Are all CPAP users disabled?

[kteague]

I did stop working at age 53 due to being unable to perform my existing duties or any others. But OSA was only one contributor to my condition. Had it been the only one, I think I could have returned to work after treatment and some recovery time. All our situations have so many variables, it's hard to make meaningful comparisons. I know several CPAP users of many years who are gainfully employed and living "normal" lives. As far the guy who claimed he is tied to his CPAP, I'd be interested in knowing more about his case. Maybe he's being over dramatic trying to bolster his case. Or maybe his line of work has unusual requirements. For instance, could he perform his duties as a firefighter on the front lines of all these forest fires? Even if he could perform in another setting, maybe he would be unable to perform as currently required of him. The disability determiners sort through all that. Or maybe he also has a neuromuscular disease that requires CPAP 24/7. There may be more to the story that we just don't know.

I worked about 40 years, so any benefits I earned during that time I feel no guilt or shame about receiving. I fought long and hard to stay productive, and have long since worked through any hangups I had over my generation's general disdain for anything resembling 'being on the dole".

[zoocrewphoto]

More Socialist Liberal Fodder, You are only disables if you are too lazy to work for a living, and not smart enough to use your XPAP machine correctly. In which we need to stop providing for your needs period. Jim

I get Agent Orange from V.A. but it's not 50% only 25%, but unlike XPAP it has no cure only death, and I worked hard until I retired. P.S., I'm not a Liberal, and I'm not on the dole!

I read a good post from a vet who defended his disability rating due to OSA. He said because he is a tied to the machine, he is disabled in the same way a person who is tied to an oxygen machine is disabled. Without the CPAP machine, he is doomed. I can't find it now though. I would say that the CPAP machine is life sustaining and without it, you could die. In fact, there was a case in NJ where a woman CPAP user had her power cut off for non-payment, and she died the next day or soon after.

Everybody needs sleep to live and function. That doesn't make somebody disabled. It might make it harder for people to do certain jobs, like work out on a fire line with no electricity available at night. But for the average person, NO, it is not a disability. You use your machine and can work most any job just like anybody else.

If there is a workable treatment, then it is not a disability. People with insulin diabetes need daily medication, but they still work. Even people in wheel chairs with very real disabilities often work. I think it is in insult to those who really do have disabling health issues to claim that sleep apnea deserves a paycheck. Most people have some type of health issues during their lifetimes. This one is pretty mild compared to what else is out there.

[RonS]

Many retired military try to maximize their VA disability. The higher your disability rating, the higher percentage of your military retired pay that is not subject to federal and state income taxes.

My VA partially disabled father (WWII) recently got an increase from 10% to 40% and that came with a substantial increase in monthly disability payment. 60% opens the door to a wide range of further benefits both state and federal.

The percentage is not fixed for life, changes in condition can change the percentage even though the change is likely due to age, I gather.

[greatunclebill]

I did stop working at age 53 due to being unable to perform my existing duties or any others. But OSA was only one contributor to my condition. Had it been the only one, I think I could have returned to work after treatment and some recovery time. All our situations have so many variables, it's hard to make meaningful comparisons. I know several CPAP users of many years who are gainfully employed and living "normal" lives. As far the guy who claimed he is tied to his CPAP, I'd be interested in knowing more about his case. Maybe he's being over dramatic trying to bolster his case. Or maybe his line of work has unusual requirements. For instance, could he perform his duties as a firefighter on the front lines of all these forest fires? Even if he could perform in another setting, maybe he would be unable to perform as currently required of him. The disability determiners sort through all that. Or maybe he also has a neuromuscular disease that requires CPAP 24/7. There may be more to the story that we just don't know.

I worked about 40 years, so any benefits I earned during that time I feel no guilt or shame about receiving. I fought long and hard to stay productive, and have long since worked through any hangups I had over my generation's general disdain for anything resembling 'being on the dole".

I'm with you. My story is similar. I retired USAF at age 41 and through a series of different evolving physical conditions I was unable to work past age 50. So I lived off military retirement until age 62 when SS kicked it to help. Now at age 69 I'm reading about sleep apnea and the VA which is definitely service connected. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea while on active duty. I worked as hard as anybody else for my benefits. Being on the government dole as a result of government service is no different than being on the corporate dole as a result of corporate service.

[D.H.]

First of all this is a VA rule, not rule applicable in any other context.

For some reason, studies have shown that Sleep Apnea is more prevalent among veterans than among the general public, at least in the US. Part of the reason might be that, as a group, veteran's are more disciplined, and therefore more likely to comply with a sleep study and with treatment. Thus others may go undiagnosed and/or untreated, and thus not be counted.

If you are a veteran, this will help you to access benefits. Don't let it bother you, and don't consider yourself "disabled" when it's not advantageous to do so.

[JayDee]

So is everyone here disabled or retired? That's not a bad thing, but I am just wondering.

Perhaps by the VA rating schedule, the VA may consider it a disability. But then again, as a vet who is in close contact with other vets who all deal with the VA regularly, they use the word "disability" pretty darn freely.

