In other, more severe cases, a doctor may need to prescribe a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. You provide evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Some conditions that can be secondary to sleep apnea may include but are not limited to: If you have a service-connected condition that you believe is causing your sleep apnea, it may be a good idea to start to talk to your doctors about it. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! During the exam, the examiner may evaluate both the primary and secondary condition. To receive benefits, you must first prove that there is a service connection. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can affect people who have experienced or witnessed trauma, such as a distressing or shocking event. Yes, Sleep Apnea is a VA disability and its rated under diagnostic code 6847, Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed). Physicians will treat sleep apnea depending on the type and severity of the condition. Because of this close relationship between ischemic heart disease and heart failure, its important for anyone diagnosed with one of these conditions to be closely monitored by a cardiologist. Because the chamber must relax in order to fill with blood between contractions, this stiffness means that an inadequate amount of blood is available to pump to the rest of the body. #1: Air is pulled in through the nasal passages. WebIf you are diagnosed with a chronic disease within one year of active -duty release, you should apply for disability compensation. Many veterans are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, and thereforewith an effective claim that includes the right evidenceshould be eligible for a sleep apnea VA rating. Medical Nexus Letter from a qualified doctor. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Although it can happen to anyone, it is more common in people who are overweight, have large tonsils, or have certain medical conditions. Providers Overview Location Reviews Providers Sleep apnea is sleep disorder that affects a persons breathing during the course of the night. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: Veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Sleep apnea is associated with heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, coronary artery disease and cardiovascular mortality. But, maybe theres a better way to G.C. are still among the most common treatments. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, sleep apnea as a secondary service connected condition to PTSD, Calculate Your Potential Compensation Now. yet assertive representation for our clients. If treatment for sleep apnea provides only limited alleviation, you will only receive ten percent of your maximum compensation, even if a CPAP machine is required. Veterans with Ischemic Heart Disease are nearly three times as likely to develop congestive heart failure as those without. The DBQ allows an examiner at a C&P exam to check boxes next to descriptions that best express how your sleep apnea is affecting you. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. She enjoys working with the Veteran population and keeping them up to date with information they need the most. 1-2017, at 2-7 (Jan. 6, hypertension and sleep apnea on a secondary basis. For veterans who have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea without a sleep study by the VA, the veteran may have to undergo a sleep study done by the VA in order to confirm the diagnosis for benefit purposes. Sleep Apnea, Obesity, and Heart Disease WebThe diagnostic criteria for a VA sleep apnea claim, found in the Code of Federal Regulations, have not changed. Although heart failure can be filed secondary to IHD, the VA wont assign separate ratings. Chronic sinusitis has also been linked to military burn pit exposure and is a presumptive condition for veterans who served in qualifying locations and time periods. If it has, there might be a rating reduction. A veterans final VA disability rating for Sleep Apnea depends upon the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms, meaning, the more severe your symptoms, the higher the VA rating for Sleep Apnea. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. veterans existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher. People with tinnitus may hear phantom noises, such as: Tinnitus is one of the most frequently claimed conditions for service connection. His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. aggravated by another service-connected disability. Loved ones like family or close friends could also be a good help in sharing how your sleep has changed. Quick note: You MUST have a medical diagnosis of Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully-developed claim (FDC)so you can increase your rating fast!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! People with sleep apnea are more likely to have coronary artery disease than those without sleep apnea. Did you know there are more than 40+ conditions that can be medically linked to cause or aggravate sleep apnea? Service connection links your present disability and your active military service. If you are among the former military service members living with sleep apnea, you may be eligible for veterans disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. How Does Chronic Congestive Heart Failure Affect Ischemic Heart Disease? Claire Szewczyk is a Digital Content Coordinator for Hill & Ponton, PA in Florida. Heres the deal Lets begin today's post with the Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): It is HARD to get service connected for Sleep Apnea secondary to Depression. Join our premier education-based membership program, VA Claims Insider Elite, connect with an expert-level Veteran Coach (VC) within minutes, and finally get the rating you deserve. The link between sleep apnea and PTSD is likely due to the fact that many factors which aggravate PTSD also aggravate sleep apnea. WebA study of data on hypertension patients in the VA healthcare system indicates that blood pressure control has improved significantly and substantially over time, but that many patients have less than optimal blood pressure control (Borzecki et al. Symptoms of asthma can include: Research has indicated that people who have asthma are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 You may be eligible for benefits if you have a service-related heart condition requiring treatment with a stent. Check out our Philips CPAP Recall page here! For instance, which pages you go to most. If the first half of the nights results confirm you have sleep apnea, the second half of the night will utilize the PAP device to prepare you for ongoing treatment. sleep apnea secondary connection with PTSD, Denied for Benefits? Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), Medical Nexus Letter, aka, Independent Medical Opinion (IMO). Sometimes, certain lifestyle changes can help to minimize the symptoms of sleep apnea, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. 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. