Jim,
I was referred to your site and have found it to be very useful. I was a Marine Reservist deployed to Iraq in 2003. I was a TOW (0352) gunner and am now trying to file a claim for tinnitus and hearing loss because of the Mark 19 rounds, tow missiles and other explosive noises. I was reading your site and never connected the dots to sleep apnea. When I came back from Iraq I could not sleep, my doctor put me on lunesta and eventually amiben. I have been on ambient for over 6 years and can’t sleep without it. My breathing got so bad, which might be the reason I don’t sleep, that last year I went and had a sleep study conducted where they said I have sleep apnea. I am beginning the process of filing this documentation with the VA but do you have any idea what I would need to connect the sleeping issue with service. I was awarded a combat action ribbon if that helps justify combat experience to the VA let them know I was exposed to the noises and other events.
Any idea on how to proceed from here?
Reply:
If you take sleep meds to treat a service connected condition and the sleep meds cause, contribute to or aggravate your OSA, then you have a case for a secondary condition claim.
This is common when treating PTSD, anxiety and so on. The vet gets a heavy dose of a soporific medication and that causes OSA.
Unless you get the medications to treat a service connected condition, it will be difficult to make the nexus to your service. Almost all of us develop OSA as we get older and/or gain weight. I use a CPAP today and there is no service connection possible. I just got older and heavier...not the fault of my service.
I'm sure you have a connection for the hearing loss and tinnitus. I have doubts about the OSA.