As for "retired"... like they say, I'll probably have to work til' lunch on the day of my funeral.

-JD

[CreativeChris]

I am 43 and work about 55-60 hours a week. Unfortunately a lot of my expenses for my treatment came out of pocket because of my obscenely high deductible even though I pay into my BCBS...

[Okie bipap]

Many retired military try to maximize their VA disability. The higher your disability rating, the higher percentage of your military retired pay that is not subject to federal and state income taxes.

the way it is now, you get both a va disability check and a years of service retirement check along with social security retirement. you're describing the old way.

True, but the check I get from the VA is non taxable while the check for the retirement is taxable. I am retired military with partial disability for other than OSA. Since it is only 10% disability, the money from the VA is taken out of my regular military retirement. Once I retired, I had good medical insurance through my employment and I chose not to use the VA medical system even though I could. I was employed in aerospace from one day after my retirement until I finally retired at the age of 71.

[greatunclebill]

Many retired military try to maximize their VA disability. The higher your disability rating, the higher percentage of your military retired pay that is not subject to federal and state income taxes.

the way it is now, you get both a va disability check and a years of service retirement check along with social security retirement. you're describing the old way.

True, but the check I get from the VA is non taxable while the check for the retirement is taxable. I am retired military with partial disability for other than OSA. Since it is only 10% disability, the money from the VA is taken out of my regular military retirement. Once I retired, I had good medical insurance through my employment and I chose not to use the VA medical system even though I could.

got it.

[MurrayNevada]

From Agile Medical LLC:

Three things must be shown for a veteran to be eligible for disability compensation benefits from VA.
1) The veteran must have a current disability.
2) The veteran must have been injured or developed a disease in service, or have had a pre-existing condition which was made worse by service.
3) There must be a nexus between the in-service event or injury and the current disability. This usually means that a veteran needs to provide medical evidence that his or her current disability was caused or made worse by something that occurred during military service.

I think #3 would be very hard to establish.

And 50% ??? Below shows service connected disability ratings for what I think a bit more serious than treatable OSA:
Code 5163: If the leg has been amputated but the stump is bad and a second amputation at thigh level is recommended, then it is rated 60%.
Code 5164: If the amputation is at a place around the knee where the knee cannot be used at all, then it is rated 60%.
Code 5165: If the amputation is below the knee, and the knee can still move, then it is rated 40%.

http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.c ... ndleg.html

[greatunclebill]

From Agile Medical LLC:

Three things must be shown for a veteran to be eligible for disability compensation benefits from VA.
1) The veteran must have a current disability.
2) The veteran must have been injured or developed a disease in service, or have had a pre-existing condition which was made worse by service.
3) There must be a nexus between the in-service event or injury and the current disability. This usually means that a veteran needs to provide medical evidence that his or her current disability was caused or made worse by something that occurred during military service.

I think #3 would be very hard to establish.

And 50% ??? Below shows service connected disability ratings for what I think a bit more serious than treatable OSA:
Code 5163: If the leg has been amputated but the stump is bad and a second amputation at thigh level is recommended, then it is rated 60%.
Code 5164: If the amputation is at a place around the knee where the knee cannot be used at all, then it is rated 60%.
Code 5165: If the amputation is below the knee, and the knee can still move, then it is rated 40%.

http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.c ... ndleg.html

From your own reference:
Sleep Apnea
Code 6847: Any sleep apnea syndrome is rated under this code. Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs while asleep. There is either a pause when breathing that can last up to a few minutes or there is very shallow, low breathing. Central sleep apnea is caused by a decrease in the “action” of breathing—the body doesn’t try as hard to breathe properly. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a block in the airways, like a narrowing of the airway passages or an excess of mucus. This causes severe snoring. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of both central and obstructive.

Sleep apnea can cause a significant impairment of the heart and respiratory system by limiting the amount of air that is taken in during the hours of sleep.

If the condition continues over a long period of time and causes respiratory failure with right heart ventricle failure or with too much carbon dioxide in the blood stream, or if it requires a tracheotomy, it is rated 100%.

If it requires the use of breathing machines like a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep, it is rated 50%.

If it causes serious sleepiness during the daytime or not feeling rested after sleeping, it is rated 30%.

If it is diagnosed by a sleep test, but it doesn’t cause any significant symptoms, it is rated 0%.
...
as far as your 3 little things deal, show a quote from the va, not what some llc company thinks.

[chunkyfrog]

While not every user of cpap is disabled, too many have to get there before they will use cpap.
Sad.

[MurrayNevada]

From Agile Medical LLC:

Three things must be shown for a veteran to be eligible for disability compensation benefits from VA.
1) The veteran must have a current disability.
2) The veteran must have been injured or developed a disease in service, or have had a pre-existing condition which was made worse by service.
3) There must be a nexus between the in-service event or injury and the current disability. This usually means that a veteran needs to provide medical evidence that his or her current disability was caused or made worse by something that occurred during military service.

