Is sleep apnea a presumptive condition for Gulf War veterans?

Currently, sleep apnea is not a presumptive condition, so Veterans must file a claim on an individual basis if they are seeking disability compensation and/or increased health care eligibility. VA encourages Veterans who are concerned about possible sleep apnea to discuss it with their primary care provider.

Is sleep apnea service connected for Gulf War veterans?

Sleep apnea is not considered a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to Agent Orange or ionized radiation, or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. However, veterans of the Persian Gulf War may be entitled to presumptive service connection for their sleep apnea.

Is sleep apnea presumptive VA disability?

The VA recognizes sleep apnea as a disabling condition, subject to sleep study confirmation or receipt of medical evidence disclosing a diagnosis from a competent private medical provider or specialist for purposes of rating for compensation (sleep apnea is not a presumptive condition, which means the responsibility ...

What are presumptive conditions for Gulf War veterans?

And you have one of these presumptive diseases:

Functional gastrointestinal disorders. Chronic fatigue syndrome. Fibromyalgia. Other undiagnosed illnesses, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, and headaches.

How do you prove your sleep apnea is service connected?

b) To prove the onset of sleep apnea occurred while you were in service, you need to bridge the gap from “then” to “now.” Without an in-service diagnosis, now you must prove that you had symptoms during your time in service. This is the most common route of veterans' claims for sleep apnea.

Gulf War Syndrome

Can sleep apnea be caused by military service?

A veteran can also establish service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis. This means that a veteran has an already service-connected disability that caused the veteran to have sleep apnea. In this case, there must be a medical nexus to link the sleep apnea to their already service-connected disability.

Will sleep apnea get you discharged military?

If you need a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to sleep, you may be considered 50 percent disabled. However, new rules promulgated by the VA require that you show that your breathing assistive device is medically necessary. This means that you need a prescription from your doctor.

Can the VA deny a presumptive disability?

Any disabilities must have a clear in-service connection, or else the VA will deny the claim. However, there is an exception: the VA's presumptive conditions list. If you suffer from a condition on this list, you don't have to prove an in-service link, and it doesn't have to appear on your service medical records.

What are presumptive diseases recognized by the VA?

What is the average VA rating for Gulf War Syndrome?

All service-connected disabilities receive a rating, which are then combined into the veteran's combined rating. A combined rating ranges between 0 and 100 percent, in increments of 10 percent. However, to be eligible for benefits for “Gulf War Syndrome,” you must receive a 10 percent disability rating or higher.

When did the VA recognize sleep apnea as a disability?

In 1996, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognized sleep apnea as a disability. This condition was included in the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities—guidelines for determining the eligibility of veterans' claims.

What is VA disability compensation rating for sleep apnea with CPAP?

How Does VA Rate Sleep Apnea Now? Right now, service-connected sleep apnea is assigned a 50 percent rating if you are prescribed a CPAP machine. If you have a CPAP and you also have chronic respiratory failure or similar conditions, you can get a 100 percent rating.

Can you get a VA rating for insomnia and sleep apnea?

VA offers service-connected compensation for multiple sleep disturbances, including sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy. Importantly, service connection for sleep disorders can be awarded on a direct, secondary, or presumptive basis.

What is the highest VA disability rating for sleep apnea?

Sleep Apnea VA Ratings. Sleep apnea is rated under 38 CFR § 4.97, diagnostic code 6847 – Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed). Veterans are assigned a 0, 30, 50, or 100 percent sleep apnea VA rating based on the severity of their condition.

Do I need a nexus letter for presumptive conditions?

Establishing Presumptive Service Connection

If a current disease or condition is considered presumptive service-connected, there is no need to establish a nexus or link between that disease or condition and active duty service. It is automatically considered to be caused by service.

What are the easiest things to claim for VA disability?

What is non presumptive disability?

Non-presumptive diseases require veterans to prove that their health condition was caused or aggrevated by their service.

Is hypertension presumptive to Gulf War?

Certain chronic diseases, including cardiovascular-renal disease (including hypertension), are presumed to have been incurred in service if manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from service. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1112, 1113; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307, 3.309(a).

Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome a Gulf War presumptive?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Veterans

Among veterans, CFS is most commonly diagnosed in those who served during the Gulf War era. Because of the frequency with which Gulf War Veterans receive a CFS diagnosis, the VA has made CFS a presumptive condition for service connection.

How long does it take the VA to process a presumptive claim?

The VA estimates that it takes them 94 days to review a VA disability application. However, many cases take much longer than that. Here are some factors that can shorten or extend the time it takes to reach a decision: Type of claim filed.

Can you get a waiver for sleep apnea?

OSA is a disqualifying medical condition that requires a waiver to continue flying. To be considered for a waiver, a crewmember must be successfully treated with any of the above methods and have a repeat sleep study showing an AHI of 5 or less.

How does the VA rate sleep apnea secondary to PTSD?

Thus, according to the study, individuals with PTSD are 2.7 times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than those without PTSD. This means Veterans are at a higher risk of having sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

Is sleep apnea considered a disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) no longer has a disability listing for sleep apnea, but it does have listings for breathing disorders, heart problems, and mental deficits. If you meet the criteria of one of the listings due to your sleep apnea, you would automatically qualify for disability benefits.

What conditions are secondary to sleep apnea?

How do I prove VA insomnia?

Getting VA Disability for Insomnia

For primary insomnia, the Veteran must have: A current medical diagnosis of insomnia. An in-service event or occurrence that caused the disability. A nexus or medical opinion linking insomnia to the in-service event.