quote:

Originally posted by BUCMANXL:
Will you get discharged from active duty if diagnosed with sleep appnea?

It is treatable. Get your tonsils out if you still have them. Sleep with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. They cost about $700 to $1200.

If you are on active duty do not spend your hard earned $$$ on a CPAP machine. Get it documented in your medical record and ask the clinic to but/or rent you one. I have witnessed a member diagnosed and CG supplied and he stayed afloat and was not forced to leave. (It was a wonderful additioon to the berthing area, his snoring stopped) As for VA disability it must be service conected. If diagnosed after retirement/discharge you must be able to connect the dots to get it service connected.

Mike

I understand what you guys are saying. But you have a year to claim anything that was not in your medical records. I was diagnoised 3 months after getting out. It is not like I just came down with sleep apnea. I have had problems sleeping for years, but never got it checked out. Deploying 6 months a year for 6 years will do that to you. Plus the last 3 years in I had so many other things going on health wise. Had to get that stuff taken care of first. I got my package today and it says that the place I got the sleep study done failed to link it to military service. I am kind of confused here. What do I do next. My PCM on base ordered a CPAP machine for me after seeing the sleep study. I mean, I have it bad. So what should I do next?

Mike

joeyjoeyb,

Did you get my email?

Go to the VA to check it out... I listed everything when I went to the VA. Including things not in the med record... But recurring pain none the less, and I qualified... I have Sleep Apnea, so I am covered but it helps to document. Good luck....

New to the boards, but found this thread from a Google search...

I was diagnosed with mild OSA approx 1 month after retiring from the Corps last July, did the Benefits During Discharge program with the VA, and was rated at 10% for tinnitus only. SC for OSA was denied as it was not in my medical record.

Received my Rating Decision almost a year ago, it was dated Nov 27, 2006.

Just sent in a package for reconsideration to the RO of the VA that determined my rating (on advice of the VA rep that handled my case originally).

Package contained a letter from my last Flight Surgeon stating he spoke with me about getting a sleep study done to check for SA during my retirement physical. Also had two workmates from my last command write and sign letters stating that I demonstrated daytime hypersomnolence. Resent the paperwork for the sleep study as well as the CPAP titration report. I wrote a letter personally explaining all the items the VA listed for denying my claim (i.e. no complaints during any physicals, dr's appt's, etc) and told them I DID mention it, but that I can't force Dr's to put stuff in their notes. Also, that I thought the problem was just me getting older.

Also had my wife write a letter stating how she watched me get worse over the last 5 or so years to the point where she was unable to sleep, but that she can sleep MUCH BETTER now that I'm on CPAP.

Just sent it all out today. I'll come back and let everyone know when I get some type of response.

quote:

Originally posted by retmarinepilot:
Just sent it all out today. I'll come back and let everyone know when I get some type of response.

Hey you don't have to stay away that long.

It sounds like you have some decent stuff for the VA to look at. Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by EMC_:
Hey you don't have to stay away that long.

It sounds like you have some decent stuff for the VA to look at. Good Luck

Thanks EMC_,

Yeah, I will probably start checking out this forum a bit more, seems like there's lots of good info here besides just this thread.

And thanks for the comment about having some good stuff for the VA. I'm really TRULY keeping my fingers crossed and my prayers going 'cause I DEFINITELY could use the rating of 50% or better, so I can get Concurrent Receipt. We're in such dire financial straights that I can't handle it...

Any idea on how long I might have to wait for a reconsideration?

Thanks again,

retmarinepilot

RetMarinePilot: it really depends on where you live and where you sent the claim to. I filed for 100% disability under Paragraph 30 (temporary due to loss of work or hospitalization). It took them almost 4 months to award it to me and then take it away with "Concurrent Receipt Offset." Despite the fact that the law changed in the Defense Authorization Act of 2005 the VA refuses to pay. The local DAV (my advocate) is as bad as the VA Regional Office - never returning calls etc.

The VA overall is two blocked, especially with an executive edict to give priority to Iraqi and Afghanastan Vets - despite how PO'd I get in dealing with them (I especially hate being hung up on at 4 PM because they are closing for the day) patience helps. I got pretty ugly last Friday when, at 10 till 4 a Supervisor refused to take my call. Document document document!

quote:

Originally posted by Nobodyaskedmebut:
RetMarinePilot: it really depends on where you live and where you sent the claim to. I filed for 100% disability under Paragraph 30 (temporary due to loss of work or hospitalization). It took them almost 4 months to award it to me and then take it away with "Concurrent Receipt Offset." Despite the fact that the law changed in the Defense Authorization Act of 2005 the VA refuses to pay. The local DAV (my advocate) is as bad as the VA Regional Office - never returning calls etc.

The VA overall is two blocked, especially with an executive edict to give priority to Iraqi and Afghanastan Vets - despite how PO'd I get in dealing with them (I especially hate being hung up on at 4 PM because they are closing for the day) patience helps. I got pretty ugly last Friday when, at 10 till 4 a Supervisor refused to take my call. Document document document!

