Your email address will not be published. Local Wounded Veterans Gifted with Opportunities to Go Fishing. Therefore, a well-crafted nexus letter for sleep apnea is the single most crucial document a veteran can provide the VA adjudicator to help prove service connection on an at least as likely as not basis. Concerningly, it is also one of the conditions most rejected by the VA, as the vast majority are regularly turned down. This is what is called the Nexus. I believe the two are connected. Along with a direct Nexus, it is also possible to win a sleep apnea claim by claiming it as a secondary condition. 38 0 obj <> endobj Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 By doing this your claim will have the best chance possible. 0 The cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is unknown; however, there are a few theories as to what may cause this condition. Either way, Veterans have an uphill fight to get their sleep apnea service-connected. =XG\b?pjbAp{SB~,L8G2*`'x;7i2uPC=Lo:ITXwKVm /! According to the VA law, there are three evidentiary elements that must be satisfied for sleep apnea conditions to prove secondary service connection: A medical diagnosis recorded in medical records of sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study Evidence of PTSD as a service-connected primary disability We share our top tips and a step-by-step guide to a successful claim for obstructive sleep apnea! This is a great group of people who really care about your well being. In recent years this trend has begun to turn around, but it is still one of the more difficult conditions to win a disability compensation claim for. Has camp Lejeune exposures been linked to sleep apnea? Scenario 1: Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea First Occurs a Long Time after Service, with no evidence of sleep-breathing problems in the Military Service, or Military Medical, records. I awake countless time at night due to this. You may eventually get there on your own, but it may be after a series of decisions by the Regional Office and Board of Veterans Appeals. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim. %PDF-1.4 if our guys/gals have SLEEP APNEA in the field THAT COULD KILL THEM.!! How to Connect Sleep Apnea to Military Service. Problems with sleep which include not being rested after sleep or difficulty staying and/or falling asleep. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Do You Owe Your Severance Pay Back to the VA? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This disorder can also lead to more complications like depression, social isolation, lifestyle restrictions, and an increase in absences from work/school. This may cause dizziness, weakness, fainting while standing or sitting, as well as vision becoming blurry or seeing spots. Heck, I get an email or more a day from a Veteran that says this: My Sleep Apnea claimwas not granted. Because of my PTSD meds and sleep apnea I have gained considerable weight as well as an underactive thyroid. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! Tender lymph nodes usually in the neck and underarms. Yi-bR :z>r6iFR You only need to establish that your sleep apnea is at least as likely as not: A nexus letter is an evidence-based document prepared by a medical professional that helps to establish a connection between the veterans current disability and either military service (for direct service connection) or another rated disability (for secondary service connection). In fact, there are three distinct kinds of sleep apnea obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea. If you have symptoms of OSA, consider obtaining a sleep study, also known as polysomnography. ; claim denied; hearing aids supplied but disability denied;pre-diabetic; high blood pressure. You're not alone. f%Ygaz~u&d_',BB)Kw4(wb B @WxW4]XE 8L>kq t#]NGW{#}|_ g#0 oZ)OZLmx JqW2! /kso-v"b688Me ) Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected its the one thing I hear more about from Veterans than any other topic. We also connect veterans with independent medical professionals in our referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible independent medical opinions and nexus statements (medical nexus letters) for a wide range of disability conditions. Most Veterans are not proving sleep apnea is service connected. . If you are hurt at work, this is the firm you want on YOUR side. Translation: 3 out of every 4 of youwill see your sleep apnea claims and appeals deniedunless you learn, how to prove your Sleep Apnea Claim the right way. Heres WhyMost Veterans are not proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. Template for processing Decision or Remand In our experience, an upper respiratory disability is one of the easiest choices for claiming OSA secondary to another service-connected disability. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 This is because the fact is that many veterans suffer from PTSDand sleep problems are a common symptom of PTSD. endobj They denied extra physical therapy. My emphysema is connected. Its over 165 pages long, and took 9 months of research. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! You will then need an expert medical opinion that shows these symptoms back then in service were probably sleep apnea even though you had not been diagnosed at the time. You are going to have to think through your case as objectively as you possibly can. If you get that, then you should be able to establish direct service connection and receive VA disability for sleep apnea. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Many conditions that are service related can cause obesity, like diabetes (and diabetes medications), depression, and injuries that result in lack of mobility. Not only does the VA provide compensation, but once you receive a service-connection for it, it provides a way to get other disabilities to service-connected. In our experience, if you did NOT have a sleep study while on active duty and you did not get a medical diagnosis of sleep apnea in the military, you should only attempt to service-connect your sleep apnea VA claim SECONDARY to another service-connected disability. I read his information, submitted medical documents, receiveda Letter of Nexus or comments from a VA contractor doctor. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a serious chronic illness that is common with the United States general population and especially veterans. Below is the schedule for rating disability for Chronic Fatigue Sundrome. Worsening of symptoms while sitting upright or standing, known as Orthostatic Intolerance. * How the VA willrate your sleep apnea condition after granting Service Connection. 7@$4hvF=/Y 9FsxS@*ia:?4AC,bT_r8{4 X|rGPr-N^j!DU 5|V!"D3Q)fE&Jl`Z9s^Hva$rq%[sRRw8r See id. Broadly, it's defined as the occurrence of five or more breathing-related "events" per hour, measured by polysomnography (sleep study). Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. BVA Decision Not a lot of VSOs or advocates get this when helping a Veteran file a VA Claim. This is in order to be officially diagnosed. They were at all times attentive and on top of my case. For instance, the rating criteria for 100% disability rating for chronic fatigue syndrome detailing debilitating and incapacitating fatigue, cognitive impairments, or a mixture of other similar symptoms severe enough to restrict your daily life and self-care significantly. Your VA Sleep Apnea Claim, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Your email address will not be published. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: The proper medical explanation of the origin of the veterans sleep apnea, Lay AND Medical detailing of the symptoms experienced from sleep apnea affecting the veteran since the onset of the condition in the service until the present day. fight to get their sleep apnea service-connected. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 In the U.S. it has been acknowledged that more education needs to be provided to doctors and nurses to give them the skills to detect CFS sooner for the well being of the patient. I can teach you: * HOW toproveyour Sleep Apnea Claim for any ofthe 3 types of Sleep Apnea you have. This mistake has led to as much as 76% of sleep apnea claims being rejected (as recently as 2014). After that knee replacement, he could no longer lift weights;thesudden weight gain the resulted caused his obstructive sleep apnea. Thats $901.83 a month. hbbd```b``"A$,^&d4dZ0;LI`2A`6H9!`qF' 0 They think of Sleep Apnea as a disease of the obese, and then they tell them one of the big Fairy Tales about VA Claims. I recd another denial (3rd) Jun 30, 2017. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 VA initially denied (1ST) my SA claim in 2014, I became a premium member in 2015 and followed your training guides step by step, medical expert opinion, 10 sworn declaration statements by family members, co-workers in service and post-service. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Symptoms can become worse with exertion by either physical or mental activity, such as going shopping and having to take a nap in the car before driving home, or staying on task at work and needing the evenings and weekends to recover, taking a shower and becoming bed bound for a couple of days afterward. The rate was a staggering 22%. While its not really hard to prove service-connection of your sleep apnea, its most certainly not easy: you are going to have to put in some work. Andmy sleep study was not done in the military.. Your airway narrows and closes, leading to pauses in the breathing cycle. * 5- Star Lay and Medical Evidence that show you your VA Sleep Apnea disabilityaffects your dailylife. HWnH}W#zx 8Fb$vhjKLdRCR6-kf$}9u/U(XVX= eX5e2by=t-V?l*_?,?C&{u&Q,E1[x3")KYdXD@Q2+x."]}0uLB!_ne\Ya)y,"k"Q>bV7mWnXQn ZDE(WQ 8mSNMj;vwWoDL-y9mxC~`S3t|4[& S/.TWGaxUtbw>Hk :LfNo`BYL2%*{6GuTP rzY9y+%Koa(+Ja.'Xg To prove that sleep apnea is service connected,the smart Veteran isgoing to have to connect the dots for them. I want you to think about the BEST path to proving that sleep apnea is service connected, and the BESTway to get the VA sleep apnea disability rating you are entitled to. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke), diabetes, depression, and headaches, among others. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during the course of sleep. High blood pressure or hypertension can be easily developed due to stress acquired in active duty. Give us a call at 800-477-9027 to see if we can help you. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 The question raised in this case is whether this "intermediate step" is limited to . What about PTSD? And that means you are going to have to think through your sleep apnea claim.

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