Vet Wife,

Is your husband being treated by the VA or a civillian dr?  Maybe he needs a different doctor?  Has he put on weight over the years?  As I'm sure you've read, the UPPP is not a cure-all surgery.  My hubby just had his 4 weeks ago.  He had a civillian dr. do it, Thank God!  So far so good.  Anywhere in his medical records when he was suffering from SA, did it say anything about him being depressed?  Unless it's in writing, it's really hard to get anything, as I'm sure you are well aware.  

I'm surprised they took his severence pay back.  I thought that was totally separate from the VA?   Good luck and hope things improve for you.  Hopefully, the hospital that your hubby is at will help him and get his depression under control.  Hopefully, too, he is at a civillian facility.

My understanding is that this legislation will make the military redo any separations after 9/11. I believe that the military will be forced into changing there individual rating systems to follow the VA (VASRD) ratings and finally give sleep apnea (w/ CPAP) a 50% disability rating for separation. Maybe someone else can read it and confirm what I am reading. Do a search for (H.R. 1538: Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act) to find it.








CommoCheif

Sleep apnea already rates a 50% disability.  The military's rating never is the same as the VA.  The military's rating has to do with how much they are going to pay you upon your medical discharge.  At least that's how it was back in the 90s when I was medically discharged.  They operated on my knee and totally screwed it up and discharged me with 10%, the VA came back and said I was rated a 0%.  So, basically I'm stuck with sometimes excrutiating pain in both knees, since they only operated on one, but both have the same problem, and I get nothing for it.  I can't imagine the military going back and changing everyone's rating.  Maybe the VA will do it, but not the military.

VET wife 2,

I am not military, but my husband is a Vietnam vet and is still in the Air National Guard. He will retire in December.

I have worse sleep apnea than my husband does. I have been 100% compliant with first a CPAP, then a bi-pap. After 4 years with pulmonologist doctors overseeing my therapy, I have changed doctors once again!  

I just got back from a neurologist sleep doctor. He ONLY practices sleep medicine. It is not a sideline for him and he has been doing it since 1977. He is #4 of board certified sleep doctors. He found out I have central apneas. Over 80 in just two hours of the sleep study!  I also have narcolepsy even though I have NEVER fallen asleep during the day. I do get really sleepy in the daytime though and keep busy to keep from falling asleep. There are various levels of narcolepsy.

My point is...Take your husband to a different doctor who specializes in sleep apnea. A doctor who does it full-time and not as a lucrative side-line. Try a neurologist. Your husband could be having central apneas or have narcolepsy. My pulmonary doctors said that I had NO central apneas.  They also said that central apneas are not important anyway!!!

Keep trying to find a good doctor! I flew from Oklahoma to Ohio to find my wonderful doctor. I spent about $1,000 that I didn't have! It was worth it. Credit cards are wonderful sometimes!

Hope this helps your husband and you in some way.

Peke


_________________
Res-Med VPAP - Adapt SV
FP Flexifit 406 mask
with Narcolepsy on the side!!!!

Ok I have my own question now.

My husband has documented every medical problem he has ever had. Vietnam vet in the navy, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force active duty at an Air National Guard Training Base....

Being around the jets on the navy aircraft carrier and in the Air Guard and Reserve has caused huge hearing loss.

Active duty...stomach problems documented.

Air Guard...Back trouble while active duty immediately after 9/11. Carrying a heavy weapon at his age did him in!  Had to have shots in his spine for several years. Military paid for all of it. Surgery on his foot. Had to have a metal implant in his foot between his toe and foot.

Air Guard...OSA has now been diagnosed (last April) and his blood pressure is sky high!  Irritable and angry and just pissed off all the time!  So blood pressure gets even higher. I think depression is a problem too but do not want to mention to him!  

All of this has been documented with the Air Guard except for the sleep apnea. That will be soon. He retires in December.

My question is...along with the other disability problems (back, stomach, foot, OSA, high blood pressure, etc.) is it possible for him to get disability on his anger and irritability and just plain pissed off attitude?  

I don't know what it is called, but it has to do with rage....

Thought of another question!  Should be get help now for the anger and irritability, or should he wait until he retires?

Thanks,
Peke


_________________
Res-Med VPAP - Adapt SV
FP Flexifit 406 mask
with Narcolepsy on the side!!!!

Below is the changes that I was talking about. I copied the txt from the bill that has already been approved by the House and Senate.


