Have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea with a sleep study.To show your disability began during service, you will need to: This is the most common route of veterans’ claims for sleep apnea. Without an in-service diagnosis, now you must prove that you had symptoms during your time in service. How do you connect your claim to your military service? b) To prove the onset of sleep apnea occurred while you were in service, you need to bridge the gap from “then” to “now.” So what do you do if you have sleep apnea but did not get an in-service diagnosis, or never reported it? Perhaps now, after 20 years have passed, you wish to file a disability claim for sleep apnea with VA. If you do have an in-service diagnosis of sleep apnea, and now (at the time of your claim) you are disabled, you are likely well on your way to winning your claim. Still others do not report their problems as to avoid a diagnosis that might adversely affect their military career. Many veterans are unaware they suffer from sleep apnea all they know is, due to the rigors and demands of military service, they can’t sleep, they are exhausted, and are unable to stay awake or function at 100% during the day. In a war zone, sleep disorders are the last thing on a soldier’s mind a veteran’s focus is on enemy fire and survival, not sleep studies. This is the quickest path to gaining service connection. In other words, during active service you experienced symptoms that a doctor can say are evidence of sleep apnea.Ī) If you were diagnosed with sleep apnea during military service: You must prove the onset of sleep apnea occurred while you were in service.You were diagnosed with sleep apnea during your military service –or–.1) Direct Service Connection for Sleep Apneaįor direct service connection you must show either of the following: The first way to service connect your disability is by direct service connection. This is what will compel VA to acknowledge service connection and rate your disability for sleep apnea fairly with the benefits you deserve. You must produce the facts that will connect the dots for the VA that your disability is related to neurological or physical damage suffered during service. What we emphasize is this: your sleep apnea claim must contain solid, relevant evidence that is developed and portrayed clearly and effectively to VA. A nexus (connection) between your current diagnosis and the in-service eventĪnd just as for any other VA claim, you must connect the sleep apnea to your military service by one of two paths:.The sleep apnea started during or worsened as a result of, active duty service.A diagnosis of sleep apnea involving a sleep study.You must have or prove the following three things to win it: We want you to know that, with the right action and evidence, you can prevail.įirst, remember that your claim for sleep apnea syndrome is just like any other VA disability claim. Service connection can be tough to prove-especially when it’s been years since active duty. Get Help with Your VA Sleep Apnea Claim Today.Secondary Service Connection for Sleep Apnea.Direct Service Connection for Sleep Apnea.
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