Similar to other heart conditions secondary to ischemic heart disease, the VA wont assign separate ratings. apnea condition or subjective complaints of sleep apnea.. Do I Need a Spousal Letter to Support My Sleep Apnea VA Claim? There are many conditions that have been linked to sleep apnea that veterans can receive benefits for through secondary service connection. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing, A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling, Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu, Re-experiencing the trauma through recurrent memories, flashbacks, and nightmares, Avoidance of people, places, and activities that are reminders of the trauma, Increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, Difficulty maintaining relationships with others, Thick, discolored discharge from the nose, Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage), Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose, Pain, tenderness, and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead. Do you currently smoke, or have you smoked in the past? Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but many who have sleep apnea do snore regularly and loudly. Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with sleep apnea? 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. Cardiomyopathies can be caused by various factors, including genetic predisposition, viruses, toxins, and medications. Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), Medical Nexus Letter, aka, Independent Medical Opinion (IMO). In order to determine whether you should be referred for a sleep study, a doctor will first perform a physical exam, ask about symptoms, and collect your personal and family history. By law, there are three elements that must be satisfied for Sleep Apnea Secondary VA Claims: The first part can be satisfied with any existing medical evidence in service treatment records, VA medical records, or any private medical records. To receive benefits, you will need to file a claim and get service-connected for it. Ischemic heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become blocked. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Typically, sleep apnea symptoms are at their worst during REM Sleep due to the bodys naturally-occurring reduced muscle tone in the bodys airway. Okay, lets explore how you can service connect sleep apnea secondary. 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. 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.. Sleep apnea is a condition that can be caused by several factors, including ischemic heart disease. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 WebNexus Letters for GERD, Coronary Artery Disease, & Fatty Liver Disease. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. You may also be asked to fill out what is called a Disability Benefits Questionnaire or a DBQ. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Since this Recognizing and Addressing An Underrated Veteran Disability Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is sexual harassment and or sexual assault experienced by a military service member. You would need a diagnosis and a medical nexus letter that will link your condition to your service or service-connected disability. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. For secondary service connection to sleep apnea, veterans will need: When filing a claim for secondary service connection, veterans can use the same form as primary service connection (VA Form 21-526EZ). They can also occur due to other conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. This VA dependents Today, Brian Reese the VA Claims Insider reveals the Top 8 VA Benefits for Surviving Spouse this year. 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. The team at Hill & Ponton may be able to assist you with a denial of benefits for sleep apnea. In 2020, Sleep Apnea VA ratings range from 0% to 100% with breaks at 30% and 50%. You're not alone. 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. aggravated by another service-connected disability. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Theres no data that shows the average VA rating for ischemic heart disease. Since sleep apnea can correlate with conditions like heart disease and obesity, its important to seek treatment options. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 Many veterans attempt to service-connect sleep apnea as a primary disability condition and cant seem to figure our why the VA keeps denying your sleep apnea claim. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 The VA will usually order a sleep study to be performed in order to confirm a current diagnosis of sleep apnea. Its vital the physician performing your exam gets a MET (metabolic equivalent of task) test done for ANY heart condition. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including heart rhythm disorders, lung damage, and kidney failure. If the VA grants service connection for both conditions, they will only assign whichever has the higher rating. Over time, hypertension can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. Join our premier education-based membership program, VA Claims Insider Elite, connect with an expert-level Veteran Coach (VC) within minutes, and finally get the rating you deserve. The apnea also called apneic episodes in sleep apnea refers to a breathing pause that lasts approximatley 10 seconds or more. If it has, there might be a rating reduction. Arrhythmias occur when the heart muscle cannot pump blood effectively, which can cause the heart to beat too fast or too slow. Treatment for arrhythmias usually focuses on addressing the underlying condition and may include medications, lifestyle changes, or surgery. nexus letter from a qualified medical professional. I am service connected for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Therefore, veterans who are service connected for sleep apnea can become secondary service-connected for their GERD, and vice versa. Sleep-deprived partners. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Additionally, GERD may contribute to sleep apnea, as acid in the esophagus can cause spasms in the vocal cords which may prompt sleep apnea. To confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis for VA disability compensation purposes, VA requires that a sleep study be conducted. It can cause a Heart Attack, the most common type of valvular heart disease. The best way to do this is by providing a complete medical history and linking it to your military service records. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. 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. How hard is it to get VA disability for sleep apnea? Well help you gather the evidence and documentation you need to have the best chance of winning your claim. Third, on August 22, 2002, VA published proposed changes to 4.100 that, while providing a basis to include consideration of LVEF and CHF in the cardiac disability evaluation, also clarified that VA does not require all three tests ( i.e., METs, CHF, and LVEF) in order to evaluate a cardiac disability. Positive Airway Pressure Treatment and Depression in Adults with Coronary Artery Disease and Nonsleepy Obstructive Sleep Apnea. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have irregular results on liver function tests, and their livers are more likely to show signs of scarring, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. click HERE now and complete our FREE 3-step intake. Sinusitis also affects the nose, throat, and head, much like sleep apnea. This guide will provide an overview of the most common conditions secondary to ischemic heart disease. diagnosis and sleep study occurred years AFTER leaving active duty). BUT, you must act now, and you must get a sleep The exact mechanism by which the chemical causes this condition is not yet known, but it is thought that it may interfere with the normal functioning of the heart muscle or the arteries. Symptoms of sinusitis often include: Chronic sinusitis can also cause nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, and recurring respiratory tract infections. Many veterans are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, and thereforewith an effective claim that includes the right evidenceshould be eligible for a sleep apnea VA rating. 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. Good news, there is a better way and theres a laundry list of possible sleep apnea secondary conditions. I have diagnoses post-service for GERD, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. You're not alone. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is also sometimes known as deep sleep. The pathophysiological interaction between OSA and coronary artery disease is complex and comprises neural, humoral, mechanical and haemodynamic components. An ischemic heart exam, commonly called a stress test, can provide your doctor with important information about your heart health. Asymptomatic sleep apnea would not be compensated under the tentative regulation. This is likely due to a variety of factors related to service, such as exposure to noise, possibility of traumatic brain injury, and exposure to explosive devices like IEDs. The following are the different ratings that can be assigned to heart conditions: All heart conditions are rated on the General Rating Formula unless otherwise noted. Trying to service-connect sleep apnea secondary to PTSD? WebMCV Associates Physicians is a medical group practice located in Richmond, VA that specializes in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and General Surgery. Generally, to establish service connection, the veteran needs to submit three things to VA: Veterans can submit a claim for service connection on VA From 21-526EZ. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. However, there has been a growing controversy over the amount of money the VA pays veterans afflicted with this condition, and an increasing lobby to get rid of compensation for it. Under the current rating schedule, VA issues ratings at 0, 30, 50, 100 percent for sleep apnea even if treatments are somewhat effective in dealing with the condition. An MET test causes symptoms (like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, arrhythmia, or fainting) at 7.1 to 10.0 METs. While we still have our home base in Florida, ==> Click HERE to apply for FREE:www.vaclaimsinsiderelite.com <==. To have a diagnosis for a secondary condition to sleep apnea; and. You may need to undergo a Sleep Study to determine if you have Sleep Apnea. Sinusitis is a condition where a persons sinuses become swollen and inflamed for three months or longer, despite treatment. Tinnitus is known as the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. You provide evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation. interim link to secondary service connection due to weight gain (obesity). All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine, Compensation and Pension Exams for Secondary Service Connection, Common Secondary Conditions to Sleep Apnea, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Secondary to Sleep Apnea, Mental Health Conditions Secondary to Sleep Apnea, Secondary Service Connection & Aggravation, VA Disability Benefits for Secondary Conditions to Depression, VA Disability Ratings for Sleep Disorders, How to WIN Your Sleep Apnea VA Disability Claim, Hypersomnolence, or excessive daytime sleepiness. Contact Us 2019 Prior to the exam, the examiner will review the veterans c-file so they are familiar with the veterans case. medical diagnosis of sleep apnea while on active duty and you never did a sleep When the heart doesnt get enough oxygen-rich blood, it can cause the muscles in the airway to relax, leading to obstruction and sleep apnea. In addition to primary service connection for sleep apnea, veterans can receive secondary service connection for any conditions that were caused or aggravated by their already service-connected sleep apnea.