I was recently diagnosed with SA and given a CPAP 2 weeks ago.  I have also been on Provigil for a year now.  How long does it take to acutally feel like you had a good night sleep?  Also, how does the military rate SA with a CPAP as a disability?  I haven't seen any clear guidance on it.  Thanks.


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Machine: Respironics Series M Auto CPAP with C-Flex and heated humidifier
Mask: Ultra Mirage Full Face

Jim,

38 CFR Book C-Schedule for Rating Disabilities
The Respiratory System

6847     Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed):

        Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor
            pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy    100  
        Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous
            airway pressure (CPAP) machine    50  
        Persistent day-time hypersomnolence     30
        Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing    0

So I was reading the Fort Benning WLC guide today and according to the manual, they will deny anyone who can't do all parts of the course. Seeing as I need that to be promoted or maintain SGT, does anyone have any experience with this? Can I somehow waive WLC as a result of my permanent profile for sleep apnea? Anyone heard of this happening?

E8 Air National Guard AGR with 24 years.   I am scheduled to retire Sep 2009 due to BRAC, but this changes things.

Long story short, I was diagnosed with Mild/Moderate sleep apnea in 1991 and prescribed with a CPAP by the Air National Gaurd/Air Force.  recently they found out I have sleep apena, I know... I asked the same question "glad you found it so soon" (after yearly non-comp and comp physicals) and now they want to MEB me, unless I get a specialst to indicate I dont need the CPAP or my APNEA.  I admitt I dont use the CPAP on a regular basis, but getting a specialst to say I dont need one seems odd and detremental to ME.  

My questions are:
1) what type of disiblity might I be looking at and how would that impact my High-3 retirement as an E8  
2) Whould it be beneficial to get the CPAP non-use statement to avoid a MEB and be able to hit my retirement date in 2009
3) Who really is a good POC to ask questions like these while still on my AGR tour

Thanks for any and all assistance!!

Haku wrote:

I retire from the Air Force in Oct 2007 with 23 years of service.  I am now 80% disable through the VA.  My ratings add up to 140% but they grade on a curve. LOL.  I did get 50% for sleep apnea, so that part is true.  I get concurrent receipt, which means I get 2 checks.  Lets put it this way it more that doubled my normal retirement check.  I feel satified with the VA at this point.

I guess I really don't understand our Government,  this makes me wonder why Social Security doesn't help us more with our disabilities, especially if the military recognizes you've earned 50% disability for Sleep Apnea??? I'm not criticizing you, I'm just a bit shocked that you can get an extra check because you have Sleep Apnea and we have to fight for an extra mask when needed. God help me if mine breaks before six months is up,  they expect me to pay for it. I could understand the government paying for your treatment through the VA, but if you're saying your Sleep Apnea has earned you 50% disability then I have to wonder why our government doesn't recognize that for all the rest of us equally as well!  So much for trying to figure out the government!

Never the less,  thank you for your 23 years of service,  I appreciate you having been there for all the rest of us who couldn't be.


_________________
SnowCajun
I'm old, there's no cure!

SnowCajun wrote:

I guess I really don't understand our Government,  this makes me wonder why Social Security doesn't help us more with our disabilities, especially if the military recognizes you've earned 50% disability for Sleep Apnea??? I'm not criticizing you, I'm just a bit shocked that you can get an extra check because you have Sleep Apnea and we have to fight for an extra mask when needed. God help me if mine breaks before six months is up,  they expect me to pay for it. I could understand the government paying for your treatment through the VA, but if you're saying your Sleep Apnea has earned you 50% disability then I have to wonder why our government doesn't recognize that for all the rest of us equally as well!  So much for trying to figure out the government!.

Who is "the rest of us?"  ...the general public at large??

If you wanted the same retired military benefits, you should have served...we're all volunteers and it's one of our "perks" if you will.  And remember none of us had OSA when we signed up.


_________________
RemStar Pro M-Series with C-Flex jamming 10 cm H20 down my piehole And finally getting a good night's sleep...every night!!!!

BGSMSHR wrote:

Who is "the rest of us?"  ...the general public at large??

If you wanted the same retired military benefits, you should have served...we're all volunteers and it's one of our "perks" if you will.  And remember none of us had OSA when we signed up.

