Epidemiological research indicates that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increases in the incidence and progression of coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and atrial fibrillation. The causes of these disturbances may vary depending on which form of the condition you have: obstructive, central, or a mixed form of both. Heart disease is a general term used to describe various heart conditions. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Okay veterans lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and level of impairment required to warrant a VA disability rating for Sleep Apnea. 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. Similar to other heart conditions secondary to ischemic heart disease, the VA wont assign separate ratings. 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. I've read that these can be rated secondary to OSA. A polysomnogram at a sleep center might be preferred if you have heart or lung disease, risk factors for central sleep apnea or a history of other sleep disorders. Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently, causing a buildup of fluid in the lungs and other tissues. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Well help you gather the evidence and documentation you need to have the best chance of winning your claim. Continuous medication is required for control. Obstructive sleep apnea and coronary artery disease Note: Millions of Philips CPAP Machines have been recalled due to toxic chemical seeping into mask and unknowingly being inhaled by sleep apnea patients. How to Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Anxiety (The Insiders Guide), Can I Get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea Secondary to Depression? Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation theyre due. aggravated by another service-connected disability. There are many different symptoms that go, Sleep apnea is a common medical condition that can be caused by many different factors, including conditions like Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Good news, there is a better way and theres a laundry list of possible sleep apnea secondary conditions. Call Us for a Free Evaluation (888) 573-7838. . Sinusitis is a condition where a persons sinuses become swollen and inflamed for three months or longer, despite treatment. Once your condition has been approved, you will be able to receive compensation based on the severity of your disability. 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. Authors Prior to the exam, the examiner will review the veterans c-file so they are familiar with the veterans case. a showing of causation. When I was on active duty, I had a ton of sleep issues, but I never realized those symptoms might have been due to an underlying sleep apnea condition. One of the most common causes of heart failure is ischemic heart disease, which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become blocked or narrowed. Eventually, this can lead to fluid retention throughout the body (particularly around the lungs).*. VA may deny a sleep apnea claim based on different aspects, whether theres not enough medical evidence of sleep apnea or perhaps no logical connection between your military service and your current sleep apnea. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Click the button below to get more information. Some of the following conditions can be secondary to sleep apnea, while others may be the primary condition to which sleep apnea is secondary. It indicates, "Click to perform a search". WebThe diagnostic criteria for a VA sleep apnea claim, found in the Code of Federal Regulations, have not changed. sleep apnea Some conditions that can be secondary to sleep apnea may include but are not limited to: If you have a service-connected condition that you believe is causing your sleep apnea, it may be a good idea to start to talk to your doctors about it. Schedule for Rating Disabilities: The Cardiovascular System This sleep-disordered breathing leads to poor sleep quality and is a risk factor for the poor quality of life. You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim. Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. This study will serve as medical evidence for the veterans case and can help to prove the medical condition or medical conditions that go into a total rating. be resistance among military clinics worldwide from ordering-up sleep studies Proper detection and treatment of sleep apnea might Some of the most common secondary conditions include sleep apnea, heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and valvular heart disease. Symptoms of GERD include: Veterans who suffer fromsleep apneamay find that the condition aggravates or causes GERD. I am service connected for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). WebCVA Heart Institute is a medical group practice located in Wytheville, VA that specializes in Cardiology. The VA will consider the severity of the veterans symptoms. WebMCV Associates Physicians is a medical group practice located in Richmond, VA that specializes in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and General Surgery. This causes discomfort and inflammation. In this post, we will be exploring how to get a VA Rating for Sleep Apnea. A C&P exam for Sleep Apnea might involve a physical examination and review of your medical history and severity of symptoms over time. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that occurs when stomach acid flows back up from the stomach into the esophagus. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder, whereby breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep. You're not alone. