Similar situation. VA is basically telling me to prove my sleep apnea - diagnosed before retirement, and I have the lab tests to prove it - is service related. Coincidence of timing is no longer proof.
Originally posted by 8789235: I am still on active duty preparing to retire in a few months. Awhile back I was diagnosed with pretty bad sleep apnea. I was put on a CPAP machine for the rest of my life. Is that service connected since I am still on duty and is it ratable? Thanks
yes, the VA currently has a three year waiting list to verify sleep apnea, sugggest you contact my friend at Fort Rucker, CW4R Barry Wilbur, he found the same problem and is 80% disabled, his email is barry.j.wilbur@crc.army.mil.
What's the holdup on verification? It was diagnosed before I retired, should be in my health record. The verification should be someone opening the copy of my health record, noting it on the physical form, seeing the test results from the sleep center, and saying "Yep, he's got sleep apnea."
The problem with SC sleep apnea is three-fold: Was it caused directly (or secondarily) by AD duties? (A medical doctor MUST establish this. You can't!) Possible causes are the usual bizarre sleep schedule watchstanders have, (believe it or not) snoring, hypothyroidism (x-mitter radiation) - LORSTA GEORGE was found to generate 6.4 rems per year of exposure. At age 25, only 5.35 rems are needed to cause thyroid cancer. Check w/CGHQ medical.
You then need to connect today's use of a CPAP back to the in service OSAS - the nexus. Again, only an MD can do this for you. Of course, you'd better be using a CPAP today to complete the 3 stage proof.
Documents, shmocuments....this is my story... I have seen Tricare primary care providers since 2001, and have had all required medical check-ups since then. HQ was not satisfied, so I had to trek to the Puzzle Palace last Oct for a full physical. I had maintained my own record from 01 until that physical. All records were updated documenting HBP and Sleep Apnea before I took the HQ physical. About 2 weeks after the physical, my record was shipped back to my unit with a brand new folder, and somehow everything since 01 was deleted...glad I have copies on hand, and as Wray has often stated, I am taking that and my personal records with me when I retire.
It is possible to establish service connection for severe obstructive sleep apnea after retirement.
I had nothing in my service medical records - I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea after I retired. After my wife said she was not going to sleep in the same bed with me anymore (that'll get your attention), I did a sleep study under Tricare and received the official diagnosis and a CPAP machine 4 years after I retired.
I didn't know that sleep apnea was a VA ratable conddition.
I later read something about it being ratable and was astonished to see that a CPAP machine got you a 50% rating. I then applied for service connection and it was granted about a year later, retroactive to the date of the official diagnosis by the civilian doctor. A 50% rating is nothing to sneeze at, particularly given the new rules on concurrent receipt.
What did the trick was a detailed, notarized (sworn) statement from my wife. I drafted it, based on what she told me - she signed it. It described the onset of symptoms while on active duty, described doctor's visits (with names and dates) complaining of symptoms (as reported to me by my wife) and my own observations of midday drowsiness and difficulty driving any distance without fighting off sleepiness, the doctor's responses to my reports of symptoms (generally cluelesss) and the progression of symptoms from snoring, to severe snoring, to slightly stopped breathing, to 45 seconds at a time without breathing, followed by gasping for breath, etc.
The key is that you (and your doctors) cannot document your most important symptoms - the person you sleep with must do so and do so in great detail in an organized manner, under oath.
I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea by the Pulmonary Surgeon at Travis AFB. Reading your account, I'm considering taking my case to the VA where I'm already rated at 40 percent.
I'm also wondering whether or not I'll have to go through the sleep testing again, just to please the VA or whether or not they will accept the results from the Travis medical center (providing the two are communicating with each other.)
Captain P.... Thanks for your informative post. I have several of the symptoms, band have had for several years.. Unfortunately, I never did anything about it.. I was just very un-informed about this subject.
Capt P... I just read your post and I have the same peoblem you were in. I have had the symptoms for years but was never diagnosed while in the CG. I retired 2 years ago and will be going to a sleep specialist soon.
Originally posted by PaulProkop: It is possible to establish service connection for severe obstructive sleep apnea after retirement.
I had nothing in my service medical records - I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea after I retired. After my wife said she was not going to sleep in the same bed with me anymore (that'll get your attention), I did a sleep study under Tricare and received the official diagnosis and a CPAP machine 4 years after I retired.
I didn't know that sleep apnea was a VA ratable conddition.
I later read something about it being ratable and was astonished to see that a CPAP machine got you a 50% rating. I then applied for service connection and it was granted about a year later, retroactive to the date of the official diagnosis by the civilian doctor. A 50% rating is nothing to sneeze at, particularly given the new rules on concurrent receipt.
What did the trick was a detailed, notarized (sworn) statement from my wife. I drafted it, based on what she told me - she signed it. It described the onset of symptoms while on active duty, described doctor's visits (with names and dates) complaining of symptoms (as reported to me by my wife) and my own observations of midday drowsiness and difficulty driving any distance without fighting off sleepiness, the doctor's responses to my reports of symptoms (generally cluelesss) and the progression of symptoms from snoring, to severe snoring, to slightly stopped breathing, to 45 seconds at a time without breathing, followed by gasping for breath, etc.
The key is that you (and your doctors) cannot document your most important symptoms - the person you sleep with must do so and do so in great detail in an organized manner, under oath.
CAPT P
Captain, I am extremely pleased to see that the VA responds with alacrity to the needs of our senior officers. Although I retired BM1, it gives me hope, albeit small, that a miracle might still exist within the vast enclaves of our government, and the wife and I may augment our income to a survival level. As soon as we get through the Christmas holidays, I'll get right on that. Thank you for your missive, and Merry Christmas.
Diagnosed with sleep apnea in May, applied for service connection in August, award letter issued in February. That was through the VARO New Orleans, prior to Katrina.
I have observed, over the years, in my case and others, that the higher the paygrade and the more the years of service, the quicker the response from the VA, although no one employed by the VA will admit it. As in, if you were retired for medical reasons as an E-5 after 6 years of service, you may wait till just before hell freezes over. Equally, an O-6 with 28 years of service gets a prompt (for the VA) response. It is even better to be a flag officer - I got a flag officer's widow DIC (husband death due to not previously service connected cause) in 90 days, starting from zero.
I have observed, over the years, in my case and others, that the higher the paygrade and the more the years of service, the quicker the response from the VA, although no one employed by the VA will admit it.
I sent in a note from my Cardiologist requesting a sleep study dated while I was still on Active duty and a sleep study dated 6 months after I was medically retired. It was denied as not service connected. It took 3 years from start to finish to finally get rated. Guess I didn't fall into the above catagory.
I'm coming up on a year since I applied, I'm hoping to hear something by March.
About four months ago they sent me some more forms to fill out, asking me to prove service connection. The cover letter said that just because it may have been first diagnosed on active duty was not proof of service connection. With sleep apnea and heart failure, I can't prove service connection any more than they can prove it isn't; we both submit our evidence and they believe what they want to believe and ignore what they want to ignore.
For the one-year anniversary I called VA to get the status, and also give them my new address. The status is they had supporting documents from my post-service doctors, my medical records, all my forms, and it would go through four more stages or levels - about another six months.