I think #3 would be very hard to establish.

And 50% ??? Below shows service connected disability ratings for what I think a bit more serious than treatable OSA:
Code 5163: If the leg has been amputated but the stump is bad and a second amputation at thigh level is recommended, then it is rated 60%.
Code 5164: If the amputation is at a place around the knee where the knee cannot be used at all, then it is rated 60%.
Code 5165: If the amputation is below the knee, and the knee can still move, then it is rated 40%.

http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.c ... ndleg.html

From your own reference:
Sleep Apnea
Code 6847: Any sleep apnea syndrome is rated under this code. Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs while asleep. There is either a pause when breathing that can last up to a few minutes or there is very shallow, low breathing. Central sleep apnea is caused by a decrease in the “action” of breathing—the body doesn’t try as hard to breathe properly. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a block in the airways, like a narrowing of the airway passages or an excess of mucus. This causes severe snoring. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of both central and obstructive.

Sleep apnea can cause a significant impairment of the heart and respiratory system by limiting the amount of air that is taken in during the hours of sleep.

If the condition continues over a long period of time and causes respiratory failure with right heart ventricle failure or with too much carbon dioxide in the blood stream, or if it requires a tracheotomy, it is rated 100%.

If it requires the use of breathing machines like a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep, it is rated 50%.

If it causes serious sleepiness during the daytime or not feeling rested after sleeping, it is rated 30%.

If it is diagnosed by a sleep test, but it doesn’t cause any significant symptoms, it is rated 0%.
...
as far as your 3 little things deal, show a quote from the va, not what some llc company thinks.

I was not denying what exists in the references. I was looking at the fairness and comparing disabilities. I have friends with OSA and friends who have lost limbs in combat. 50% for OSA vs 40% for loss of a leg below the knee? Just because it is does not make it right. And I said 3 things, NOT 3 little things. And what do you disagree with in those 3 things? If you wish to compare treatable OSA to vets dismembered in combat that is your right.

[greatunclebill]

The way percentages are assigned is way above our pay grades.


One day, all the parts of the body were talking about who was most important.

THE BRAIN SAID – “Since I control everything and do all the thinking, I am the most important therefore I should be boss.”

THE FEET SAID – “Since I carry him everywhere he wants to go and get him in position to do what the brain wants, I am the most important.”

THE EYES SAID – “Since I must look out for all of you and tell you where the danger lurks, I an the most important body part.”

THE HANDS SAID – “Since I do all the work and earn all the money to keep the rest of you going, I am the most important.”

Of course, everyone got into the arguments and the heart, lungs, and ears all say the same thing.

Finally, the axxhole spoke up and pointed that he was the most important even though the others didn’t know it. All the other laughed and laughed to think of an axxhole being boss.

The axxhole decided to prove the point and refused to function. Blocked up tight.

Soon the brain was feverish, the eyes crossed and ached, the feet were too weak to walk, the hands hung limply at the sides, and the heart and lungs struggled to keep going.

All pleaded with the axxhole to relent and agreed that the axxhole was the most important and so it happened.

[Goofproof]

The way percentages are assigned is way above our pay grades.


One day, all the parts of the body were talking about who was most important.

THE BRAIN SAID – “Since I control everything and do all the thinking, I am the most important therefore I should be boss.”

THE FEET SAID – “Since I carry him everywhere he wants to go and get him in position to do what the brain wants, I am the most important.”

THE EYES SAID – “Since I must look out for all of you and tell you where the danger lurks, I an the most important body part.”

THE HANDS SAID – “Since I do all the work and earn all the money to keep the rest of you going, I am the most important.”

Of course, everyone got into the arguments and the heart, lungs, and ears all say the same thing.

Finally, the axxhole spoke up and pointed that he was the most important even though the others didn’t know it. All the other laughed and laughed to think of an axxhole being boss.

The axxhole decided to prove the point and refused to function. Blocked up tight.

Soon the brain was feverish, the eyes crossed and ached, the feet were too weak to walk, the hands hung limply at the sides, and the heart and lungs struggled to keep going.

All pleaded with the axxhole to relent and agreed that the axxhole was the most important and so it happened.

I suppose that why so many were made! Jim

P.S., Correct all parts are needed to function the best, but not everyone makes it to the end with all of them working, we adapt and overcome or in the least live with our limitations. But having to use XPAP to treat Sleep Apnea is like wearing Hearing Aids or Glasses, Blaming the Military for you getting older and life wearing you out makes little sense to me. The Military isn't at fault for aging or poor genes it's the luck of the draw, now if you had a good reason like Prisoner of War for held years and tortured, yes that could ruin your health, or make you a Senator.

To me Sleep Apnea treated is a Paper cut, I've had both, treat one healed up the other. I hope that soldier with the 40% grows his lower leg back he paid a much higher price than Sleep Apnea or Paper Cuts!

The Land of $ 600 Toilet Seats and $ 300 Claw Hammers.