Oh wow BGSMSHR,  I appreciate your insight into my life!  Without even knowing me you've blasted me saying "you should have served!"  Just so you'll know,  I did try to "serve" even though I had medical issues that they wouldn't accept.  I went in and tried to join the Marines back in 1970 when I turned 18 and Vietnam was still in progress,  then I went to the Navy, then the the Air Force,  and last but not least I even tried to get into the Coast Guard, but they just wouldn't take me no matter how hard I tried!  I felt that a career in the military would have been a wonderful thing for me actually.  Even though they wouldn't take me I still was able to work all through my adult life until I was injured in an on the job trucking accident someone else caused.  I think I've done my share for society thank you!  I also think I'd have done fine in the military too.  

This much I do know BGSMSHR, I've had Sleep Apnea for five years now,  unless I'm missing something if I weren't disabled from another issue, my Sleep Apnea would in no way what so ever be preventing me from holding a productive job in society, not even 50% worth, I think that's why I was shocked the military would dish out 50% disability for it.  It may not be that way for others,  you've made me curious about that now since you've called it a "perk",  but from my view in dealing with my OSA, there's no way at all it's disabled me 50% worth!!  

Perks like that,  as you call them, do little other than drain our government of money over the rest of someones lifetime, especially when the use of CPAP machines allow people to get more than enough sleep to function and be rested during the day, at least it certainly has for me anyway.  I have great difficulty visualizing 50% worth of disability in that, "perk" or not,  especially not enough to be bragging about it to tax payers who are footing the bill.

Just my view,  I may not have been able to have "served", but as an American I'm still allowed my free speech and opinions!


_________________
SnowCajun
I'm old, there's no cure!

SnowCajun wrote:

BGSMSHR wrote:

Who is "the rest of us?"  ...the general public at large??

If you wanted the same retired military benefits, you should have served...we're all volunteers and it's one of our "perks" if you will.  And remember none of us had OSA when we signed up.

Oh wow BGSMSHR,  I appreciate your insight into my life!  Without even knowing me you've blasted me saying "you should have served!"  Just so you'll know,  I did try to "serve" even though I had medical issues that they wouldn't accept.  I went in and tried to join the Marines back in 1970 when I turned 18 and Vietnam was still in progress,  then I went to the Navy, then the the Air Force,  and last but not least I even tried to get into the Coast Guard, but they just wouldn't take me no matter how hard I tried!  I felt that a career in the military would have been a wonderful thing for me actually.  Even though they wouldn't take me I still was able to work all through my adult life until I was injured in an on the job trucking accident someone else caused.  I think I've done my share for society thank you!  I also think I'd have done fine in the military too.  

This much I do know BGSMSHR, I've had Sleep Apnea for five years now,  unless I'm missing something if I weren't disabled from another issue, my Sleep Apnea would in no way what so ever be preventing me from holding a productive job in society, not even 50% worth, I think that's why I was shocked the military would dish out 50% disability for it.  It may not be that way for others,  you've made me curious about that now since you've called it a "perk",  but from my view in dealing with my OSA, there's no way at all it's disabled me 50% worth!!  

Perks like that,  as you call them, do little other than drain our government of money over the rest of someones lifetime, especially when the use of CPAP machines allow people to get more than enough sleep to function and be rested during the day, at least it certainly has for me anyway.  I have great difficulty visualizing 50% worth of disability in that, "perk" or not,  especially not enough to be bragging about it to tax payers who are footing the bill.

Just my view,  I may not have been able to have "served", but as an American I'm still allowed my free speech and opinions!

I don't need to know you to read a post and comprehend that all it says is it's not fair...poor me.

So bottom line is you never served.  As I said, none of us had OSA when we signed the dotted line.  It's DQ for new accessions.  You were medically not able to serve.  If you served...if you could get in to serve...then you'd have the same VA benefits I do.  You didn't, so you don't.  That's pretty simple in my book.

Glad to hear you think you would have "done fine in the military."  So because you think you would have done, but were NPQ from service you're owed VA benefits...I'm sorry I don't follow your logic at all.  I think I'd have done great at Microsoft when it first started out...so do they owe me millions now?

You're not completely informed on what VA service connected disability compensation is or what the percentages mean or translate into.  Please go here to read up on it:  http://www.va.gov/

Perk, benefit, call it what you will.  I got it, you don't.  This particular thread is intended to help out veterans diagnosed with OSA or veterans suffering from OSA that are looking to receive VA benefits.


Lastly, I may not agree with you, but I've defended your right to free speech and opinion as a uniformed service member, and will continue to do so in my current government civilian job.


_________________
RemStar Pro M-Series with C-Flex jamming 10 cm H20 down my piehole And finally getting a good night's sleep...every night!!!!