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 For now, these ratings are merely a proposal so stay tuned to this page while we update. A 60% rating is given if an MET test causes symptoms (like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, arrhythmia, or fainting) at 3.1 to 5.0 METs. Sleep apnea is rated under 38 CFR 4.97, diagnostic code 6847 Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central Mixed). If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. An MET test causes symptoms (like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, arrhythmia, or fainting) at 5.1 to 7.0 METs. Service connection on a secondary basis requires However, if you have ischemic heart disease, the reduced blood flow can cause the electrical activity to become abnormal. If you are among the former military service members living with sleep apnea, you may be eligible for veterans disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The General Rating Formula for heart conditions ranges from 10% to 100% with breaks at 10%, 30%, 60% and 100%. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. Op. As such, the two conditions have been linked and veterans can receive secondary service connection for sinusitis linked to sleep apnea. In this case, there must be a medical nexus to link the sleep apnea to their already service-connected disability. If a doctor thinks its highly likely you have sleep apnea, the sleep study may also involve a positive air pressure (PAP) device. During an evaluation for sleep apnea, a doctor may ask some of the following questions: During the exam, the doctor may also take into consideration your weight, neck circumference, or blood pressure (all which could put you at higher risk for sleep apnea). The disability compensation depends on the disability rating. The proposed changes incorporate medical advances that have occurred since the last review, update medical terminology, and clarify evaluation criteria Like PTSD, other conditions rated as mental health conditions can be related to sleep apnea. While we still have our home base in Florida, Relationship Between Sleep Apnea and Coronary Artery 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.. It puts extra strain on the heart and can damage the arteries. Several conditions can occur as a result of ischemic heart disease. Pursuant to Diagnostic Code 6847, VA disability ratings for Sleep Apnea are as follows: Sleep Apnea is rated under diagnostic code 6847, Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed): 6847, Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed): Many veterans with Sleep Apnea, especially those who were diagnosed long after leaving the military, might still be eligible if medical evidence shows your Sleep Apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by another service-connected disability such as musculoskeletal conditions and/or mental health conditions. Because of this close relationship between ischemic heart disease and heart failure, its important for anyone diagnosed with one of these conditions to be closely monitored by a cardiologist. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, sleep apnea as a secondary service connected condition to PTSD, Calculate Your Potential Compensation Now. In fact, did you know U.S. military veterans are nearly four times (4x) as likely to have or develop sleep apnea when compared to those who didnt serve in the military? 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. 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. Youll want to explain to the C&P examiner HOW your Sleep Apnea condition is limiting or affecting your work, life, and social functioning. Do you feel tired or sleepy during the day? A CPAP machine delivers air pressure, which is greater than the surrounding air, through a mask while the veteran is sleeping. So the brain tells the body to wake up just enough to tighten the muscles and unblock the air passage. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Treatment 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. However, in February 2022, VA proposed changes that would reclassify sleep apnea ratings to 0 percent, 10 percent, 30 percent, or 50 percent, with 100 percent for sleep apnea seeming even harder to qualify for. You're not alone. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain either does not send signals to the muscles that control breathing or those signals are interrupted. Study Impact: Our findings reveal a close relationship between the atherosclerosis-related burden measured by the coronary artery calcium score and the severity of sleep apnea that persisted after adjusting for confounding variables related to the risk of coronary artery disease. It can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. Additionally, there are some cases that the VA cannot schedule re-examinations: If you are interested in learning more about C&P examinations, check out our guide! Epub 2018 Apr 13. In addition, the stress test can also help your doctor determine how well your heart is pumping and how much reserve capacity it has. Typically, sleep apnea symptoms are at their worst during REM Sleep due to the bodys naturally-occurring reduced muscle tone in the bodys airway. 2018 Jun;15 (6):4771-4776. doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.6070. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 G.C. 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. A showing of causation requires that the secondary disability be shown to be proximately due to, or the result of, a service-connected disability. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. R. at 7. Research from 2018 estimates that obstructive sleep apnea affects 34% of men and 17% of women in the general population but 40% of men and 60% of women with cardiovascular disease. Do you currently smoke, or have you smoked in the past? Quick note: You MUST have a medical diagnosis of Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. WebA magnifying glass. There is growing evidence that sleep apnea may be a risk factor for coronary artery disease. 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. If you need a Medical Nexus Letter from a qualified doctor to service connect your VA sleep apnea claim secondary to another disability, click HERE now and complete our FREE 3-step intake. What made the difference was that the veteran inVA sleep apnea claim #1 lacked ANY lay evidence of sleep apnea symptomatology from service to diagnosis. A 100% rating is given if an MET test causes symptoms (like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, arrhythmia, or fainting) at 3.0 METs or less. are still among the most common treatments.
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