Listed below are the current DOD and VA standards for sleep apnea disability, While you are on active duty the military should pay ofr everything you need to include CPAP.

DOD Instruction Number 1332.39  14 Nov 1996
E2.A1.2.21. 6847. Sleep Apnea Syndromes. The VASRD lists four percentage rating options: 0%, 30%, 50%, and 100% under this code, corresponding to assessed levels of disability relative to civilian earning capacity due to Sleep Apnea. The following interpretation will apply:

Total industrial impairment         100%
Considerable industrial impairment       50%
Definite industrial impairment           30%
Mild industrial impairment             0%


VSDRA CFR 38, Section 4.97

6847  Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed):    
Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy    100
Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine    50
Persistent day-time hypersomnolence    30
Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing    0

WhoDat wrote:

My claim was denied about a month ago....they say I can't prove it was service related.  Even though I gave it my best shot with letters of support etc..   This is my second go around with the VA out of Houston and now Salt Lake.... either I hire a professional to fight this or go with the local VA reps to assist.  I hate someone telling me what I did or did not have while active duty just because it's not in my record book.  Hell SA was not something the doc's looked for when you went to sickbay....they talked more about STD's than anything else.   It's enough to make you want to not even try.

Yes I had my study be it after service, the death of Reggie White and the cause of his death hit me like a ton of bricks cause I had the same for years while active duty.

I have and use the machine.


I have high blood pressure (during service and now)

I'm still tired at times and lose train of thought while speaking or just in general

I could go on, but it's a big let down when your own VA make you go through a bunch of red tape to prove your point.

 

Quote:

Sorry about your denial letter, I all a challenging game with VA. I'm not sure but I thought that you stated that your had hypertension. If you have hypertension and it is service connected, then you can get SA approved as secondary to Hypertension or heart dease. I have been out of the Army (retired) for ten years and rated at 90%. I'm working on my SA claim att and have evidence that these two are connected.

I retired from the Air Force in 1995 under that one time 15 year retirement deal.  I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2001 by the VA, which was the first time I heard of sleep apnea.  I was misdiagnosed for my entire career through 1995.   My son entered the Army in 2006 and diagnosed in 2007 - a newer diagnosis process.   I guess it can be passed on!

Have a question for the group.  Active duty 19 1/2 years.  I have a sleep test coming up next month.  If I am diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, and I elect to have surgery on the throat or nose, or wherever and the apnea is cured, Do I still get a disability when I retire?  I know the CPAP machine is a automatic percentage, but what if they fix it/help it  through surgery?

Should I go with a CPAP for disability purposes?

Anonymous wrote:

Have a question for the group.  Active duty 19 1/2 years.  I have a sleep test coming up next month.  If I am diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, and I elect to have surgery on the throat or nose, or wherever and the apnea is cured, Do I still get a disability when I retire?  I know the CPAP machine is a automatic percentage, but what if they fix it/help it  through surgery?

Should I go with a CPAP for disability purposes?

6847  Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed):    
Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy    100

What does this tracheostomy consist of?  Not sure its an option, but I have a very small mouth and throat.  Has anybody had this done? Is it worth 100%.  Do I go CPAP at 50% or the tracheosomy at 100%if its an option?

I Separated the military in april 07. I filed a VA claim in June 07 for sleep apnea  and I was diagnosed in December 07 for having sleep apnea.  I was just issued a cpap on April 09,
2008.   The VA scheduled my appointment almost 6 months after the initial appointment is there any possibility that I will be turned down because I did have the study before I Separated the military.

First off, I would like to say this is one helpful and informational forum!

I just got my rating of a 0% for sleep apnea yesterday. Now, how hard is my case going to be to get  that percentage raised to 50%? I have already done my CPAP study and have my CPAP prescription in hand, but it was done through my insurance. Would the VA accept that paperwork since the study and prescription weren't done by the VA?

Have anyone had sucess claiming OSAS after retirement? over two years

   I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE FOR 4 YEARS(ACTIVE DUTY), THEN GOT OUT FOR TWO YEARS NOW I CAME BACK IN AS AN A.R.T. FOR ANYONE THAT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE TECHNICIAN. HALF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AND HALF RESERVIST. SINCE MY 4 YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY TILL TODAY I FEEL TERRIBLE. IM ALWAYS AND WHEN I MEAN ALWAYS FALLING ASLEEP AT STOPLIGHTS, READING, STUDYING OR JUST SITTING STILL. IM VERY FORGETFUL AND I HAVE HEADACHES ALMOST EVERY DAY. I NEVER WAKE UP RECHARGED. IM IN THE AIR FORCE RESERVE NOW FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND IM STILL FEELING LIKE THIS. DURING MY TWO YEARS OF SEPARATION FROM THE AIR FORCE I HAD SLEEP TEST DONE THAT CONCLUDED THAT I HAD MILD SLEEP APNEA AND RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME. I HAD SURGERY (DEVIATED SEPTUM, TONGUE REDUCTION) AND STILL FEEL THE SAME OR A LITTLE WORST. NOW BEING IN THE AIR FORCE RESERVES I WANT TO GET A SLEEP STUDY DONE, BUT IM FRIGHTENED BY THE FACT THAT I CAN BE KICKED OUT OF THE ART POSITION AND THE RESERVES. COULD THIS BE TRUE? COULD I GET KICKED OUT? SHOULD I JUST KEEP GOING FEELING LIKE THIS OR SHOULD I GO SEE A DOCTOR? I WOULD NOT LIKE TO GET KICKED OUT? WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? WHAT BENEFITS WOULD I HAVE IF THEY KICK ME OUT BEING A FULL TIME RESERVIST?  PLEASE IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO COULD GIVE ME ADVICE PLEASE HELP ME. ANY ADVICE WILL BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS...

If you feel bad you need to go see the doc and get a XPAP, SA can cause very bad medical problems.  The military is looking to keep people not put them out.  DOD regs say you can't be in the military and have sleep apnea but all branches seem to ignore the reg.  I do not mean to imply that they won't put you out. but unless you are wanting to get out I would think  the chances are low.  Many have tried to get out becouse of SA but not many are put out on that alone.  So I would suggest that you talk to your medical staff then command and see what they have to say about it based on your MOS and the thoughts of the AF at this time.

I am a TEC in the Army NG I am being out out due to a very bad ankle and severe central SA.


_________________
Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

Can anyone help me out ? va awarded me a 0% service connected rating for sleep apnea is that good or bad.Can I get re-tested for a higher rating.Thanks

0% means just that no payment for it.  Do you have SA listed on your military medical records?


_________________
Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

Yes ,I was dianosed with mild sleep apenea not bad enough to precribe a CPAP .

As you may have seen me post earlier here is is the VA rating for SA so if you do not have day-time hypersomnolence or use a XPAP system I would guess that would be a 0%

VSDRA CFR 38, Section 4.97

6847  Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed):    
Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy    100
Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine    50
Persistent day-time hypersomnolence    30
Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing    0


_________________
Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10