Is Sleep Apnea A Disability? A Guide For Veterans CPAP Com Blog

Sleep Apnea Va Disability:

sleep apnea va disability

While the approval rate for sleep apnea is not incredibly high in the military, the problem is becoming worse which should force the VA to take it seriously. The highest rating (100% disability) recognizes chronic respiratory problems and failure. Recently, the military has found a link between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and sleep apnea. Therefore, receiving a diagnosis that covers the correct form of sleep apnea is not always apparent at first.

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These documents should detail every aspect of your condition and its treatment over time’from initial symptoms to CPAP machine prescriptions, if applicable. A sleep study isn’t just counting sheep while someone watches; it’s an all-out snooze fest with wires that track every breath or lack thereof. This test will show whether those nights spent tossing and turning are due to obstructive, central, or mixed/complex sleep apnea. Getting a handle on the VA’s disability rating system for sleep apnea can be like trying to nail jelly to the wall’tricky but not impossible. The ratings span from 0% to 100%, reflecting how severely your condition impacts daily life.

In general, sleep apnea episodes like snorting, gasping, or choking for air can repeat itself 5-30x or more an hour, all night. As a result, victims of sleep apnea in the military do not get enough oxygen to their blood. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that disrupts natural breathing habits during periods of rest. see When you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll get the latest news and updates about Sleep Apnea treatment delivered right to your inbox. 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.

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Lastly, a recent study has shown that people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. Still, these new sleep studies show that at least 40% of those with ALS experience nocturnal hypoventilation (periodic breathing), a key indicator of sleep apnea. The inability to get a good night’s sleep eventually results in sleep debt, which can mean excessive daytime sleepiness and an inability to concentrate. In addition to snoring, sleep apnea can cause mouth breathing while sleeping, which causes many sleepers to wake up with an extremely dry mouth or xerostomia. For example, one study found that out of roughly 1,000 adults, 31.4% of those with sleep apnea woke up with a dry mouth, compared to just 3.2% of sleepers without sleep apnea. The second part can be satisfied with a veteran’s existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher.

When the muscles in the back of your throat start to relax, your airway also narrows. There are forms of treatment that can ease symptoms and prevent major heart problems in the future. Meanwhile, Central Sleep Apnea is different from Obstructive Sleep Apnea because the brain doesn’t send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Give us a call today and one of our 5 star customer service representatives will help you. Click HERE to speak with an expert now for FREE (no risk, no obligation, no high pressure sales tactics). These pro tips could remove a C&P exam from the equation and allows a VA Rater to make a rating decision based on the submitted evidence alone via the Fully Developed Claims (FDC) program.

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Your VA sleep apnea rating is based on the severity and required treatment of your condition. Your VA sleep apnea rating will impact how much you receive a month in VA disability compensation. The VA designed TDIU benefits for veterans who can’t work but don’t necessarily meet the criteria for a 100% rating based on the Schedule of Ratings.

Additionally, veterans can file a claim if the right side of the heart is enlarged or experienced failure as a result of lung disease. The military treats patients by designating a VA disability rating based on the severity of the diagnosis. As of 2016, the Social Security Administration (SSA) stopped qualifying people for disability compensation because of Sleep Apnea alone. A recent study found that younger veterans with PTSD and Sleep Apnea who served during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraq Freedom, and Operation New Dawn, are more likely to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

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If you want to increase your VA disability rating, you will likely want to hire an experienced VA disability attorney to assist you. Veterans who do not meet the schedular requirements under 38 CFR ‘ 4.16(a) may be considered for extraschedular TDIU under 38 CFR ‘ 4.16(b). When it comes to securing the maximum VA rating for sleep apnea, understanding the role of secondary service-connected conditions is crucial. Understanding OSA and its relationship with military service is crucial for veterans seeking VA disability benefits. Research shows that combat veterans with PTSD may be at higher risk for sleep apnea than the general population.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Tinnitus, on the other hand, is that ringing, buzzing, or humming sound in the ears that doesn’t have an external source. Knowing the via potential connection between sleep apnea and tinnitus can help you receive crucial benefits and better medical care. The sleep study generally involves you going to a facility and sleeping in a controlled environment.

Increasing Your VA Disability Rating from 90% to 100% A 90% disability rating sounds good. The air pressure is somewhat greater than that of the surrounding air, allowing upper airway passages to remain open, thus preventing apnea and snoring. Therefore, it’s important to consider connecting this very common disorder to other related conditions. PTSD’and the side effects of medications taken to address PTSD’can lead to the development of sleep apnea in a few different ways.

sleep apnea va disability

The disability rating you’re given for sleep apnea is combined with any other disability ratings you have, if any, to give you an overall rating based on VA math. There isn’t a single rating for sleep apnea, but a range of ratings depending article source on the severity of your condition (as is true for other disability ratings). A disability rating at any given percentage (e.g., 30%, 50%, 100%) pays based on that percentage, no matter what condition(s) gives you that rating.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing is repeatedly interrupted during the course of the night. In order to confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis for VA disability compensation purposes, VA requires that a sleep study be conducted. You are in bed for nine hours or more every night, but you still always feel tired the next day.

Military personnel or veterans that rely on a CPAP machine for breathing assistance fall under this distinction. Under this rating, it’s nearly impossible to gain any benefits from the VA as a disability. It can lead to serious or life-threatening complications like high blood pressure, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and liver problems. There are other lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco which may contribute to sleep apnea. Males are traditionally more prone to sleep apnea along with older age and excess weight.

Excessive tiredness during daylight hours suggests that your nighttime battles leave you drained. For more than a decade, Donnel Beckles has been a leading voice for those seeking disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since 2016, he has led Veterans Help Group, one of the most successful VA disability advocacy organizations in the United States. He has helped veterans and their dependents secure tens of millions of dollars in benefits. Making sure that applications are completed correctly and that the right supporting evidence is included can be complicated.

For those who’ve served in the military, the rigors and stresses of service can often exacerbate or contribute to this condition. A member of the Pennsylvania Bar and formerly a partner of a law firm, where he handled a diverse case load, Kevin is the editor of Veterans Guide’s content. He meticulously researches the accuracy of all the information provided by the Veterans Guide website. Additionally, it can lead to other serious medical problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Regardless, you may be entitled to other military benefits such as VA healthcare.

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