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. However, sometimes a VA C&P examiner (such as a Nurse Practitioner) will call you on the telephone and conduct an Acceptable Clinical Evidence (ACE) exam review of your Sleep Apnea claim. As such, the two conditions have been linked and veterans can receive secondary service connection for sinusitis linked to sleep apnea. Like my comments toward the beginning of this How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Why? Sleep apnea occurs when a persons breathing is interrupted during sleep, often causing them to wake up gasping for air. WebCorrelation between coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and analysis of risk factors Correlation between coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and analysis of risk factors Exp Ther Med. Arrhythmias are a common symptom of ischemic heart disease and can often be a sign that the condition is progressing. To receive benefits, you will need to file a claim and get service-connected for it. 26,27 More recent studies have found an even higher prevalence of both CSA and OSA in heart failure patients. This type of exam is meant to assess the cause and the severity of the veterans condition, as well as the connection to the primary service-connected disability. Click the button below to start for FREE. In addition, the stress test can also help your doctor determine how well your heart is pumping and how much reserve capacity it has. In this blog post, we will discuss how. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. There is no evidence in the veterans service treatment records of any sleep A 30% rating is given if there is one or more of the following: A 10% rating is given if there is one or more of the following: Ischemic heart disease is a serious condition, and it can have a significant impact on a veterans quality of life. for active duty military members. All Rights Reserved. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Tinnitus is known as the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or requires tracheostomy, Requires use of breathing assistance device such as a CPAP machine, Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing, Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep (usually observed by your spouse or partner), Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia), Excessive daytime tiredness (hypersomnia). Current evidence has shown that OSA initiates and exacerbates coronary atherosclerosis and is closely related to poor outcomes in patients Or, if you served continuously for at least 90 days and are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) service connection: The first part can be satisfied with any Additionally, GERD may contribute to sleep apnea, as acid in the esophagus can cause spasms in the vocal cords which may prompt sleep apnea. Some doctors may have you fill out a questionnaire about your sleep habits. Epub 2018 Apr 13. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for managing cardiomyopathies. Like PTSD, other conditions rated as mental health conditions can be related to sleep apnea. Treatment options include lifestyle modification, medications, implantable devices, and surgery. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! For example, maybe your Sleep Apnea so severe, that you have difficulty working and lose productivity throughout the day due to frequent napping. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. This sleep-disordered breathing leads to poor sleep quality and is a risk factor for the poor quality of life. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). If so, how often and how long are your naps? VA may deny a sleep apnea claim based on different aspects, whether theres not enough medical evidence of sleep apnea or perhaps no logical connection between your military service and your current sleep apnea. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Click HERE to read now. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 1 Adults with OSA not only have an increased risk of developing comorbid CVD but also have worse outcomes related to CVD. Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing, A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling, Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu, Re-experiencing the trauma through recurrent memories, flashbacks, and nightmares, Avoidance of people, places, and activities that are reminders of the trauma, Increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, Difficulty maintaining relationships with others, Thick, discolored discharge from the nose, Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage), Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose, Pain, tenderness, and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead. The following are the different ratings that can be assigned to heart conditions: All heart conditions are rated on the General Rating Formula unless otherwise noted. The test is usually performed while you are exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike. WebAfter first reading these examples, the obvious answer is that the private examiners opinion in VA sleep apnea claim #2 was what made the difference. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Repeated surges in blood pressure levels can damage the lining of the blood vessels, and sleep disturbances can also raise levels of harmful LDL cholesterol and other blood fats. A C&P exam for Sleep Apnea might involve a physical examination and review of your medical history and severity of symptoms over time. There are many conditions that have been linked to sleep apnea that veterans can receive benefits for through secondary service connection. 5 Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea. It can happen multiple times throughout the night, leading to serious health problems like fatigue, high blood pressure, and heart disease. WebLets look a little deeper at OSA for a minute Obstructive Sleep Apnea is by far the most common type of Sleep Apnea that affects veterans. Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects about22 million people nationwide. Obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common type of sleep apnea, occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax and fail to keep the upper airway open, which prevents you from breathing properly. A stress test is important in diagnosing and managing ischemic heart disease. The VA refers to mixed sleep apnea as a combination of the obstructive and central forms of the condition. If a doctor thinks its highly likely you have sleep apnea, the sleep study may also involve a positive air pressure (PAP) device. This study will serve as medical evidence for the veterans case and can help to prove the medical condition or medical conditions that go into a total rating. For a 50% rating, the diagnostic criteria still Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure ( CPAP) machine.. Veterans, do you think you might have Sleep Apnea? The medical examination may seem like extra hard work but could qualify that veteran for additional monthly compensation. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Research has found that veterans who have chronic tinnitus also prevalently experience sleep apnea. In addition to primary service connection for sleep apnea, veterans can receive secondary service connection for any conditions that were caused or aggravated by their already service-connected sleep apnea.