Va Disability Sleep Apnea Secondary To Ptsd

Whats more it appears that sleep apnea can increase ones susceptibility to developing post-traumatic stress disorder.

Va disability sleep apnea secondary to ptsd. For example sleep deprivation insomnia hyperarousal and daytime sleepiness all affect both PTSD and sleep apnea. There is a perfectly logical explanation to say that your current service-connected PTSD aggravates Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA specifically the side effects of medication that contributed to weight gain or Obesity which aggravated your OSA. Scientists at the Madigan Army Medical Center have recently studied the incidence of sleep apnea in military personnel. From a VA disability standpoint this means a Veteran could develop sleep apnea secondary to PTSD and would therefore be entitled to compensation.

Research shows that veterans with PTSD have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea for which they can claim secondary service connection. 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. The VA will reward sleep apnea secondary service-connection to PTSD now but it is not a sure thing. One of the most common sleep disorders for Veterans is obstructive sleep apnea.

What is Sleep Apnea. Learn about VA claims for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD during todays CCK LIVE in Under 5. Thus as a veterans PTSD severity increases both the likelihood that the veteran will develop sleep apnea and or the severity of his or her sleep apnea also increases. Secondary Service Connection and Aggravated Weight Gain or Obesity.

A veteran can also establish service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis. 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. A veterans final VA disability rating for Sleep Apnea depends upon the frequency severity and duration of symptoms meaning the more severe your symptoms the higher the VA rating for Sleep Apnea. PTSD can lead to sleep apnea.

For example sleep deprivation fragmented sleep chronic stress and hyperarousal all effect both PTSD and sleep apnea. The veterans sleep apnea is more likely than not secondary to his service-connected MDDPTSD. PTSD and sleep apnea have similar stressors in regards to sleep Many factors that aggravate PTSD have been shown to aggravate sleep apnea as well such as sleep deprivation chronic stress and hyperarousal. If youre wondering if youre sleep apnea may be secondary to your service-connected PTSD feel free to reach out to Todd Finnerty PsyD.

For a records review and possible nexus letter. In this case there must be a medical nexus to link the sleep apnea to their already service-connected disability. This means that a veteran has an already service-connected disability that caused the veteran to have sleep apnea. In 2020 Sleep Apnea VA ratings range from 0 to 100 with breaks at 30 and 50.

If a veteran has both of these conditions they may be entitled to VA disability benefits.