Thanks for the heads up Nobodyasked! I live in Florida and I sent my reconsideration to VARO St. Petersburg. I haven't called anyone down there yet, I've been talking with my local VA rep here in town. She's the one who helped me with my Benefits During Discharge program when I retired, and she's been pretty helpful and positive so far. In fact, when I got the original decision back I called her wanting to do a formal appeal, and she's the one who told me about the first level appeal, Reconsideration.

I am preparing myself for my Reconsideration to be denied though (hope for the best, but expect the worst, right?). So, I'm already thinking of how I will be filing my Formal Appeal when I finally get word back.

But I'm hoping that they can see that I've done some of my homework and just fix it in this process.

I'm hoping and praying for you and your situation with the VA to improve, Nobodyasked!

It's tough. I went through the VA sleep Clinic in Miami. I froze, didn't get a good test result. However I have a copy of the Diagnosis the Navy gave me when I went through the study in Virginia. The Doctor was surprised that I never got a CPAP even though I was diagnosed in 2001... Ooops... I havent been rated though yet. Still waiting.

lafman, you cant be rated till you are off of active duty.. Your profile says you are still active...

Wray..

LOL Thanks Master Chief.
Never changed the profile. Errrr... I hate these things... LOL...
Got a new CPAP this morning. It's quiet quiet quiet. Also, it's not a mask. It looks like a snorkle mouthpiece that you insert into the nostrils. Best part is I can still be able to sleep on my side... Woo Hoo!!!!

Coming up on the two year anniversary in a little over a month. A few weeks ago I got a letter and a form from VA saying archives didn't have my medical record. I filled out the form saying VA in Bama had it last I heard, and I have no idea why they didn't send it to FL. I wonder what other documentation they had that didn't make it to the St. Pete VA office.

Status as of today is it just went to the second step, then to a reviewer, then to DAV, then back to the reviewer, then to an approver. So what's that mean, two more years?

Just another reason to take your medical record when you retire....

Wray...

It wouldn't have helped. They could have lost the record after I sent it to them just as easily as they lost the record after the archives sent it to them.

I have two copies but they won't take them because they're not certified.

Hey Gang,

I just stumbled across this forum and wanted to make everyone aware of a company that works exclusivley with the military and specializes in TRICARE CPAP. Their website is www.militarysleepsolutions.com

They not only set up the CPAP in the beneficiaries home (evening and weekends available) but will provide replacement supplies (mask, tubing, filters, headgear etc...) to any address in the country on a quarterly basis for as long as the CPAP is being used. Deployment packs are also available that contain a carry bag with 15 months of supplies.

Optigen is the name of the company and they have provided CPAP's to soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq and cover the 3 TRICARE regions here in the states.
Good luck with the CPAP therapy.

Sam H

Hey all, wanted to update people on what has happened in my reconsideration case.

Sent the paperwork into the VA around end of October and got a return receipt, so I know they got it at VARO St. Pete.

Around the end of November I get a letter from them stating they had lost the original paperwork I had submitted and needed copies of it back. Well, I thought they were talking about my ORIGINAL CLAIM, of which I'm pretty sure I don't have any copies (since the VA rep handled it all for me).

So, I contacted my local VA employee (the person I call for all my questions, whose been helping me through the whole process) and she says they are only looking for the stuff that I just recently sent in (in Oct.). So, luckily I had all that stuff (finally learned...).

Met with her, she took copies of it all, we filled out another form, and she entered it all in the computer right there while I was with her! She also said that this was a good sign since it probably means that they've ordered their copy of my medical record and they're getting ready to look at my case and the new evidence I submitted. She also looked at everything I sent in and said she believes I've got a good chance at getting accepted at the reconsideration level. She says they'll most likely call the doctor who diagnosed me and ask him if it's possible / probable I had symptoms while in service and as long as he says Yes, I should be good to go.

I'm just SHOCKED if that's the case!! I definitely didn't expect to hear anything from the VA for AT LEAST 6 months to a year on this reconsideration! And knowing that 88% of all reconsiderations are denied, I'm still thinking about my formal appeal, but have hope that it may not be necessary. The VA lady also said she believes they may decide to give me the decision as of the ORIGINAL decision for disability, more than a year ago! WOW! If that happens, I'm in for some CA$H coming my way...

Okay, I'll keep everyone updated as things happen.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

As an aside to all these posts, has anyone ever been told by their healthcare provider that this disorder is heridity based? Just wondering. I remember my father snoring - but never saw a doctor about it. I snore and I have noticed that even my youngest daughter snores. Not saying we all have sleep apnea, no one has ever been diagnosed. But if it is, I would like to know. Guess I can always ask my doctor...

Something else. This CRAP machine you are all talking about... could surgery do anything to help solve the problem and eliminate the need for some device attached to your face at night?? Some other less intrusive remedy?

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP therapy provides a constant airflow which holds the airway open so that uninterrupted breathing is maintained during sleep. This eliminates Sleep Apneas and allows the patient to get a restful sleep.

There are a number of types (or causes) of sleep apnea. Some can be fixed by surgery. Some by loosing weight and some by CPAP or BPAP. BPAP is a similar device but various the pressure when you breathe in and out. Some people do better with the BPAP.