From 2013-2014, the VA and BVA denied VAbenefits for sleep apnea in 76% of the appeals. How you mix them is the hard part. What the doctor is trying to do is check all possible outcomes for the symptoms to make sure a clear diagnosis can be given. However, most of the time, sleep apnea is a secondary claim. This is what is called the Nexus. Keep up the great work, and remember, the only way to lose is to give up! Finally, sleep apnea is a complex condition that can present itself differently in the case of each veteran. In this article, well help you understand the top 5 reasons OSA claims are deniedand even better, what to do about it if youve received a denial for your OSA claim. Even if youve had a sleep study before, its important to get one done within the 12 months prior to your VA claim. All Rights Reserved. Veterans are assigned a 0, 30, 50, or 100 percent rating depending on the severity . This is described as being foggy by patients. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The best way to receive a VA disability compensation rating for sleep apnea is to provide the following information along with your claim: While the VA has begun to show a greater understanding of sleep apnea in veterans, the hard truth is that the VA has still not proven itself to accept the full range of how sleep apnea can manifest. Andmy sleep study was not done in the military.. FREE tips for Veterans to stay Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during the course of sleep. =XG\b?pjbAp{SB~,L8G2*`'x;7i2uPC=Lo:ITXwKVm
/! I read his information, submitted medical documents, receiveda Letter of Nexus or comments from a VA contractor doctor. Sleep apnea can be your link or nexus for filing claims for: Sleep apnea is a high-value claim in the VA world of ratings. 7 0 obj Symptoms can become worse with exertion by either physical or mental activity, such as going shopping and having to take a nap in the car before driving home, or staying on task at work and needing the evenings and weekends to recover, taking a shower and becoming bed bound for a couple of days afterward. fight to get their sleep apnea service-connected. They think of Sleep Apnea as a disease of the obese, and then they tell them one of the big Fairy Tales about VA Claims. yX;~yh- C[+olP,)bh\JV$wrl&JL4ikP4dBVLA&0czP\wA*ya1(2!hGVc~TldI0!Hvi,w*9ZE.#G"EmyU 6+((4c You can also check out our 2022 Facebook live video on the Top 5 Causes for OSA Denials and How to Fix Them! This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. * What if it wasnt diagnosed until years after service can I service connect it then? Veterans Court reminds the VA: the BVA must adjudicate the logically related informal claim. Tender lymph nodes usually in the neck and underarms. Worsening of symptoms while sitting upright or standing, known as Orthostatic Intolerance. The question raised in this case is whether this "intermediate step" is limited to .
lh20EnM.svSI}][PFkaq-h;qm,=4b~7d #XEBJkb8_]3VL ,zYvA "FJh=2b6`E\ouXj/'|fg * SeveralDesert Storm, OIF, and OEF Clients have hadTraumatic Brain Injuries whichinterfere with how their Nervous System works, and as a result, have a different kind of Sleep Apnea (oversimplified, where the brains signals to breathe dont make it through to the lungs). San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. I tried going it alone and the insurance carrier pushed me around. A medical nexus (i.e., link) between their sleep apnea and the in-service event, injury, or illness; Once service connection is awarded, sleep apnea is then rated under 38 CFR 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6847 - Sleep Apnea Syndromes (obstructive, central, mixed). Cardiomegaly enlargement of the heart makes me thing of a damage resulting from a chronic sleep apnea condition. These are sometimes referred to as a crash, relapse, or collapse, and some patients can tell when they will happen. However, this has been thoroughly disproven. However, the VA. * 5- Star Lay and Medical Evidence that show you your VA Sleep Apnea disabilityaffects your dailylife. Contact Us As youve seen, claims for obstructive sleep apnea can be trickyyet important to pursue if youre suffering from this disability, so you can get the benefits you deserve and care you need. Required fields are marked *. f%Ygaz~u&d_',BB)Kw4(wb B
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t#]NGW{#}|_ g#0 oZ)OZLmx JqW2! /kso-v"b688Me ) If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The biggest mistake most veterans make in their service-connection for sleep apnea claims is in expecting the VA to take them at their word. I read hundreds, if not thousands, of Veterans C-Files, BVA Decisions and Veterans Court Decisions. Lets begin today's post with the Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): It is HARD to get service connected for Sleep Apnea secondary to Depression. See you on the inside! endstream
