VA 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. A showing of causation requires that the secondary disability be shown to be proximately caused by or proximately aggravated by another service-connected disability. One type of heart disease is valvular heart disease, which occurs when one or more of the hearts valves are damaged. #3. Its also important to document whether you have a breathing machine, such as a CPAP or BiPAP, as this is the most common difference between the 30% and 50% VA rating for Sleep Apnea. Loud Snoring. Your medical records should include all treatment received for your condition before and after your discharge from the military. People with sleep apnea who underwent coronary bypass surgery had a higher rate of complications than those without sleep apnea. 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. I have diagnoses post-service for GERD, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. For instance, which pages you go to most. Proposed rating must be based on entire medical history, Must show there has been improvement in veterans functionality, If you have a rating that has remained the same for over five years (stabilized), If you have a total disability rating, meaning 100 percent rating. Treatment options include lifestyle modification, medications, implantable devices, and surgery. Nexus Letters for GERD, Coronary Artery Disease, & Fatty Liver Disease. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. In order to establish direct service connection for sleep apnea, a claimant must show that they have: A veteran can also establish service connection for sleep apnea on asecondarybasis. for active duty military members. Coronary Artery Disease diagnosis and sleep study occurred years AFTER leaving active duty). Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which a persons breathing is repeatedly interrupted, or ceases, during the course of a nights sleep. Trisha Penrod is a former active-duty Air Force officer. High Blood Pressure Secondary to Obstructive Sleep Apnea: What Veterans Should Know Are you suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and hypertension? for Rating Disabilities: The Cardiovascular System Symptoms of Congestive heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs and feet. The causes of these disturbances may vary depending on which form of the condition you have: obstructive, central, or a mixed form of both. These sleep disturbances can occur from tens to hundreds of times per night. 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. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 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. A polysomnogram is a sleep study in which medical devices are used to monitor a persons breathing, heart rate, and the electrical activity of their brain waves while they sleep. It can cause a Heart Attack, the most common type of valvular heart disease. If your VA claim was denied, we may be able to assist you. 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. I've read that these can be rated secondary to OSA. There is growing evidence that sleep apnea may be a risk factor for coronary artery disease. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Id. It indicates, "Click to perform a search". Sleep Apnea in Cardiovascular Patients Yes, Sleep Apnea is a VA disability and its rated under diagnostic code 6847, Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed). These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. Its estimated that patients with sleep apnea are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) than people without this condition. WebA magnifying glass. sleep apnea was during you service. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. 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. This guide will outline the basics of sleep apnea, how the VA disability rating works for this condition, and how qualifying veterans can prove direct service connection as well as sleep apnea as a secondary service connected condition to PTSD. The inability to get the kind of restful sleep necessary for optimal health can affect a veterans ability to effectively secure and maintain gainful employment, which is often the case with sleep apnea. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Additionally, sleep apnea may worsen existing coronary artery disease. I am service connected for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I am service connected for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Medical evidence and documented medical records from a VAC&P exam will be necessary for the process of filing your claim and could even reveal other secondary conditions. It puts extra strain on the heart and can damage the arteries. Click the button below to get more information. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim 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. coronary artery disease Sinusitis also affects the nose, throat, and head, much like sleep apnea. sleep The relationship can also work in the reverse, with sleep apnea being the primary service-connected condition. 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. A showing of causation requires that the How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Sleep apnea occurs when a persons breathing is interrupted during sleep, often causing them to wake up gasping for air. G.C. Click the button below to start for FREE. Valvular heart disease is often a secondary condition to another form of heart disease, such as ischemic heart disease. While we still have our home base in Florida, The second part can be satisfied with a Sleep Apnea Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. If a veteran is service-connected for anxiety or depression, they may be able to receive secondary service connection for their sleep apnea. If treatment for sleep apnea provides only limited alleviation, you will only receive ten percent of your maximum compensation, even if a CPAP machine is required. Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure by 140% and the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%. 2019 All Rights Reserved. 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. Two disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea and diabetes would seem to have no connection at all however the data can be surprising. Hypersomnolence (i.e., excessive daytime sleepiness), Mental anxiety and/or depression related to combat, Use of alcohol, sedatives, certain medications or tranquilizers. So if this proposed change for sleep apnea ratings goes through, its possible that veterans may start getting lowballed ratings. Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea, Obesity, and Heart Disease I have diagnoses post-service for GERD, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 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. There are many conditions that have been linked to sleep apnea that veterans can receive benefits for through secondary service connection. Did you know there are more than 40+ conditions that can be medically linked to cause or aggravate sleep apnea? Arrhythmias are a common symptom of ischemic heart disease and can often be a sign that the condition is progressing. Note: Millions of Philips CPAP Machines have been recalled due to toxic chemical seeping into mask and unknowingly being inhaled by sleep apnea patients. Believe it or not, buddy statements can be helpful in proving sleep apnea claims if you can find vets who you served with and heard you snoring, or can talk about the issues that led to the sleep apnea. If you have been diagnosed with ischemic heart disease (IHD), its important to be aware of the other conditions that can occur. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Service connection links your present disability and your active military service. I chalked it up to long work hours, stress from the job, a deployment, and various mental health issues. WebCorrelation between coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and analysis of risk factors Correlation between coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and analysis of risk factors Exp Ther Med.