I have a question and want to make a poll out of it because someone in another forum topic,  "Military Veterans and Families Apnea Facts and Benefits" to be exact,  stated that the military pays them 50% disability for their Sleep Apnea, (OSA) after having served for 23 years and retired!  I am truly curious in regards to this,  first off I'm in no way at all stating they are not truly disabled,  but I know my Sleep Apnea (OSA) has been controlled with CPAP to the point I sleep the night away and have no daytime issues at all that would prevent me from holding a full time job had I not been previously injured in a trucking accident.  

Also, one person has referred to this 50% Sleep Apnea (OSA) disability rating as a "perk", which I see as something different from a real disability.  An online dictionary defined "perk" as an; "Informal an incidental benefit gained from a job, such as a company car." In my honest view a perk sounds like something other than a disability, but I'm honestly not sure if the majority you guys truly look at your Sleep Apnea (OSA) as a disability.  If so I've surely been looking at it differently myself.  I would really like to hear what everyone else has to say about this?  What I'm wanting to know is if you all feel like your Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a real and honest disability? Please share your views on this.


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

The question seems to either be incomplete or it should be two questions.  It makes a huge difference whether the OSA is being treated as directed by an appropriate doctor or not; and this would include being 100% compliant with CPAP if it were prescribed.  

As with OSA, there are a great many medical conditions that would prevent somebody from working if they are not compliant with their prescribed treatment.

Well right now I sure think it is, I was diagnosed in Nov with 602 central apneas, and after 6 months it sill it not under control.  After 28 years in the military with never a problem sleeping and now I have to wear a mask to sleep, a "normal" person does not have to have a $7,000 (in my case) machine to sleep.  If the military keeps me I know that I will waste lots of time in the field just making sure that I have power for my night of sleep.  I used to backpack, but I guess no more, just going out of town has one more thing added to the trip.  The military told me if I was willing to put my life on the line they would take care of me, so I did now they need to, but even though federal law and DOD states that it is a 50% disability does not mean that the military will give it to you, most people with sleep apnea are either kept in the military, sent to Iraq with their PAP or discharged without receiving the 50% disability.  The VA dose give 50% for sleep apnea with the use of PAP if it is service connected.


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Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

I agree with BeardedOne's post above, that the treatment plays a key role in determining the status of disability. I believe that many, if not most, people can be successfully treated. Having said that, my own condition has not responded well to treatment. I have asked for a tracheostomy and was refused. So at this point, I am still working through established treatment options, as well as trying experimental "treatments" that I would not recommend to others.

A disability is not often defined as the condition itself but how the condition affects the person.  Having years of untreated SA can cause many problems including burning brain cells.  Once xPAP therapy has been ongoing and a person is fully compliant and,  they are still having cognitive issues, continued fatigue, living in a fog etc, then I can see that to be a disability.  For many it is not a disability because the xPAP therapy is controlling the condition and the have no residual problems from their time of when their SA was untreated.  In addition, many have developed additional complications from using the xPAP...IMHO...including it aggrevating eustation tubes, sinuses, aerophagia, and so on.

I answered maybe because I do not believe there is a Black and White answer for the question...it depends on the individual case.

Mrs Rip Van Winkle wrote:

A disability is not often defined as the condition itself but how the condition affects the person.  Having years of untreated SA can cause many problems including burning brain cells.  Once xPAP therapy has been ongoing and a person is fully compliant and,  they are still having cognitive issues, continued fatigue, living in a fog etc, then I can see that to be a disability.  For many it is not a disability because the xPAP therapy is controlling the condition and the have no residual problems from their time of when their SA was untreated.  In addition, many have developed additional complications from using the xPAP...IMHO...including it aggrevating eustation tubes, sinuses, aerophagia, and so on.

I answered maybe because I do not believe there is a Black and White answer for the question...it depends on the individual case.

I agree with your views actually Mrs Rip Van Winkle,  I really didn't know that anyone considered this a disability is all,  nor did I realize anyone,  especially the armed forces, were giving out disability payments for having it.  My CPAP controlled mine so fast that I guess I felt it did for most others as well, and certainly was never something that would have kept me from working in life.  Anyway my inquiring about it in the other forum got me less than polite treatment,  someone even suggested that I was feeling like, "it's not fair...poor me." Sad to see people respond that way,  obviously not all of us know as much as some think they do.