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I dont want you to think about the EASYway to Service Connect Sleep Apnea anymore. There are 3 things that the human body cannot live or function without: Blood/Oxygen, Food/Water and Sleep. 4 0 obj Since there is no cure for CFS the treatment focuses on relief of the symptoms. The VA has also given me a 0% disability for service connected IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis . Battle of DUAL-EXPERTS Chris, you called it!!! When filing a VA disability Claim for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome there are specific things the VA has to see before service connection can be considered and disability compensation granted. In order to establish direct service connection for sleep apnea, a claimant must show that they have: a current, diagnosis of sleep apnea an in-service event or illness/injury a medical nexus or link that shows the veteran's sleep apnea is related to their in-service event, injury/illness. Sounds easy enough, right? Your email address will not be published. The cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is unknown; however, there are a few theories as to what may cause this condition. In fact, there are three distinct kinds of sleep apnea obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea. Everyone I came in contact with there was very nice. b4RmeCF$ZelpKT+ise$._DSah#Yxm CPGtef%gMvHPMO_'QXfk3xk9R-bxUqJ4rzWhixgi7-]ng)T2i:P z"/oCw.8{N
A\c\FOl>jlh@7p The VA classifies Sleep Apnea as a disability for which compensation is granted. In fact, sleep deprivation is a common form of torture, as many of us know all too well. Just think about our veterans from older eras. However, if you use one, it does provide you with a higher rating. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! I spoke with DRO via phone for 5min confirming she received my NOD and evidence. I stated on my retirement physical that I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night. HWnH}W#zx 8Fb$vhjKLdRCR6-kf$}9u/U(XVX= eX5e2by=t-V?l*_?,?C&{u&Q,E1[x3")KYdXD@Q2+x."]}0uLB!_ne\Ya)y,"k"Q>bV7mWnXQn
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S/.TWGaxUtbw>Hk :LfNo`BYL2%*{6GuTP rzY9y+%Koa(+Ja.'Xg Both sinusitis and rhinitis are linked to sleep apnea. % Its almost as much work and it can often take as much dedication. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! In April 2013, the RO reopened the sleep apnea claim, but denied service connection, and found no new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the tinnitus claim. Once you are clear on the type of apnea, you should talk with your doctor further about what he or she thinks is the primary cause for it. Any advice on getting sleep apnea service connected? While we still have our home base in Florida, hTOo0| <>/Parent 3 0 R/Type/Page/Contents 4 0 R/Tabs/S/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Font<>>>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Rotate 0>> (In many cases, amedical expert report or opinion may be crucial to success). Therefore, because the VA is particularly strict with claims regarding sleep apnea, it is highly recommended that you file your claim with as much evidence as you can obtain. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. * A 5-Star medical opinion, resting on 5-Star Lay and Medical Evidence, that demonstrates HOW your Sleep Apnea is related to military service. Thats what Veteran Lee G. did Lees VA claim changed when he read my Sleep Apnea book: Chris gave me the knowledge to file a claim for Sleep Apnea. So, if you developed sleep apnea while in service and still carry that diagnosis, you should be granted service connection. I was diagnosed with OSA 10 years after separation. VADisability Benefits for Chronic Fatigue, Fatigue not relieved by sleep or bed rest which was not always present throughout life. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2016 - VeteransLawBlog.org - All Rights Reserved | Terms & Conditions | Legal Disclaimer, The Veterans Law Blog is NOT a law firm. Otherwise, I would properly ended up in mental health facility or going insane!!! As this represents a total grant . In fact, winning your VA sleep apnea claim can feel like you just led your team to victory in the World Cup. Many Veterans suffering from emotional distress overeat and lack the motivation to work out. I dont want you to think about the EASY path to proving Sleep Apnea is service connected. hUmoF+1QNH6,65B.E]>XH?a8D Ht"B)\5H($>f_+:TPT!UBPTVR$Xz.c-sKGkzlYz;j&]&Lra)"6"x\?gY(5vZlbQn]wEutI&q$+}on~[]#mg])jqY_`jh]W7|E}Ag\SV I spent nearly a yearresearching Veterans and their Sleep Apnea claims. lJ[bKeZ?LF;$Zm]=_v-ed,4cX'fd
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Alow4Qg, =5j6y-|#@T0^])0lVLi>C %+QYY/8.+9 } u& 5t=tibdx:TD?pXg,Q>UR{KE|/K(*k VA claim for sleep apnea denied? Were Veterans, just like you, whove learned how to navigate within the VA system. See id. Even if yours is obstructive sleep apnea like we discussed here, there are still other ways to service connection other than proving you had sleep apnea in service. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices Even without a definitive cause of the disorder there are noted risk factors including being between the ages of 40-50, difficulty managing stress, and women are more commonly diagnosed (possibly because they report symptoms more often). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2 0 obj I recd another denial (3rd) Jun 30, 2017. We also connect veterans with independent medical professionals in our referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible independent medical opinions and nexus statements (medical nexus letters) for a wide range of disability conditions. Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected its the one thing I hear more about from Veterans than any other topic. If you need a lawyer, fill out a contact form at the law firm of Attig Steel: https://www.attigsteel.com/contact-us/. While an OSA disability claim secondary to sinusitis/rhinitis is an easier path, veterans who are service-connected for PTSD (or other mental health conditions) are eligible for secondary service connection for their sleep apnea, and its possible to achieve an OSA disability claim secondary to PTSD with the right strategy and credible medical evidence. Were Veterans helping Veterans Worldwide, and since 2016 weve helped 10,000+ Veterans just like you INCREASE their VA disability rating! I talked to hundreds of Veterans who had been denied VAsleep apnea compensation. HE WAS A VET, HE AND I SERVED IN NELLIS AFB BEFORE I GOT OUT,the hard way. Also, to check for the cause of fatigue a doctor may do physical examinations such as an exercise stress test to check on the function of the heart and lungs. 