Va Compensation For Sleep Apnea Secondary To Ptsd

The medical literature strongly supports a correlation between sleep apnea and MDD PTSD.

Va compensation for sleep apnea secondary to ptsd. Your VA sleep apnea rating will determine how much you receive a month in VA disability compensation. Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects about 22 million people nationwide. Meaning the more severe a veterans PTSD is the more severe their sleep apnea will be. For example sleep deprivation insomnia hyperarousal and daytime sleepiness all affect both PTSD and sleep apnea.

Studies are linking PTSD and sleep apnea. Posted on June 10 2019. VA Disability Ratings for Sleep Disturbances November 8 2018 VA offers service-connected compensation for multiple sleep disturbances including sleep apnea insomnia and narcolepsy. Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD.

This guide will outline the basics of sleep apnea how the VA disability rating works for this condition and how qualifying veterans can prove service connection. Studies show that people with post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. The problem with this secondary linkage approach between OSA and PTSD is that the medical research is questionable at best and thus I expect more VA denials than approvals. If a veteran has both of these conditions they may be entitled to VA disability benefits.

Many factors that aggravate PTSD have been shown to aggravate sleep apnea as well such as sleep deprivation chronic stress and hyperarousal. PTSD is extremely relevant to veterans because of the experiences they have faced in war. While sleep apnea cannot be the cause of post-traumatic stress disorder it seems to lower a persons mental defenses making it more likely for the disorder to develop after experiencing a stressful incident such as a firefight or improvised explosive device IED detonation. Finally we ask for service connection for tinnitus as Veteran was exposed to high decibel noise having served as a tank crewman and in combat.

Additionally there is a direct correlation regarding the severity of the two conditions. Whats more it appears that sleep apnea can increase ones susceptibility to developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Most veterans link PTSD and sleep apnea in that PTSD can lead to weight gain and sleep apnea is associated with obesity. Veterans with PTSD and sleep apnea may be eligible for VA Benefits.

If you have both PTSD and sleep apnea you may be entitled to disability benefits for your sleep apnea. I am also trained in Behavioral Sleep Medicine and am a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. The recommended first-line treatment approach in the VADoD Clinical Practice Guideline CPG for PTSD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia CBT-I when available 21 which is agreeable to the American College of Physicians first-line recommended treatment approach for sleep problems 22 and the VADoD Clinical Practice Guideline CPG for Chronic Insomnia Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea recommendation for treating chronic insomnia 23. Secondary Service Connection for Sleep Apnea In order to receive VA disability benefits veterans conditions must be service-connected.

Many veterans attempt to connect Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD is a mental health condition initiated by coming into contact with or seeing a distressing event. The VA will reward sleep apnea secondary service-connection to PTSD now but it is not a sure thing. Research shows that 83 of type 2 diabetes patients suffer from sleep apnea.

Importantly service connection for sleep disorders can be awarded on a direct secondary or presumptive basis. We also ask for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea secondary to PTSD. Some examples of conditions secondary to PTSD are sleep apnea gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD hypertension migraines and erectile dysfunction. Your VA sleep apnea rating is based upon the severity of your condition.

PTSD and sleep apnea have similar stressors in regards to sleep. Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD September 1 2020 September 1 2020 I am a psychologist with extensive training related to posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric conditions. Veterans with service-connected sleep apnea will receive a rating of 0 30 50 or 100. You can receive additional VA disability compensation for each of these conditions if you show they are related to your service-connected PTSD.