Understanding How Sleep Apnea Affects VA Ratings

Sleep Apnea Va Disability:

sleep apnea va disability

Applying for veteran’s disability benefits to include a disability that was obtained on a secondary basis can be complicated. A seasoned New Jersey veterans disability benefits attorney can help you with the process, from filing the paperwork to gathering evidence in support of your claim. While a veteran with sleep apnea may qualify for disability benefits solely on the basis of their service-connected disability, in some cases, sleep apnea is a result of another condition. In these situations, a veteran may be able to claim sleep apnea on a secondary basis if the underlying health issue is service-connected. Rhinitis is a condition that causes you to have a reaction after breathing in an allergen.

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As a result, the military is starting to do a better job of accepting new evidence that PTSD and sleep apnea are correlated. There are factors that overlap in both medical conditions that may aggravate or negatively affect source the other disorder. The VA will likely still have you undergo a sleep study done by the military to confirm the diagnosis. Moreover, the VA has an expected duty to assist veterans in scheduling the sleep study examination.

Fighting for image source benefits is like navigating through a thick fog’you need the right tools to clear your path. A knight in shining plastic for those battling the sleep apnea dragon, these trusty gadgets work all night to keep airways as open as a 24-hour diner. They send a steady stream of air through your nose and mouth to ensure your breathing doesn’t take any breaks while catching Zs.

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People with both disorders are likely to experience worse PTSD symptoms as a result of their sleep problems. Sleep apnea affects about 17% to 22% of the general population, but research suggests is higher among people with PTSD. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes your breathing to stop repeatedly while you sleep. This sleep disorder is often connected to another health condition, and may also cause or worsen additional conditions. If you’re a veteran diagnosed with sleep apnea, understanding the sleep apnea VA rating can help you get the disability compensation you deserve.

sleep apnea va disability

Consequently, the military traditionally orders a sleep study when sleep apnea is suspected. The VA generally approves claims at this rating because it is considered the most severe form of sleep apnea. The VA rates sleep apnea at a 100% rating when chronic respiratory failure is evident through carbon dioxide retention.

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While every sleeper is different, sleep apnea as a disorder presents several distinct symptoms, which we’ve outlined below. The sudden drops in blood oxygen levels from prolonged periods of not breathing during the night can easily lead to high blood pressure and heart issues. These repetitive drops strain the cardiovascular system, putting you at a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and abnormal heartbeats. The most common VA rating for Sleep Apnea is 50%, which requires the use of a breathing assistance device such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. Finally, don’t overlook TDIU if severe sleep apnea knocks employment out of reach.

Those with type 2 diabetes are at a significantly higher risk of suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity is the most well-known risk factor for sleep apnea because it results in extra weight applied to the throat muscles or fat deposits around the upper airway, which restricts breathing. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when the muscles in the throat relax when you sleep, resulting in a narrower airway.

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Sleep apnea can affect people of all ages, and service members are proving to be extra vulnerable to the medical condition. If you believe you are suffering from sleep apnea, consult a doctor as soon as possible. this content Therefore, patients that feel tired after a full night’s rest or snore loudly may suffer from the medical condition. Sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder that disrupts your quality of life.

The VA provides Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits for veterans with VA disability ratings of less than 100 percent who cannot work because of their service-connected conditions. The sleep study can serve as medical proof that your sleep apnea disorder is service-connected if medical records do not provide any evidence before you joined the military. The military only accepts service connection on a secondary basis when there is a medical nexus that links the sleep apnea to another service-connected disability. To be eligible, veterans must prove the connection between their military service, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. Gathering evidence’like service records, medical exams, or statements from fellow service members’can help build a solid case. However, there is evidence of a connection between toxins in the air and sleep apnea.

The VA reports that nearly 1 in 4 respiratory claims for VA disability benefits is linked to sleep apnea. The study also found that among younger veterans, PTSD and Sleep Apnea is not usually the result of a high BMI (being overweight). These combat experiences can lead to PTSD and Sleep Apnea disrupting sleep and make it hard for a vet to sleep restfully. The THIRD part, and often the missing link needed to establish secondary service connection, can be satisfied with a credible Medical Nexus Letter (Independent Medical Opinion) from a private healthcare provider. This shows how important your case is, and that you’re serious about getting the benefits you deserve. Research has shown that those with asthma have a nearly 40% greater risk of developing sleep apnea.

Be your champion in the VA disability claim for sleep apnea by knowing what evidence to gather’like medical records and buddy letters’and considering all theories of service connection, even if they’re not direct. As previously mentioned, some researchers believe trauma and stressors from service may be the main reason military service members develop sleep apnea. There is a known link between sleep apnea and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the most commonly compensated mental health condition among veterans.

VA disability appeals sometimes are pursued multiple times until the VA gets your claim decided right. A VA disability ratings dispute is done through one of three different types of appeals. The three types are Higher Level Review, Supplemental Claim, and Board Review. The best type of appeal is a decision made between you and a VSO or experienced VA disability claim attorney. Federal laws and regulations provide the VA guidance on assigning ratings to hundreds of types of disabilities, usually comparing your diagnosis and symptoms with these rating schedules. Direct service connection for sleep apnea can be difficult to obtain, as most successful cases require a diagnosis while on active duty.

Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call with an experienced Team Member. Learn what you’ve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation you’ve earned for your service. Treating sleep apnea may have positive benefits for managing post-traumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms. TDIU allows qualified veterans to receive the same benefits as someone rated 100 percent disabled. Eligible veterans must show their conditions prevent them from finding or maintaining a job. The National Sleep Foundation found that while roughly 20 percent of adults in the United States suffer from sleep apnea, 85 percent do not even know they have it.

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