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. medical expert report or opinion may be crucial, rate your sleep apnea condition after granting Service Connection, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). I believe that the VA and BVA do not take Sleep Apnea seriously. Direct service connection for sleep apnea may be granted for veterans who can show that their sleep apnea began in service using service medical records, and by providing a nexus opinion from a qualified medical professional that links sleep apnea to events or exposures in service. I filed NOD in early 2017 request an informal DRO. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But if your body cannot get sleep, you will die. Complimentary therapies such as meditation, gentle massage, deep breathing, or relaxation therapies may be beneficial to help reduce symptoms. Even as Veterans Claims for Sleep Apnea soar, it is clear that theVA DOES NOT understand the full scope of how sleep apnea occurs, medically or factually. No wonder Sleep Apnea is affecting so many Veterans sleep apnea can be the result of other disorders or medical conditions. I have had cardiomegly X-rays while on active duty. If you have sleep apnea and sinusitis/rhinitis, your next step would be to get a doctors medical opinion supporting that your service-connected sinusitis/rhinitis caused or aggravates your sleep apnea. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. Sleep apnea can develop for a number of reasons, meaning it can be very hard to pinpoint the exact cause. If your situation is not like the one above, remember that this is only oneof the ways you may be able to win VA disability for sleep apnea. Concerningly, it is also one of the conditions most rejected by the VA, as the vast majority are regularly turned down. hb```f``rb`a`} @ odoF@z&I*B{!C*!H12*0`$I +Nw`ubL6iF bICg!|F %
If you need assistance in appealing your claim for CFS,let us know here! Veterans with CPAP machines have often fallen into the trap of believing that their use of the CPAP will be enough to qualify their claim with the VA. The rate was a staggering 22%. Do You Owe Your Severance Pay Back to the VA? I did not have a va physical until about 13 years after seperation from service. But if your doctor believes that your Sleep Apnea is somehow related to exposure to TCEs or benzene in the water at Camp Lejeune, then a good medical opinion would probably help you prove a direct service connection claim. Then present the proper records for service connection with a professional opinion on the Nexus of the sleep apnea. Youll need to make the call on direct service connection versus secondary service connection. Need a C&P exam for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD? It occurs when airflow is impaired repeatedly during sleep due to blockage in the upper airway. endobj Problems with sleep which include not being rested after sleep or difficulty staying and/or falling asleep. But remember the ultimate goal to win your VA disability compensation claim. Theres lots of literature available to back it up. See R. at 8-9. These pauses can happen several times an hour when the apnea is severe. Here are a few examples of how Sleep Apnea has affected Veterans from all different eras of service: * Don D. (he asked me not to use his real name) served mostly during the Cold War was in the best physical shape of his life he was an avid weight-lifter. I got so many questions that I began to do a lot of research into how to service connect Sleep Apnea claims and what is happening with Sleep Apnea in the Veterans community. The VA is also wary of the fact that sleep apnea may well have been a condition suffered by the veteran before their time in the military. Not a lot of VSOs or advocates get this when helping a Veteran file a VA Claim. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. endobj There are special rules regarding how a Sleep Apnea disability claim is treated by the VA. It's harder to get than it used to be, and there are more regulations. For instance, the rating criteria for 100% disability rating for chronic fatigue syndrome detailing debilitating and incapacitating fatigue, cognitive impairments, or a mixture of other similar symptoms severe enough to restrict your daily life and self-care significantly. Wc%X$(:ss!LCO^?4d *$