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

The military doesn not consider having SA a disability unless it is to the point where it doesn't allow you to work.  The VA on the other hand does consider having a CPAP prescribed a 50% disability.


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

jones0169 wrote:

The military doesn not consider having SA a disability unless it is to the point where it doesn't allow you to work.  The VA on the other hand does consider having a CPAP prescribed a 50% disability.

That sounds fair to me,  it was just something I didn't know,  at least I'd never heard before anyway. I don't begrudge anyone their benefits,  especially those who have served our country,  they've earned them.  I just wound up in a situation debating my not having been physically able to have served,  even though I tried all branches of the service when I was 18 I wasn't allowed due to a medical issue. This one person kept shoving it in my face that I had not served and and he has the benefits and I don't.  That gets old to see people act that way.

Even though I've had OSA about five years now I've only just recently discovered these forums,  I've actually learned a lot from them and am happy they're here.  I feel we should be able to ask questions without getting things thrown in our face because we may not be as well informed about some aspects of it as others are,  everyone has to start somewhere,  we don't all start out knowing it all.  I just got overly frustrated in that other area when someone decided to do their best to lambast me because I inquired about something I didn't know about.  I guess I expect adults to act more maturely than that!


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

Just happened to stumle onto this...it is from ical/Professional Relations section of SSDI disability..... Disability Evaluation Under Social Security
(Blue Book- June 2006)

Listing of Impairments -  Adult Listings (Part A)


H. Sleep-related breathing disorders. Sleep-related breathing disorders (sleep apneas) are caused by periodic cessation of respiration associated with hypoxemia and frequent arousals from sleep. Although many individuals with one of these disorders will respond to prescribed treatment, in some, the disturbed sleep pattern and associated chronic nocturnal hypoxemia cause daytime sleepiness with chronic pulmonary hypertension and/or disturbances in cognitive function. Because daytime sleepiness can affect memory, orientation and personality, a longitudinal treatment record may be needed to evaluate mental functioning.

Not all individuals with sleep apnea develop a functional impairment that affects work activity. When any gainful work is precluded, the physiologic basis for the impairment may be chronic cor pulmonale. Chronic hypoxemia due to episodic apnea may cause pulmonary hypertension (see 3.00G and 3.09). Daytime somnolence may be associated with disturbance in cognitive vigilance. Impairment of cognitive function may be evaluated under organic mental disorders (12.02).

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/3.00-Respiratory-Adult.htm

That is the way it should be.  They don't say that sleep apnea is a disability, they say that sleep apnea can cause conditions that are disabilities.

Bearded One wrote:

That is the way it should be.  They don't say that sleep apnea is a disability, they say that sleep apnea can cause conditions that are disabilities.

Fair enough,  but until it does cause those disabilities why would the government dish out money for something that "could" do something but hasn't yet?  That's akin to those $1500 toilet seats and $500 hammers isn't it?  I fully well agree that if someone has complications that disable them then they should receive the money,  I don't begrudge them that in any form or fashion,  but I'm not sure it makes sense to be funding people still able to work until such time they truly do actually have those issues that prevent them from working.


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

Say you are NOT military affiliated.  If you wipe out on the ice walking to your car and tear the meniscus in your knee or worse and 25 years from now you develop arthritis in that knee then you just deal with the arthritis and that is just life.  But say I am in the military (true story now) and you blow out your knee playing soccer at 40 years old because that is what 'today's' fitness exercise is then it is a forever problem that now belongs to the military and will eventually belong to the VA.  I was playing soccer for goodness sake.  But it is duty related.  As fitness is a duty requirement.  As far as CPAP goes... maybe they look at it like they caused it.  Maybe they caused the Apnea.  Maybe exposure to Hydrazine, benzene or any other zine.  Maybe it is caused by some God awful concoction of who knows what that we have all been exposed to at some point during our careers.  Maybe nothing as obvious as Agent Orange exposure or watching a nuclear bomb explode but you don't know what they have exposed us to.  Nor do we.  So merely that they cover it tells me that THEY KNOW WHY they cover it.  

