Va Disability Hypertension Secondary To Sleep Apnea

Hypertension Secondary to Sleep Apnea.

Va disability hypertension secondary to sleep apnea. VA rates hypertension the same whether service connection is established directly presumptively or secondarily due to sleep apnea. One study shows that Sleep apnea increases an individuals risk of heart failure by 140. Another possible way to obtain service connection for hypertension is secondary to another condition. They may not have evidence of an in-service diagnosis or in-service symptoms that a doctor says were probably sleep apnea.

Veterans in this post I list more than 50 possible sleep apnea secondary conditions so veterans can win service-connect and rate your sleep apnea VA claim in less time. 60 diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more. The increase in hypertension comes from the drop in blood oxygen levels that occur due to sleep apnea. Research shows that 83 of type 2 diabetes patients suffer from sleep apnea.

The rating criteria are as follows. Sometimes veterans cannot show that they had sleep apnea in service. Sleep apnea causes your blood oxygen levels to drop increasing your blood pressure causing hypertension. Some of the most common secondary service-connected disabilities from sleep apnea are high blood pressure heart disease type 2 diabetes weight gain asthma and even acid reflux disease.

Moreover hypertension can both cause sleep apnea and worsen it. That stress makes hormones which increase blood pressure levels. But rapidly accumulating data suggests sleep apnea is also associated with alterations in glucose metabolism increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes. Having obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of developing hypertension.

Many common service connected conditions that can cause hypertension include diabetes sleep apnea and PTSD. This is particularly true if the condition goes untreated with a CPAP machine. Sleep apnea can be caused by long-term exposure to chemicals and toxins that veterans have been exposed to through their military service. Again the key is to obtain a medical opinion or nexus letter.

If you already have Type 2 Diabetes that is service-connected through the VA you can file a claim for sleep apnea as secondary to diabetes. Specifically VA uses 38 CFR 4104 Schedule of Ratings Cardiovascular System Diagnostic Code 7101. Secondary conditions are disabilities that arise or are exacerbated by a current service connected condition. Whether secondary service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea was warranted based on a theory that the veterans obesity was aggravated by service-connected conditions we vacate and remand for further proceedings.

Sleep Apnea VA Disability on a Secondary Basis. If you are able to service-connect your sleep apnea you may also receive hypertension VA disability benefits. Secondary service connection is when a service-connected condition or injury causes a new condition or aggravates a non-service connected disability. Several cross-sectional studies have consistently found an association between increased body weight and the risk of developing Sleep Apnea.

The amount of medical literature linking diabetes and OSA is growing along with awareness of this problem. Sleep apnea can aggravate hypertension. Among the risk factors for OSA Obesity is perhaps the most important and the most commonly accepted connection to Sleep Apnea disorders. You may need a doctors help to link your sleep apnea to another of your service connected disabilities.

Many veterans attempt to service-connect sleep apnea as a primary disability condition and cant seem to figure our why the VA keeps denying your sleep apnea claim. Sleep apnea can both cause hypertension and aggravate your pre-existing hypertension. Sleep Apnea with Obesity as an Interim Link. Most veterans link PTSD and sleep apnea in that PTSD can lead to weight gain and sleep apnea is associated with obesity.