CPAP and the VA (Story and questions)

[MattR1Rider]

I am here to share my story along the path to getting a CPAP and service connected sleep apnea.

First the questions:
Is there a standard CPAP that the VA will issue, or will I have options?
How long after diagnosis did it take to get one provided?

Story time:

In 2007, I had a hernia repaired at an Army hospital. During recovery, waking up from anesthesia, I had a nurse sitting by me waking me up every time I would doze off. I thought this was odd. After fully awakening, I was informed that I needed to be seen about my sleep apnea, which I knew nothing about. Apparently, I almost died during surgery.

Off I went to get my sleep study. I was diagnosed with moderate OSA with an AHI of 24. The army hospital seemed extremely concerned and I was given options. CPAP or UPPP surgery. CPAP meant that I was no longer deployable with the Navy, and I thought I wanted to stay in. I chose to undergo the hell that is UPPP. I instantly regret my decision, but what was done was done.

I was getting ready to separate from the Navy in 2015 and decided that I needed to have another sleep study done before I got out. I still have OSA, but they didn't prescribe me a CPAP, actually didn't fill me in on the full results at all, but that is Navy medical for you. Turns out I broke my collarbone at some point in time, but was not told about it, no entries in my physical medical record, only a note on a computer, that I was able to find after I separated.

So, out of the Navy now. I filed my VA claim at the end of February. I uploaded copies of my applicable record pages. I got a phone call a week later to set up my exams. I had my appointment a few weeks later. I few weeks after that, 50 days total after filing, I was approved. They approved service connected disability. They wanted me on a CPAP, but I had to do a take home study.

So, here I am 62 days after filing the claim and I have an AHI of 63. While sleeping on my back I experienced 94 apneas/hour. Severe OSA. Now, I have to do an overnight study because it was so severe. I got really lucky and they had an opening later this week. I just cant hardly wait to get a CPAP and start sleeping.

[jnk...]

I do not know the answers to your primary questions. Sorry.

But you may want to let the technician performing the overnight study know that you have had UPPP. Sometimes, although not always, that can have an effect on what is looked for and what kind of machine is eventually prescribed.

Sorry for all that you went through. I wish you great success with PAP therapy!

[Okie bipap]

I have no experience with doing sleep studies with the VA. However, one of the men I used to work for gets his CPAP supplies from the VA. He was recently given a new machine which he described as an auto cpap. The description he gave me sounded like the ResMed AirSense 10 Auto. He is very happy with his machine. I'm retired military, but I do not use the VA. I use Medicare and Tricare For Life. This gives me more options than I would get through the VA, and it covers everything.

[Bobby269]

The last one that I received from the VA was a Resmed S9 Autoset.

[MattR1Rider]

But you may want to let the technician performing the overnight study know that you have had UPPP. Sometimes, although not always, that can have an effect on what is looked for and what kind of machine is eventually prescribed.
Sorry for all that you went through. I wish you great success with PAP therapy!

I will definitely let them know. What I went through wasn't all that bad, I suppose. I just know that I need to sleep better NOW. I am in a job that requires a lot of focus, and it gets harder when I nod off so easily.

I use Medicare and Tricare For Life. This gives me more options than I would get through the VA, and it covers everything.

I wish Tricare was an option for me. I was separated at 16 years, but my medical history is becoming grounds for requesting retirement.