A/8un$zjHNSPU%=8HF Z*v@l(?6Nx/ In September 1978, she was granted service connection for bilateral chondromalacia, a breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint that causes pain when bones . Below is the schedule for rating . Newonset of debilitating fatigue severe enough to reduce daily activity to less than 50% of the usual level for at least six months. Youre arent alone. Thats what you REALLY need you need the RECIPE for proving that sleep apnea is service connected. Or perhaps when they realize that Sleep Apnea is going to be as big an issue for our current generation of Veterans asAgent Orange related conditions are to Vietnam Veterans, they will take it seriously. For instance, often sleep apnea presents itself in those who have been suffering from PTSD. endstream endobj startxref FromApril 2013 to April 2014, the BVA denied 76% of Veterans Sleep Apnea appeals. Sleep studies can be done to rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or other sleep disorders preventing restful sleep. (In many cases, amedical expert report or opinion may be crucial to success). If youve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low ratingor youre unsure how to get startedreach out to us! caused or made worse by your active duty military service OR. If you were diagnosed with this condition while in the military, you have a straight forward shot for service connection. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection. Here are the ingredients to a properlydeveloped claim for sleep apnea: *A solid foundation of Lay and Medical Evidence showing when sleep apnea first began to present in the Veterans life. Lesson #2: Sleep Apnea is affectinga LOTof Veterans. Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Cognitive training is important to be able to talk to someone about CFS and its limiting factors on life, and how to cope on a daily basis. I dont know if Im authorize a second run at the DRO or go straight to BVA. You're not alone. Since that time, we have provided compassionate Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 * Can I service connect sleep apnea without a sleep study in service? b4RmeCF$ZelpKT+ise$._DSah#Yxm CPGtef%gMvHPMO_'QXfk3xk9R-bxUqJ4rzWhixgi7-]ng)T2i:P z"/oCw.8{N A\c\FOl>jlh@7p I talked to several doctors and sleep experts. This will confirm a medical diagnosis and current symptoms, especially if theyve become more severe over time. . Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. If so, you may be eligible for VA disability for sleep apnea if you can show a nexus to your military service. I talked to hundreds of Veterans and read their C-Files to see where they went wrong. It's almost as much work - and it can often take as much dedication. Translation: 3 out of every 4 of youwill see your sleep apnea claims and appeals deniedunless you learn how to prove your Sleep Apnea Claim the right way. If you are a veteran and have been struggling with sleep problems, you may wonder if a VA sleep study is the right solution. The Veteran was granted entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder in a May 2016 rating decision. Along with a direct Nexus, it is also possible to win a sleep apnea claim by claiming it as a secondary condition. The question raised in this case is whether this "intermediate step" is limited to . Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. That is how I suggest you handle this situation. Winning a VA claim to service connect sleep apnea is hard. z`tsd#Ex>@"A"M@+5;$ Do I Need a CPAP Machine to be Service-Connected? Take a look at the Sleep Apnea eBook when it comes out I think you will find a lot of informaiton that will help you understand better the many different paths and proofs for service connection of Sleep Apnea. ZB{hp!=Uds~$?4Af%E)L:va4Hc_?qaH }q?OFI>4 7Q3 Without a CPAP machine, the VA assigns a 30% rating. In fact, there are three distinct kinds of sleep apnea obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. Since there is no cure for CFS the treatment focuses on relief of the symptoms. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices If you need assistance in appealing your claim for CFS,let us know here! 1) Direct Service Connection for Sleep Apnea For direct service connection you must show either of the following: You were diagnosed with sleep apnea during your military service; -or- You must prove the onset of sleep apnea occurred while you were in service. Check out the Sleep Apnea Field Manual. I understand you want your VA claim to be done as quickly as possible. The cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is unknown; however, there are a few theories as to what may cause this condition. * 5- Star Lay and Medical Evidence that show you your VA Sleep Apnea disabilityaffects your dailylife. The rate was a staggering 22%. I think that far too many raters and BVA judges think of sleep apnea as made up medicine. In order to establish direct service connection for sleep apnea, a claimant must show that they have: a current, diagnosis of sleep apnea an in-service event or illness/injury a medical nexus or link that shows the veteran's sleep apnea is related to their in-service event, injury/illness. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. * A good Lay and Medical presentation and assessment of the sleep apnea symptoms you have had from service, or service-discharge, to the present day. See you on the inside! YEP!!! If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. If you are interested in avoiding unnecessary delay in your claim and want to do everything you can to maximize your chances of success, it is probably a good idea for you to consult with an accredited veterans disability attorney. Thanks for your concern and the blog. In the article you quoted, Mr Harrison said, Sleep apnea is not a combat injury, especially if its caused by obesity.. OSA secondary to PTSD (or other mental health claim) is a more challenging claim to make, but it is still a top candidate for secondary service connection of sleep apnea. Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call with an experienced Team Member. If you need a lawyer, fill out a contact form at the law firm of Attig Steel: https://www.attigsteel.com/contact-us/. Battle of DUAL-EXPERTS Chris, you called it!!! Sleep apnea can be your link or nexus for filing claims for: Sleep apnea is a high-value claim in the VA world of ratings. Heck, I get an email or more a day from a Veteran that says this: My Sleep Apnea claimwas not granted. I have tried to connect OSA secondary to chronic sinusitis which has also been denied. Veterans whoare looking for the easy way to get sleep apnea service-connected will not find it in my opinion, there is no such thing. Everyone I came in contact with there was very nice. For all about getting a VA rating for sleep apnea, see our post Your Sleep Apnea VA Rating A Guide to Getting a VA Disability Rating for Sleep Apnea. In this article, well help you understand the top 5 reasons OSA claims are deniedand even better, what to do about it if youve received a denial for your OSA claim. This mistake has led to as much as 76% of sleep apnea claims being rejected (as recently as 2014). I talked to several doctors about the causes and limitations of sleep apnea. The blockage is believed to occur when the muscles in the back of the throat become overly relaxed. A medical opinion will be necessary to show these causative connection, and you will want to first service connect the sinusitis, and then argue that the OSA is secondary or argue that the OSA is secondary to the bronchitis. %PDF-1.4 % application/pdf If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. The first requirement which must be met to satisfy the VA is a sleep study. VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed? Proving Service-Connection for Sleep Apnea. Then present the proper records for service connection with a professional opinion on the Nexus of the sleep apnea. This is because sleep apnea is abnormally difficult to prove as a disability that is service-connected. case, my case has settled now, and I am very happy for all Jason and his office hard work on my case, he was always there to help me out with any questions that I had or help I needed. Otherwise, I would properly ended up in mental health facility or going insane!!! Here, nexus is the connection between your service and the current diagnosis of sleep apnea. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. For instance, if you complain of being tired all the time your doctor may order blood tests to check for anemia, diabetes, and hypothyroidism all of which cause fatigue. Also see our post What is a Service-Connected Disability? (The Insiders Guide), Insider Tips: How to Schedule a Sleep Study with the VA. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! However, if you use one, it does provide you with a higher rating. Even a previous diagnosis may not be accepted by the VA without a sleep study. 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. Source: Department of Veteran Affairs Regional Office New Orleans, LA. First of all, lets explore a little about this common disability in veterans, so you understand the condition and why its important you pursue your claim and get the benefits you deserve. Winning a VA Sleep Apnea is much harder. VA Disability Claim Timeline For Active Duty Members & Veterans, Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy, Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine, Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Department of Veterans Affairs Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most noticeable signal for those who live alone. Winning a VA Sleep Apnea is much harder. Thats what Veteran Lee G. did Lees VA claim changed when he read my Sleep Apnea book: Chris gave me the knowledge to file a claim for Sleep Apnea. In our experience, most VA disability claims are won or lost based on medical evidence. about the threat of COVID-19 and Coronavirus. If you are already service-connected for your knees or your back, you are likely not as active as you once were. Youll need to make the call on direct service connection versus secondary service connection. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. aggravated beyond its natural progression by another service-connected condition (for secondary service connection).
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