Sleep Apnea in Veterans – VA Benefits Are Available

If you are a veteran and have sleep apnea, you may be entitled to VA disability benefits.  Of course, many people who have sleep apnea have not been diagnosed and don’t know that they have symptoms that are attributable to this sleep disorder.  Before you can decide whether you may have a good VA disability claim for sleep apnea, it is important to understand exactly what it is.

VA Disability for Sleep Apnea
If you are a veteran with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you may be entitled to VA disability compensation.

What does sleep apnea do?

There are really three kinds of sleep apnea based on the cause.  All three types have a similar result – a sleep disorder resulting in the disruption of a person’s breathing during sleep.  That means the person stops breathing.  This sometimes happens hundreds of times a night and sometimes as long as a minute or longer.

When breathing stops, the brain and the rest of the body do not get the oxygen they need.  The brain then signals the body to wake up.  This awakening is a sudden, violent waking unlike usual awakening in the morning after a full night’s sleep.  In fact, the person suffering from sleep apnea often does not even realize he or she woke up during the night.

How do I know if I May Suffer from This Condition?

So, how do you begin the process of determining whether you have sleep apnea?  If your spouse or family members complain about your snoring and waking during the night, you probably want to consult with your doctor.

Although a medical professional will be the one to make an official diagnosis after a sleep study, you can do a few quick self-assessments to get started before scheduling an appointment with your doctor.  One of the simplest checklists is the American Sleep Apnea Association’s Snore Score, which asks the following questions related to the most common type, Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

  1. Are you a loud and/or regular snorer?
  2. Have you been observed to gasp or stop breathing during sleep?
  3. Do you feel tired or groggy upon awakening, or do you awaken with a headache?
  4. Are you often tired or fatigued during the wake time hours?
  5. Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving?
  6. Do you often have problems with memory or concentration?

If you answer “yes” to one or more of the above questions, you may have a form of sleep apnea.

Some other self-assessments for sleep apnea are the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire.

Can I receive veterans disability compensation if I Have Been Diagnosed?

There are a lot of myths about this particular form of sleep disturbance.  Many think that they cannot receive  veterans disability benefits for it.  That is simply not the case.  Many aspects of a veteran’s military service can lead to the development of this very serious condition.  Sleep apnea can also lead to a host of other medical problems and even death .  In later blogs we will discuss other aspects of sleep apnea, including the different causes and serious consequences of this sleep disorder.

Unfortunately, VA raters often fall into the trap of believing the myths surrounding sleep apnea.  That means many veterans are denied VA disability benefits that they deserve under the law.  In fact, currently only 1 out of every 4 veterans with a sleep apnea claim is granted benefits by VA.  If you are one of those 75% who have been wrongfully denied, you should consult with a qualified veterans benefits attorney.

Questions about veterans benefits

If you have any questions about possible VA benefits available for sleep apnea or another disability, Perkins Studdard has veterans disability attorneys dedicated to helping veterans and their families receive the VA benefits they deserve.  It can be helpful to talk to them about your questions. You can set up a free consultation about your claim. Simply call the phone number or complete the “Need Help” form on the right side of this page to schedule one.

Travis Studdard is an attorney who focuses on representing veterans in VA disability compensation claims.  He regularly writes about issues that are important to veterans and their families.

You can subscribe to his Veterans Disability channel on YouTube.

Rita BarnesRita Barnes
00:03 20 Jan 22
This is a great group of people who really care about your well being. They all treated me as though I was family and helped me with my work comp case in more ways than the average would have.Thank you Jason and Thank you Tina! For doing an awesome job.
Cortex ButlerCortex Butler
18:09 29 Dec 21
I am a Veteran of United States Air Force and was awarded my first 30% in 1996 and have been fighting for my rating for 26 years I came to Perkins and Studdard in 2019 while my mom was in a terrible incident and was given to much anesthesia and through GODS Grace she was spared her life, She is disabled since 2018 and I have been struggling with my life and issues and yet I didn’t call the law firm every 10 minutes or call being rude anytime, I mentioned this as I got to know Jessica more than just a phone call and Mr Studdard was always available when not working on other cases or in court, They always called back and Never had to do a call back, My Review is Simple in Life there peaks and valleys and it doesn’t stop because you have issues, Perkins & Studdard took my case in 2019 in 2021 I received my 100% from VA, I Was Never Rude, I was Never Promised Success, I Was Never Lied too and I was Always Treated with Respect, Friendliness, and Kindness the Real Stuff not a (Money Thing) If You want a firm that Cares about the Client and will work on your case even through a pandemic, Will not lie, will not promise anything will communicate your case and will Give you their Best ALWAYS THIS IS THE Best Law Firm for VETS HANDS DOWN Perkins and Studdard THERE IS NO OTHER 100% we had 5 calls Total Case That’s Taking Care Of Business
annetteMomma nokesannetteMomma nokes
14:29 12 Sep 16
Jason and his paralegal Lisa were on point and on top of their game when it came to handling my worker's comp. injury case. I tried going it alone and the insurance carrier pushed me around. They denied extra physical therapy. They denied injections the doctor recommended to ease my pain. When I turned my case over to Jason things turned around, QUICK. They were at all times attentive and on top of my case. I cannot recommend Jason and his staff enough. If you are hurt at work, this is the firm you want on YOUR side.
Sheila KirklinSheila Kirklin
23:11 12 May 16
Jason Perkins, was my lawyer in a workers comp. case, my case has settled now, and I am very happy for all Jason and his office hard work on my case, he was always there to help me out with any questions that I had or help I needed. Jason is a excellent lawyer and if I ever need another one I would only go to Perkins,Because I believe they would be able to help me in any situation I am in need of..
Anna PabonAnna Pabon
23:16 13 Sep 15
I recommend Perkins Law Firm. Everyone I came in contact with there was very nice. Kim was very helpful and any time I had a question she made sure I got an answer. Ann Margaret really took the time to explain things to me.
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