Being strapped to a machine every night is very different than NOT being strapped to a machine.  I cannot just go out of town on a whim for a day trip and decide to stay all week anymore like I used to.  There were times when we would fly out of town for lunch and end up staying for the weekend etc.  I can't do that anymore unless I want to try to sleep without it (which don't get me wrong, I will try).  If my O2 levels drop and can cause long term damage then it would be advisable to use it every night.  I can't go and sleep like a normal person does.  I can't just take a nap like I have for the past 20 years.  Sure I can but now that I have had the sleep study and have been diagnosed OSA and am treated with CPAP wouldn't that be wreckless?  Careless of my own health?  How can you expect me to knowingly disregard my health just to get a wink or two like a normal person can?  You can't.  I don't see how it makes any difference to you whether I am diagnosed with OSA or hearing loss.  My hearing loss is caused my the military.  Exposure to jet noise.  Even protected.  You may be a rock star and suffer the same hearing loss...  I may listen to loud music with earphones but the military says Jet noise...  Because they can't say it wasn't Jet noise.  

Please don't hate just because someone gets something that you don't.  I never understood the victim mentality.  Things are what they are.  Not everything is justifiable.  OSA can be classified as a disability Just because sleeping requires CPAP.  Just as walking may require a prosthetic leg... The guy with the fake leg can still walk right?  Whats the difference?  The amount it pays is not enough to support someone on so don't be thinking that... Some jobs have a clothing allowance where others don't.  Some jobs have company cars... others don't.  Some jobs have bonuses... others don't... Get the point?

What I posted above is from the Social Security Disability website...the section for medical and professionals to use for determining SSDI eligibility for Non-Military people.  It is NOT from the military.  Therefore the wording should not be construed to cover all situations.

Accx4 wrote:

Some jobs have a clothing allowance where others don't.  Some jobs have company cars... others don't.  Some jobs have bonuses... others don't... Get the point?

Your post was very interesting, but I am still not sure what your position is. If the point is that there are different conditions, a range of severity, and differences in response to treatment, then it would make sense that some people with sleep apnea would qualify for disability, and some people would not.

Given the Arthritis example - many people will develop at least mild osteoarthritis perhaps in a specific joint that limits their abilities, but does not make them disabled. Another person can have severe rheumatoid arthritis that makes it difficult for them to do anything, including breath, and therefore they would qualify for disability.

For a sleep apnea example, someone with severe symptoms caused by Central Sleep Apnea, and whose AHI does not respond to treatment, certainly qualifies IMO for disability coverage.

Accx4 wrote:

Please don't hate just because someone gets something that you don't.  I never understood the victim mentality.  Things are what they are.  Not everything is justifiable.  OSA can be classified as a disability Just because sleeping requires CPAP.  Just as walking may require a prosthetic leg... The guy with the fake leg can still walk right?  Whats the difference?  The amount it pays is not enough to support someone on so don't be thinking that... Some jobs have a clothing allowance where others don't.  Some jobs have company cars... others don't.  Some jobs have bonuses... others don't... Get the point?

Was this directed at me?  I don't hate anyone!!!  If you've gotten that from my posts then you've most definitely misread something.  Also I'm not understanding your "victim mentality" statement,  how were you meaning that?  We come here to discuss and learn,  that's the wonderful thing about forums,  the ability to discuss, debate, and learn from issues.  It's unfortunate that some get so angry and vile feeling they have to toss out misconstrued facts that someone hates someone else because their post didn't agree with your opinion.  That's not fair!  

This all started by my saying in another forum that I didn't realize that OSA was considered a 50% disability by the military.  I didn't consider my OSA as a disability,  but I understand it can be for others.  I'm disabled by other things,  but obviously my post questioning that was as bad as commenting about being an anti-smoker and not liking secondhand smoke because the smokers will jump on you faster than an eagle on a field mouse.  

I put the poll up here to see how others felt in regards to OSA being a disability,  and from peoples responses and participating in the poll I've learned from this thread and found the poll results interesting.  Please don't try to make it into something it's not.  I hate no one,  I begrudge no one for getting something that I'm not.  I'm disabled and getting as much as I'm allowed anyway,  I in no way what so ever think someone getting disability for issues in life that truly disable them is wrong,  nor am I jealous of them for getting them.  I'm in the same boat also so how would that make sense???


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