Hi Newbie here!

Just wanted to introduce myself to everyone and say hi. I’m an Army Veteran and I’ve been “issued” a Philips Dreamstaion2. I feel like going back to the Philips Resperonics nasal/face mask just cause the new one fits awkwardly. I’ve not been diagnosed SA but I’m pretty sure I do because my wife tells me that I stop breathing for long periods and gets so scared that she sometimes has to shake me to get me breathing again. That and the LOUD snoring got me to finally go in to the VA and get a machine. I’ve also been told that I could receive VA disability with this diagnosis, which would really help us financially. Problem is my AHI used to be very high but I notice now with this machine it’s very low which is good for my health but bad for my disability claim. Anyone have experience in this situation? Thanks for your time everyone!

Should nor affect your claim. The lower AHI is with you being treated with the CPAP. Without the machine you are back to where you were before. CPAP treats...it does not cure. It's like wearing glasses. As long as you wear them you see well. Without them vision is not so good.

LSAT wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 05, 2022 11:17 am

Should nor affect your claim. The lower AHI is with you being treated with the CPAP. Without the machine you are back to where you were before. CPAP treats...it does not cure. It's like wearing glasses. As long as you wear them you see well. Without them vision is not so good.

Thanks, that makes sense but I feel like when they read the SD card they will say “oh you don’t have SA” I’m just prepared to hear VA debunk the claim when I apply. I don’t really understand how a higher AHI will show if the machine is doing its job.‍♂️

They won't look at the treated AHI and say "he doesn't have cpap." They will look at your untreated high AHI (before CPAP) and compare to your lower treated AHI (after CPAP) and say the machine is doing its job.

I may have misled on my introductory post. I only saw that high AHI on the current machine when I first started using it. I never had an initial AHI test done at the Hospital, was just given the machine and told to start using it. How can I look at my AHI history? Can I use my desktop?

I'm wondering whether a doctor at the VA had to have diagnosed you with sleep apnea before the VA issued the machine to you. You might check whether there's a diagnosis in your records.

If there isn't, and if you need the diagnosis to get disability benefits, then could the VA just give you a sleep test?

Finally, if you had an SD card in your machine back when you saw the high AHI numbers, the Oscar software should be able to produce charts and graphs with that information. For Oscar, you need a laptop and a way to read the SD card. (I use a cheapo plug-in reader.)

@ GIJames - I agree that it is very unlikely that the VA would have given you a machine unless ordered by a VA doc. There is probably a sleep study record in your file somewhere. Ask for a copy for your personal medical files. If they push back, politely demand it based on the fact that HIPPA law says the records are YOURS. Then get an SD card (low capacity is fine) and insert in your machine. Machine will then begin recording detailed data every night. You can view it via the free OSCAR software. If there is no SD slot in your laptop/desktop, get an SD card reader that plugs into a USB port. Inexpensive.

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 06, 2022 10:57 am

I'm wondering whether a doctor at the VA had to have diagnosed you with sleep apnea before the VA issued the machine to you. You might check whether there's a diagnosis in your records.

If there isn't, and if you need the diagnosis to get disability benefits, then could the VA just give you a sleep test?

Finally, if you had an SD card in your machine back when you saw the high AHI numbers, the Oscar software should be able to produce charts and graphs with that information. For Oscar, you need a laptop and a way to read the SD card. (I use a cheapo plug-in reader.)

I’ll look in my records but don’t remember being diagnosed. VA will provide treatment based on complaints that patients make sometimes, like in this case, they just gave the machine to me. I’m sure if I requested, they would order a sleep test. I’ll look into the OSCAR route. Thanks!

clownbell wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:32 pm

@ GIJames - I agree that it is very unlikely that the VA would have given you a machine unless ordered by a VA doc. There is probably a sleep study record in your file somewhere. Ask for a copy for your personal medical files. If they push back, politely demand it based on the fact that HIPPA law says the records are YOURS. Then get an SD card (low capacity is fine) and insert in your machine. Machine will then begin recording detailed data every night. You can view it via the free OSCAR software. If there is no SD slot in your laptop/desktop, get an SD card reader that plugs into a USB port. Inexpensive.

Great info, I’ll look into my history and try the OSCar software