Hypersomnia secondary? (Any vets out there?)

So I was combing through my old medical records to see if I have enough evidence for a VA Sleep Apnea claim.

- From what I gather in my military records I have several entries where I told doctors I was taking Unisom (my visit was for a adverse reaction to Unisom)

- Later on in 2014 (Using VA Blue Button records) I got a at-home (said "abnormal") and in-lab study which showed a AHI of 1.5 and low Ox Saturation of 88%... Doctors notes said no evidence of sleep apnea but that there was evidence of Hypersomnia.

- I had submitted a lay statement from my parents in 2014 at the time I think (the reason I said "I think" is because its possible I never submitted the lay statement due to the no apnea conclusion)

- Later on in 2019 I received a positive diagnosis for sleep apea

Anyone out there know of any Vets that managed to use the above evidence and had it count as "in-service connected" from the VA?

Sleep Apnea isn't a disability, it can be treated if you want it to not run your life. Yes I''m a Vet with Treated Sleep Apnea (Not Vet Treated for it). Jim

I am retired military, and have tried to steer clear of the VA medical system. I had good medical insurance when I worked for 30 years after retiring from the military, then started using Medicare and Tricare for Life. I know the VA treats sleep apnea, but I don't think they classify it as a disability. I am currently trying to increase my disability rating, but it doesn't look very promising. I was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis when I retired, but all they want to talk about is my right knee. I have severe arthritis in the spine, have had the left knee and hip replaced because of arthritis, but all they want to talk about is the right knee which hurts, but ha not been replaced, yet. Waiting for recently discovered heart problems to clear up before having it replaced.

Goofproof wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 23, 2019 10:51 am

Sleep Apnea isn't a disability, it can be treated if you want it to not run your life. Yes I''m a Vet with Treated Sleep Apnea (Not Vet Treated for it). Jim

Perhaps but that's not how the VA sees it.

Diotima wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 23, 2019 3:25 pm

Goofproof wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 23, 2019 10:51 am

Sleep Apnea isn't a disability, it can be treated if you want it to not run your life. Yes I''m a Vet with Treated Sleep Apnea (Not Vet Treated for it). Jim

Perhaps but that's not how the VA sees it.

If you know that...why are you asking?

Sleep Apnea need to be treated, but if you don't do it the problem is above you nose, XPAP can't help that! Jim

I have worked with Vets going through the disability process. Like the Social Security disability process, it takes a good while and lots of records and investigation to prove a service related connection. Yours may be and may not be - you'd have to go through the investigation to determine.

Go for it.
The worst that can happen is they refuse.
Then treatment is on you.
It has to be done--so be it.

bjhunt01 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 23, 2019 7:03 pm

I have worked with Vets going through the disability process. Like the Social Security disability process, it takes a good while and lots of records and investigation to prove a service related connection. Yours may be and may not be - you'd have to go through the investigation to determine.

Yeah I've been going through my records there are mentions in military of taking Unisom which would indicate difficulty sleeping, etc... after my in lab study in 2014 the sleep tech annotated that I have "Hypersomnia" because I fell immediately asleep on lights out... indicates sleep deprivation... although I disagree with that diagnosis. Then in 2019 there was the Sleep Apnea diagnosis. I feel the evidence is thin at best so I have not bothered at this moment going through the hoops necessary. So imo there's a lot of anecdotal things also I had a lay statement from my parents. All of this could loop into a positive claim for Sleep Apnea I suppose but I'm just trying to see a doctors perspective.