You're not alone. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. During the exam, the examiner may evaluate both the primary and secondary condition. I chalked it up to long work hours, stress from the job, a deployment, and various mental health issues. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. must be satisfied for sleep apnea secondary conditions to prove secondary The main problem is that you didnt get a As such, veterans who are service connected for tinnitus may be eligible for secondary service connection for sleep apnea, and vice-versa. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Some of the most common secondary conditions include sleep apnea, heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and valvular heart disease. Sleep Apnea as a Secondary VA Claim Service connection on a secondary basis requires a showing of causation. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Trisha attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds an MBA from Webster University. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! you viewed to avoid repetition. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Over time, hypertension can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. Tinnitus is known as the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. 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. It can lead to a heart attack; over time, it can weaken the heart muscle and cause it to pump less efficiently, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and other body parts, resulting in heart failures characteristic symptoms. When the throat muscles are weakened due to asthma, there is a greater likelihood for the throat to collapse and create an obstruction of the airway. Study Impact: Our findings reveal a close relationship between the atherosclerosis-related burden measured by the coronary artery calcium score and the severity of sleep apnea that persisted after adjusting for confounding variables related to the risk of coronary artery disease. Generally, there are three types of sleep apnea: Oftentimes, the symptoms of the three types of sleep apnea can overlap, making diagnosis more difficult. 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.. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Get a Free Case Evaluation, The Link between Sleep Apnea and Hypertension, VA Disability Ratings for Insomnia and Sleep Disturbances, Sleep Apnea Secondary Connection to PTSD VA Disability, Other Medical Conditions Sleep Apnea is Connected With, VA Proposes Changes to Sleep Apnea Ratings, Common Sleep Apnea and Sleep Problems Symptoms in Veterans, VA CPAP Machines for Sleep Apnea Treatment, Establishing Service Connection For Sleep Apnea, C&P Exam for Sleep Apnea and Sleep Studies. If so, how often and how long are your naps? Its important to have your condition documented by a medical professional. Heres a quick litmus test: If you snore during sleep, are tired during the day (maybe you take frequent naps), and stop/start breathing while sleeping (gasping for air), chances are you might have Sleep Apnea. VA Form 21-686c, also known as the VA form to add dependents or the Declaration of Status of Dependents, is a form for you to provide information to the VA about your dependents. R. at 7. The proposed changes incorporate medical advances that have occurred since the last review, update medical terminology, and clarify evaluation criteria The VA assigns a disability rating to each condition based on the severity of the condition and its effects on the veterans ability to work and live a normal life. How to Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Anxiety (The Insiders Guide), Can I Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Depression? With an audible gasp, breathing starts again. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. People with sleep apnea who underwent coronary bypass surgery had a higher rate of complications than those without sleep apnea. Veterans, do you think you might have Sleep Apnea? The more severe the obstructive sleep apnea, the greater the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure and strokes. Knowing what to look for and how to manage these conditions can help you stay healthy and live a full life. A person must have a polysomnogram, either in a sleep lab or at home, in order to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. Disability terminology chart. If your VA claim was denied, we may be able to assist you. The pathophysiological interaction between OSA and coronary artery disease is complex and comprises neural, humoral, mechanical and haemodynamic components. 2019 By law, there are three evidentiary elements that Sleep Apnea VA Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? 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. A C&P exam and a sleep apnea diagnosis are crucial to qualifying for the upper tiers of compensation. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 Does Sleep Apnea Cause Coronary Artery Disease? Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the more common types of sleep apnea, which occurs when the upper airway repeatedly becomes blocked throughout the night. Additionally, GERD may contribute to sleep apnea, as acid in the esophagus can cause spasms in the vocal cords which may prompt sleep apnea. She enjoys working with the Veteran population and keeping them up to date with information they need the most. This may seem redundant, especially if the primary condition has already been assessed, however it is still important to attend the exam and cooperate with the examiner. The VA assigns the following ratings for veterans based on the severity of their sleep apnea: PTSD, Hypertension, Asthma, Cardiovascular Conditions, Type II Diabetes, Mental Health Conditions, Respiratory Conditions, Alzheimers disease. Valvular heart disease is often a secondary condition to another form of heart disease, such as ischemic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), or coronary heart disease, is a condition that occurs when an artery supplying blood to the heart muscle becomes blocked or narrowed. 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. WebObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a more common disorder than currently diagnosed in the clinic. Prec. Maybe youve gained a significant amount of weight due to your other service connected disabilities, which has limited your ability to walk, run, or workout, and this is the interim link to secondary service connection due to weight gain (obesity). WebAccording to Jeremy Tietjens, MD, a clinical fellow at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, sleep apnea is associated with a variety of cardiovascular conditions and outcomes, but the strongest associations are with high blood pressure, arrhythmias (especially atrial fibrillation), and heart failure. If a veteran does not attend the exam, their claim can be denied. It is intended that the DBQs will be completed by the Veteran's health care provider. I've read that these can be rated secondary to OSA. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. Some doctors may have you fill out a questionnaire about your sleep habits. nexus letter from a qualified medical professional. VA Disability Ratings for Hypertension and Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects about22 million people nationwide. Quick note: You MUST have a medical diagnosis of These sleep disturbances can occur from tens to hundreds of times per night. Sleep apnea is associated with heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, coronary artery disease and cardiovascular mortality. The VA refers to mixed sleep apnea as a combination of the obstructive and central forms of the condition. Additionally, there are some cases that the VA cannot schedule re-examinations: If you are interested in learning more about C&P examinations, check out our guide! Your medical records should include all treatment received for your condition before and after your discharge from the military. WebIf you are diagnosed with a chronic disease within one year of active -duty release, you should apply for disability compensation. BUT, you must act now, and you must get a sleep While some individuals with breathing disorders may show improvement from lifestyle changes, breathing assistance devices such as CPAP machines (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), BiPap machines, etc. The VA will usually order a sleep study to be performed in order to confirm a current diagnosis of sleep apnea. The test is usually performed while you are exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike. But, maybe theres a better way to Prior to the exam, the examiner will review the veterans c-file so they are familiar with the veterans case. UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS As such, veterans who are service-connected for PTSD are eligible for secondary service connection for their sleep apnea. Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient thyroid hormone. Some of the following conditions can be secondary to sleep apnea, while others may be the primary condition to which sleep apnea is secondary. sleep All clinician information blocks at the bottom of the DBQs must be completed and the form signed and dated by the clinician completing the DBQ. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. Arrhythmias are a common symptom of ischemic heart disease and can often be a sign that the condition is progressing. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have coronary artery disease than those without sleep apnea. In other, more severe cases, a doctor may need to prescribe a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine. post, most veterans didnt realize they had sleep apnea while on active duty. Note: Millions of Philips CPAP Machines have been recalled due to toxic chemical seeping into mask and unknowingly being inhaled by sleep apnea patients. For now, these ratings are merely a proposal so stay tuned to this page while we update. The second part can be satisfied with a veterans existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher. I have diagnoses post-service for GERD, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The best way to do this is by providing a complete medical history and linking it to your military service records. Treatment options include lifestyle modification, medications, implantable devices, and surgery. Physicians will treat sleep apnea depending on the type and severity of the condition. 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. ==> Click HERE to apply for FREE:www.vaclaimsinsiderelite.com <==. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. WebNexus Letters for GERD, Coronary Artery Disease, & Fatty Liver Disease. Since sleep apnea can correlate with conditions like heart disease and obesity, its important to seek treatment options. a showing of causation. These changes may lead to clogged arteries and poor heart muscle function. You provide evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation.