Va Disability Sleep Apnea Due To Ptsd

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.

Va disability sleep apnea due to ptsd. PTSD does NOT cause Sleep Apnea however PTSD and side effects of medications taken to manage PTSD symptoms can aggravate obesity weight gain leading to the development of Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA in Veterans hence Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD can be granted. Veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome or other Gulf War-related conditions may also suffer from sleep apnea as a result. For example sleep deprivation insomnia hyperarousal and daytime sleepiness all affect both PTSD and sleep apnea. I did a quick decision search for a phrase used in some of the prominent articles related to an arousal-based mechanism and it returned a large number of results where VBA found a favorable connection of sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

These Veterans can also experience serious head injuries due to a fall such as a traumatic brain injury TBI. The secondary service connection such as linking PTSD to sleep apnea helps add value to the claim that you deserve VA disability benefits. Example if a veteran is service connected for PTSD and later develop sleep apnea the veteran may be able to establish secondary service connection for their sleep apnea as either due to their psst. Sleep Disorders Any Veteran who worked on a Navy ship knows how difficult it can be to get a good nights sleep.

If a veteran has both of these conditions they may be entitled to VA disability benefits. The study found that about 69 of veterans with PTSD are at a high risk for sleep apnea which is a sleep disorder causing a person to repeatedly stop and start breathing. If you have questions about your right to pursue a disability claim due to a sleep disorder an experienced attorney may have the answers. For example PTSD is said to aggravate sleep disorders or introduce them.

These types of sleep disturbances may be secondary to other service-connected conditions like PTSD. Keep in mind that insomnia isnt the only sleep disorder that can qualify you for VA benefits. VA Rating Scale for Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea and Secondary Service Connection. This correlation between the two becomes even stronger when the study determined that an increase in the severity of PTSD leads to an increase in the probability of sleep apnea.

A medical diagnosis of sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study in VA medical records or private records sleep study in past 12 months Evidence of a service-connected primary disability such as PTSD depression anxiety sinusitis rhinitis weight gain AND. For example PTSD is known to cause nightmares and insomnia however these would both be symptoms included in the rating criteria for PTSD. The VA also offers benefits for sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea and hypersomnolence which can include narcolepsy and insufficient sleep syndrome. Completing the Disability Claim.

There are several conditions linked to sleep apnea in the military such as asthma hypertension type 2 diabetes and mental health conditions. Many veterans with Sleep Apnea especially those who were diagnosed long after leaving the military might still be eligible if medical evidence shows your Sleep Apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by another service-connected disability such as musculoskeletal conditions andor mental health conditions. Discuss Veterans Sleep Disorder Claims with an Attorney. This is due in part to the fact that may factors that can aggravate PTSD can also aggravate sleep apnea.