Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. The causes of these disturbances may vary depending on which form of the condition you have: obstructive, central, or a mixed form of both. In other, more severe cases, a doctor may need to prescribe a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine. I can literally read the VAs denial letter now: A C&P exam and a sleep apnea diagnosis are crucial to qualifying for the upper tiers of compensation. Sleep apnea is rated under 38 CFR 4.97, diagnostic code 6847 Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central Mixed). 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. Claire Szewczyk Updated: November 7, 2022. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Usually, a sleep specialist will monitor the veterans breathing overnight for a sleep study. Bringing someone with you to the appointment may also be useful. In addition, sleep apnea can lead to oxidative stress, which is a type of damage to cells that can contribute to heart disease. Cardiomyopathies are a group of disorders that affect the structure and function of the heart muscle. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. I've read that these can be rated secondary to OSA. BUT, you must act now, and you must get a sleep For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Some doctors may have you fill out a questionnaire about your sleep habits. Since this Recognizing and Addressing An Underrated Veteran Disability Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is sexual harassment and or sexual assault experienced by a military service member. The chemical has been linked to various health problems, including cancer, congenital disabilities, and ischemic heart disease. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 They can also occur due to other conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. Examples of chronic disease include: arthritis, diabetes or hypertension. A person must have a polysomnogram, either in a sleep lab or at home, in order to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. You provide evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation. The signs and symptoms of these three types of sleep apnea tend to overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type a person has. 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. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Sleep Apnea The third part can be satisfied with aMedical Nexus Letter, aka, Independent Medical Opinion (IMO)from a qualified medical professional. During the exam, the examiner may evaluate both the primary and secondary condition. Service connection links your present disability and your active military service. If your obstructive sleep apnea VA claim, or other sleep apnea claim, was originally denied, you may be able to appeal the rating and receive VA disability compensation. I am service connected for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Common examples of PTSD symptoms include the following: Researchshows that veterans with PTSD have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. The third part can be satisfied with a medical VA 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. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 prove that there is a service connection. How does sleep apnea affect the heart Prec. This sleep-disordered breathing leads to poor sleep quality and is a risk factor for the poor quality of life. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Sleep Apnea Some of the most common secondary conditions include sleep apnea, heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and valvular heart disease. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 Loud Snoring. These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. This means that a veteran has an already service-connected disability that caused the veteran to have sleep apnea. Good news, there is a better way and theres a laundry list of possible sleep apnea secondary conditions. Treatment options include lifestyle modification, medications, implantable devices, and surgery. Do you feel tired or sleepy during the day? Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. As an Intelligence Officer, she led teams of analysts to apply advanced analytic skills to identify, assess, and report potential threats to U.S. forces. Several studies have shown an increased risk of ischemic heart disease among veterans exposed to Agent Orange. So, heres the opinion of VA Claims Insider: If you did NOT have a sleep study while on active duty and you did NOT get a diagnosis of sleep apnea on active duty, you should attempt to service connect your sleep apnea VA claim secondary to another service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! WebCVA Heart Institute is a medical group practice located in Wytheville, VA that specializes in Cardiology. 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. Its vital the physician performing your exam gets a MET (metabolic equivalent of task) test done for ANY heart condition. #3. An MET test causes symptoms (like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, arrhythmia, or fainting) at 5.1 to 7.0 METs. There is growing evidence that sleep apnea may be a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Service connection on a secondary basis requires These sleep disturbances can occur from tens to hundreds of times per night. Further compounding the issue is there seems to Sleep apnea is sleep disorder that affects a persons breathing during the course of the night. #1: Air is pulled in through the nasal passages. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! *Cases of left-sided CHF can be further classified into one of two sub-types, characterized by the manner in which the ventricle is affected: This guide is intended to provide an overview of the most common conditions secondary to ischemic heart disease. denied? Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently, causing a buildup of fluid in the lungs and other tissues. 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). Another type of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea, in which the brain fails to properly control breathing during sleep. VA Secondary Conditions to Sleep Apnea Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: Veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Sleep Apnea Secondary Conditions: How to Service This is called a split-night sleep study. sleep apnea Hypersomnolence (i.e., excessive daytime sleepiness), Mental anxiety and/or depression related to combat, Use of alcohol, sedatives, certain medications or tranquilizers. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are at an increased risk for developing ischemic heart disease, and many receive disability benefits as a result. Presumptive VA Sleep Apnea Claim Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 But, maybe theres a better way to They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Finally, a 100% rating is available when sleep apnea is so severe that it involves organ damage. It can happen multiple times throughout the night, leading to serious health problems like fatigue, high blood pressure, and heart disease. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Coronary Artery Disease Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. 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.