection

      Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection

      Tbird posted a record in VA Claims and Benefits Information,

      Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL

      This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:

      Current Diagnosis.   (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)

      In-Service Event or Aggravation.
      Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
      • 0 replies
      Tbird

      Picked By

      Tbird,

    • Post in ICD Codes and SCT CODES?WHAT THEY MEAN?

      Timothy cawthorn posted an answer to a question,

      Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability rating 
      yellowrose

      Picked By

      yellowrose,

    • Post in Chevron Deference overruled by Supreme Court

      broncovet posted a post in a topic,

      VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their  ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.  

      They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.  

      This is not true, 

      Proof:  

          About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because  when they cant work, they can not keep their home.  I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason:  "Its been too long since military service".  This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA.  And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time,  mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends. 

          Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly.  The VA is broken. 

          A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals.  I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision.  All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did. 

          I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt".   Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day?  Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.   
      Lemuel

      Picked By

      Lemuel,

    • Post in Re-embursement for non VA Medical care.

      broncovet posted an answer to a question,

      Welcome to hadit!  

          There are certain rules about community care reimbursement, and I have no idea if you met them or not.  Try reading this:

      https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities/

         However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.  

         When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait!  Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?"  Not once.  Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.  

          However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.  

      That rumor is false but I do hear people tell Veterans that a lot.  There are strict rules VA has to reduce you and, NOT ONE of those rules have anything to do with applying for an increase.  

      Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.  

          Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:

      https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.344

       
      Lemuel

      Picked By

      Lemuel,

    • Post in What is the DIC timeline?

      broncovet posted an answer to a question,

      Good question.   

          Maybe I can clear it up.  

          The spouse is eligible for DIC if you die of a SC condition OR any condition if you are P and T for 10 years or more.  (my paraphrase).  

      More here:

      Source:

      https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

      NOTE:   TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY.  This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond.    If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much. 
      Lemuel

      Picked By

      Lemuel,
    View All
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use

  I accept