Section 152 -
Requires the Secretary concerned, in making disability determinations, to: (1) utilize the schedule for rating disabilities in use by the VA; and (2) not deviate from such schedule. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to utilize criteria other than the VA schedule if the criteria will result in a determination of a greater percentage of disability than in the use of the schedule.
Section 153 -
Directs the Secretary to establish within DOD the Physical Disability Board of Review to review disability determinations made by DOD physical evaluation boards of members who, during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2009, are: (1) separated from the Armed Forces as unfit for duty due to a medical condition with a disability rating of 20% disabled or less; and (2) found to be ineligible for retirement. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to correct the military records of such individuals in light of any Board of Review findings.

Part II - Other Disability Matters
Section 161 -
Increases from 12 to 19 the maximum number of years of service authorized to be used as a multiplier to determine military disability severance pay. Provides minimum years of service for purposes of such determination. Prohibits any deduction from disability severance pay due to payments received as veterans' disability compensation in the case of disability severance pay received by a member for a disability incurred in the line of duty in a combat zone or in combat-related operations as designated by the Secretary.


Maybe someone can help me clarify the above information.

Thanks
CommoCheif

Dear Vete,
Thank you for your reply. You are the first person I have heard of who seems to understand what we are going through. Who was the doctor you saw in Ohio? Do you have a phone number?

CommoChief wrote:

Below is the changes that I was talking about. I copied the txt from the bill that has already been approved by the House and Senate.


Section 153 -
Directs the Secretary to establish within DOD the Physical Disability Board of Review to review disability determinations made by DOD physical evaluation boards of members who, during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2009, are: (1) separated from the Armed Forces as unfit for duty due to a medical condition with a disability rating of 20% disabled or less; and (2) found to be ineligible for retirement. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to correct the military records of such individuals in light of any Board of Review findings.



Maybe someone can help me clarify the above information.

Thanks
CommoCheif

The way I read the section 153 is that ONLY ones that were MEDICALLY DISCHARGED, not RETIRED, with a disability rating of 20% or below are eligible for this.  If you don't meet that criteria, ie, if you were given a 25% disability and medically RETIRED, you are not eligible for an upgrade.  It doesn't really say, though, about someone over 20%, but only medically discharged not retired, so it's pretty hard to interpret the whole thing.  I would contact the VA and maybe they can direct you to someone who knows where you could get a answer if you are eligible to have your medical records reviewed again.  Remember, this has to deal with THEM paying YOU, so it could be a long drawn out process, but if it benefits you, in the long run, it would be worth it, albeit, frustrating.  Good Luck!

Dear Peke,
Sorry for using the wrong name in my last post. My husband's problems are taking their toll on me as well. I have been thinking for a long time that he must have central sleep apnea issues. He had apnea symptoms long before he started snoring or gained weight. I have located a doctor in our area who is certified in neurology, psychiatry, and sleep medicine. I can't wait to call her on Monday. I was just telling the psychologist who approved his hospitalization that there needs to be a psychiatric hospital connected to a sleep lab. What did they do to treat your central sleep apnea and is it working.
Regarding your husband and his anger and possible depression, I can't advise you, but I will tell you that my husband had his sleep apnea diagnosed before he got out of the AF but not his depression. The VA is covering him for his sleep apnea but not his depression. We are having a difficult time finding a doctor who is willing to admit there is a connection between the two. If he is close to getting out and he has doctors who will state that his emotional problems are related to his sleep apnea I think he would be better off in the long run if he applies for VA disability.
Good Luck and thank you again. You have brought a huge ray of sunshine into my life.

Vetwife2

Go to the internet and look up the American Board of ??? something with sleep doctors...Wish I could remember what it is called. You may be able to find it. My dr. is on it. You can also tell if the dr. is a pulmonologist or a neurologist and how long they have been working with sleep apnea patients.

Good luck
Peke

Dear Peke,
What is your Dr.'s name?

i am in the navy i am about 2 retire in 10 months. do anyone know what % sleep apnea is.

vetwife2

You should consider joining this forum instead of being a guest. You could receive private messages that way. PMs

Hope you find a good doctor. If you don't, join the forum and PM me.


Peke


_________________
Res-Med VPAP - Adapt SV
FP Flexifit 406 mask
with Narcolepsy on the side!!!!

Dear Peke,
I tried to join the forum. Everything seemed fine. I received my confirmation & acknowledged it but when I went to post something it said my name was already being used. When I reapplied under a different name it wouldn't let me because my email address had already been used. I will see if I can reapply now under a different name & address.

Here I go again. I reapplied to join the forum under a new name with a different email address. Hope this works.

Formerly Vetwife2, Now Moke.

Peke, I found a local doctor who is board certified in Neurology, Psychiatry, and sleep medicine. I will be calling them tomorrow. I am curious though about what they did for your central sleep apnea and if the treatment in successful.