BGSMSHR wrote:

I don't need to know you to read a post and comprehend that all it says is it's not fair...poor me.

First off let me say say much,  this is a typical example of why some people don't like to share things on forums,  someone comes along and tries to run someone else down with childish innuendos.  I truly was stunned that the military considered OSA as a disability.  Who made you the forum police to monitor my posts and then start tossing out falsehoods about how I feel.  I doubt you could even fathom the amount of respect I have for people who serve, or have served.  My greatest heroes in the world are people who have served and done tremendous things,  people like Eugene Fluckey,  Dick O'Kane,  Audie Murphy,  or any of the other Congressional Medal of Honor winners who gave their all to do what they could to protect and defend our country.  So this little mindless accusation about me feeling like,  "it's not fair...poor me." is total hogwash,  get off your high horse and act like a nice human being when addressing other people.  

BGSMSHR wrote:

So bottom line is you never served.

This is a really big deal to you isn't it?  Why not take out billboards and TV ads stating,  "SNOWCAJUN NEVER SERVED" .. would that make you feel better?  Do you think you've gained something by saying over and over that I've not served,  even though I tried with all my heart and soul to be allowed to serve?? I badly wanted to serve,  the people I respect most in the world are those who have,  I did what I could and wasn't allowed due to medical issues with which I had no control over in life.  Are you suggesting this has made me less of a human being,  or less of an American???

BGSMSHR wrote:

If you served...if you could get in to serve...then you'd have the same VA benefits I do.  You didn't, so you don't.  That's pretty simple in my book.

Look,  I don't care that you get your benefits,  in all honesty you earned them,  I was just surprised that they were even available.  My experiences with MY OSA is that it has in no way what so ever disabled me in life like you claim it has with you.  I'm sorry it has disabled you!  Some folks feel it prevents them from holding a job,  others don't feel it does,  that's perfectly fine,  I was just surprised to learn that and that's what I come to forums like this to do, to learn about my ailments in life and how they affect not only me but others also.  

BGSMSHR wrote:

Glad to hear you think you would have "done fine in the military."  So because you think you would have done, but were NPQ from service you're owed VA benefits...I'm sorry I don't follow your logic at all.  I think I'd have done great at Microsoft when it first started out...so do they owe me millions now?

Not even responding to this,  it's just too childish.  I never said you weren't owed anything,  I was just surprised the military considered OSA a 50% disability,  I never imagined someone would make such a huge deal out of that!  I never said it was wrong to do,  I just said I was surprised it was looked upon that way because my OSA wouldn't interfere with my ability to hold a job at all.  I didn't realize it did for others.  How long are you going to beat a dead horse over this??

BGSMSHR wrote:

You're not completely informed on what VA service connected disability compensPlease go here to read up on it:

Look,  you seem to be having great difficulty in understanding what my views were.  I don't need to go there and find out what you qualify for,  my views were that it surprised me they give 50% pay for the same thing I have to fight tooth and nail for even to get a replacement mask.  I don't begrudge you for getting your 50%,  I just felt that if one branch of our government so readily recognizes it to that degree with you, then the rest of us shouldn't have to go through so much trouble on our side either.  My Comfort Gel Mask breaks now and then,  the connection clip on the side of the mask where the little ball from the headstrap connects breaks,  it's a weak point in design and should be reinforced!  Never the less should it break before my six month time limit before getting a replacement is up then I'm expected to pay for it.  It would seem to me that if the government recognizes your disability to the degree it does then I can't understand them making it hard on us to get what we need also.  We're human beings also even if you do have your perks or not.

BGSMSHR wrote:

Perk, benefit, call it what you will.  I got it, you don't.

Do you think if you repeat that enough times it'll make you feel better?  So you've got it and I don't,  do you think that makes you better than me or something,  you sure keep repeating it enough that you must?

BGSMSHR wrote:

Lastly, I may not agree with you, but I've defended your right to free speech and opinion as a uniformed service member, and will continue to do so in my current government civilian job.

Are you wanting praise now,  pats on the back maybe?  If so earn it by acting like you deserve it instead of trying to cram it down our throats with your child like name calling.  I did not start out bashing you,  that was a choice you made towards me.  If you say I have free speech then I should have been able to ask a question without you resorting to a belittling or name calling campaign towards me.  Just because you were physically able to serve and I wasn't does in no way what so ever make me less of an American than you are!!  That's a very prejudicial view to suggest so.


_________________
SnowCajun
I'm old, there's no cure!

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American Sleep Apnea Association
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Washington, DC 20012
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