Learn how your comment data is processed. Hence, the weight gain. I am a Veteran of United States Air Force and was awarded my first 30% in 1996 and have been fighting for my rating for 26 years I came to Perkins and Studdard in 2019 while my mom was in a terrible incident and was given to much anesthesia and through GODS Grace she was spared her life, She is disabled since 2018 and I have been struggling with my life and issues and yet I didnt call the law firm every 10 minutes or call being rude anytime, I mentioned this as I got to know Jessica more than just a phone call and Mr Studdard was always available when not working on other cases or in court, They always called back and Never had to do a call back, My Review is Simple in Life there peaks and valleys and it doesnt stop because you have issues, Perkins & Studdard took my case in 2019 in 2021 I received my 100% from VA, I Was Never Rude, I was Never Promised Success, I Was Never Lied too and I was Always Treated with Respect, Friendliness, and Kindness the Real Stuff not a (Money Thing) If You want a firm that Cares about the Client and will work on your case even through a pandemic, Will not lie, will not promise anything will communicate your case and will Give you their Best ALWAYS THIS IS THE Best Law Firm for VETS HANDS DOWN Perkins and Studdard THERE IS NO OTHER 100% we had 5 calls Total Case Thats Taking Care Of Business. I have sleep apnea and emphysema. If you would like a free consultation with our Perkins Studdard veterans disability attorneys just click here or give us a call to begin the process. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. FromApril 2013 to April 2014, the BVA denied 76% of Veterans Sleep Apnea appeals. PTSD can cause insulin resistance (fasting Blood sugar results above 100 prove you have insulin resistance) and insulin resistance causes sleep apnea. Emerging research indicates a strong association between PTSD and sleep apnea.The link between sleep apnea and PTSD is likely due to the fact that many factors that aggravate PTSD also aggravate sleep apneaincluding sleep deprivation, insomnia, hyperarousal, and daytime sleepiness. And then in three months, I got a response back, and it was a favorable response, and that just, that just blew me away. I disagree. Winning a VA Sleep Apnea is much harder. When I turned my case over to Jason things turned around, QUICK. If you have central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea, the approach will be a little different since the science is different as well. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). Also sinusitis, rhinitis, hypertension. One of the most straightforward ways to achieve service connection of a particular disease or disability is to show that you had that disease or disability while in service. A nexus letter is often the missing link in a VA claim. This may be even easier for you now because of a new VA new rule as of August 2, 2021. Microsoft Word 2010 How can you learn more about these things? The information contained on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and not legal advice. * Many Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange suffer from sleep apnea. For doing an awesome job. Or perhaps when they realize that Sleep Apnea is going to be as big an issue for our current generation of Veterans asAgent Orange related conditions are to Vietnam Veterans, they will take it seriously. In our experience, if you did NOT have a sleep study while on active duty and you did not get a medical diagnosis of sleep apnea in the military, you should only attempt to service-connect your sleep apnea VA claim SECONDARY to another service-connected disability. * Damage to the brain from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Winning a VA claim to service connect sleep apnea is hard. I only have 50 days to file NOD, or file a BVA appeal within 1 year. A/8un$zjHNSPU%=8HF Z*v@l(?6Nx/ Do you have questions about how to service connect sleep apnea claims? Has camp Lejeune exposures been linked to sleep apnea? Jason is a excellent lawyer and if I ever need another one I would only go to Perkins,Because I believe they would be able to help me in any situation I am in need of.. %%EOF
In September 1978, she was granted service connection for bilateral chondromalacia, a breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint that causes pain when bones . If youve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low ratingor youre unsure how to get startedreach out to us! A current disability (medical diagnosis in medical records), An in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation; and, evidence of chronicity and continuity in your service treatment records and private treatment records, or, A medical diagnosis of sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study in VA medical records or private records (sleep study in past 12 months), Medical nexus evidence establishing a connection between. I filed to reopen my SA claim in 2016. Also see our post What is a Service-Connected Disability? For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Even with that little bit of extra information, almost allVeterans are still being denied service connection for sleep apnea. Therefore, sleep apnea can be filed secondary to either a musculoskeletal condition with weight gain or a mental health condition with weight gain. Below is the schedule for rating . Physical therapy can be given to help maintain and improve mobility. Many civilian doctors have NO CLUE what a Nexus letter is or the importance of it! Regardless of whether you are dealing with OSA, its important to pursue all the benefits available to you as a veteran. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Therefore you should be well prepared before submitting your claim. In recent years this trend has begun to turn around, but it is still one of the more difficult conditions to win a disability compensation claim for. Chris, thank you for the posts and training videos you are providing to veterans. Another theory is a hormonal imbalance because elevated hormones are seen in the blood work of those who have CFS, but the importance of this is unknown as well. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. DRO sided with VA expert (not surprise) who claimed SA was least likely as not occurred or caused by service, moreover, VA expert justified opinion by THE FOLLOWINGS;(time 12yrs since retirement, age 50 at the time of sleep study, and weight gain ?). In our experience, most VA disability claims are won or lost based on medical evidence. Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can have a huge impact on a persons life and those around them. If there is a way for us to improve our claims to get more granted for Vets with "GWI", rest assured, you will find it on the Veterans Law Blog. If so, you may be eligible for VA disability for sleep apnea if you can show a nexus to your military service. OSA secondary to PTSD (or other mental health claim) is a more challenging claim to make, but it is still a top candidate for secondary service connection of sleep apnea. * How do I appeal the VAs denial of my Sleep Apnea? I have sleep apnea diagnosed by the VA sleep study. Veterans Court reminds the VA: the BVA must adjudicate the logically related informal claim. (6.[,P)BLd?8e:}]eS8Sx|
XvKdEP,Zbl65k8 x!KSToHjbrC. The VA disability ratings for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 100% all dependent on the severity and other factors of your symptoms. In this guide, we'll explore how to get a VA Rating for Insomnia even if youve already filed or been denied benefits in the past. When Daniel laid it out and told me almost specifically, "Here's your timeline, here's how you do it, "here's what you do, here's what you need, "here are the things that you need," that sealed the deal. If you are lucky, you start breathing again. Once diagnosed the more difficult step is required, which is proving the service-connection for sleep apnea. As the patient, this can be a stressful time, which is why it is so important to tell your doctor all the symptoms you have even if they seem silly or strange. All Rights Reserved. Not presumptively. Studies have shown that it is morecommon for Gulf War Veteransin the Southwest Asia theater compared to non-Gulf War Veterans to develop CFS, but the reason for this remains unknown. Veterans ask me more questions about sleep apnea than almost any other question about VA Benefits Law. 4 Common Scenariosfor Proving Sleep Apnea is Service Connected. The criteria for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, are not met. No current sleep study within the last 12 months, #2. You are going to have to get a LOT of 5-Star Evidence. Here are some common symptoms of sleep apnea: Contrary to the myth, sleep apnea does not need to be diagnosed while on active duty. Jessica Rodriguez has a degree in Health Information Management and has 15+ years of experience in patient care as a Nurses Assistant. According to the VA law, there are three evidentiary elements that must be satisfied for sleep apnea conditions to prove secondary service connection: A medical diagnosis recorded in medical records of sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study Evidence of PTSD as a service-connected primary disability 2023-03-04T21:20:56-05:00 Below is the schedule for rating disability for Chronic Fatigue Sundrome. I am also service connected for chronic bronchitis with a rating of 0 %. You can lose your arms and legs and still survive. Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear? This is because the fact is that many veterans suffer from PTSDand sleep problems are a common symptom of PTSD. I have tried to connect OSA secondary to chronic sinusitis which has also been denied. 8 0 obj In fact, winning your VA sleep apnea claim can feel like you just led your team to victory in the World Cup. This is a great group of people who really care about your well being. However, if you use one, it does provide you with a higher rating. Scenario 1: Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea First Occurs a Long Time after Service, with no evidence of sleep-breathing problems in the Military Service, or Military Medical, records. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. I also have central and obstructive sleep apnea which has been denied service connection. When filing a VAdisability Claim for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome there are specific things the VA has to see before service connection can be considered and disability compensation granted. I talked to several doctors about the causes and limitations of sleep apnea. I have a diagnosis and a CPAPwhy arent they granting my claim?. The Veteran was granted entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder in a May 2016 rating decision. The VA and frankly most of America still thinksof Sleep Apnea asa condition for theobese male with a big neck. They think wrongly that sleep apnea is not the kind of disability associated with a wounded warrior. Your email address will not be published. In the U.S. it has been acknowledged that more education needs to be provided to doctors and nurses to give them the skills to detect CFS sooner for the well being of the patient. Unfortunately, VA does not always apply the law correctly. . Honestly, they are just saying it. You're not alone. c}gn7 Ds?4S&}eLg\Qz}3l>tN`MA&DDz5:/v We share our top tips and a step-by-step guide to a successful claim for obstructive sleep apnea! Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 They then tell the VA that they have sleep apnea and a CPAP and hope that service connection for sleep apnea is granted. And I found that MOST Veterans with Sleep Apnea claims and appealsfit into 1 of 4 common scenarios. They are ALL experiencing a Perfect Storm of Sleep Apnea problems: breathing disorders, mental health conditions, heart conditions and diabetes are all causing an epidemic of Sleep Apnea in our Vietnam Veterans.