jencat824 wrote:First - I like the avatar!
Seriously, it's an avatar. Who cares.
jencat824 wrote:
Second - how is sleep apnea 'service related'??? This statement makes no sense to me. I think everyone here would agree that our OSA was NOT caused by our employment.
Jen
There DoD instruction that states that DoD takes responsibility for all medical conditions after the membe has been in 8 years. So, evn if a member had a birth defect that was found 9 years on active duty. Guess what. It's considered service connected and the government is on the hook to pay for it forever.
Also, as stated earlier. Military members are exposed to things that you are not. These we are exposed to do a lot of things to our bodies. Google "Military Burn Pit Illnesses" just for a small example.
Specifically, and personally for sleep apnea, I am not overweight. In fact, I am underweight right now at 135lbs after losing 40lbs recently due to medical problems you would likely not consider disabilities. But, I suffered a TBI 10 months ago and one of the effects that I have from it is sleep apnea.
Here is the real kicker. I'm active duty. I was also just awarded SSDI. You really want something that will blow your mind.... Toss that one around for a while. Social Security has a program called Wounded Warrior which not only allows active duty personnel to collect their SSDI benefit while on active duty, but it also expedites it so it doesn't take years to get.