snorechamp wrote:

Dear Frodo,

This is a very good idea!  I've been with the VA for several years and never seem to get my questions answered.  How often will the VA replace my mask?  How about my generator?  I have a big bulky Respironics that weighs 15 tons.  I was told I'm  lucky to have one.  I guess they are right.

No they're not! You EARNED that medical benefit and don't ever forget it. They promised you care if you served. You served and did your part. They are not doing you a favor to meet their promises.

And for those of us who are disabled, we not only served but we ended up injured or sick or crippled while on active duty or caused by our active duty service. They are not just being nice to us out of the goodness of their hearts by giving us care.

JohnP

peke wrote:

Frodo,

My husband may have sleep apnea, but he is afraid he will be forced to retire early from the Air Guard. If you have any information on disability or anything we would appreciate it. He won't do a sleep study until he knows.

Thanks,

Peke, he is very very foolish. He is risking his health and his life over this? Would he rather die than get less disability than he "deserves"? "I'm not going to tell them my leg was blown off and I am slowly bleeding to death until I know how much I will get when they outprocess me".

Tell him he gets less total if he dies earlier. Possibly, that will get him to think about what he is doing.

"Hello St. Peter. I only lasted a month after retiring but I waited until I found out I got 50% disability. Boy, did I make out!"

JohnP

Howdy all,


Sorry I was out for a few days.  I will read all the post and respond as soon as I can.

Thank you for your comments,
Frodo


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Successful Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction surgery?saline irrigation...continuing cpap trial for pressure settings...

peke wrote:

Frodo,

My husband may have sleep apnea, but he is afraid he will be forced to retire early from the Air Guard. If you have any information on disability or anything we would appreciate it. He won't do a sleep study until he knows.

Thanks,

Peke,
I agree with the response above.  Your husband needs to get it checked out; health and family should always be first.  I too had some reluctance to getting it checked out but the more educated I became on the subject, the more I realized how serious it can be.

I can't say for sure (not an expert by any means) but I guess it would depend on his job, how many years he has in, and how severe his apnea is.  My doc told me that in the past is was no big deal and I would be returned to active duty after the medical board.  Now that we are trying to downsize, who knows.  I believe the standard was if you need a CPAP you could be returned to AD and would have an Assignment Limitation Code C which would limit you to stateside assignments.  However, there are waivers for everything (see my post about ASSIGNMENT LIMITATION CODE (ALC) "C") and his Commander can sign a “STRATIFICATIONâ€� letter to allow him to PCS to an overseas base and or deploy.  With your husband being an ANG member, rules may be different.  I would hope that his Commander would see him as an asset even if he can not deploy (IF his apnea is that severe).  The best advice I can offer is he needs to call and talk to the right people (Docs, MPF, VA).   I will post links as I find them.  The benefits have changed recently and I need to find this info out too.  

Good luck to you and your husband and please urge him to have it checked out ASAP.  I think the worst case is if he was “Forcedâ€� to retire (which it would mean he needs a CPAP and that is 50% disability) he would get his retirement pay and a supplement disability pay (this is the part I am doing research on).  If his apnea is mild and he wouldn’t need a CPAP, then there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.  

Ciao for now,
Frodo


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Successful Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction surgery?saline irrigation...continuing cpap trial for pressure settings...

snorechamp wrote:

Dear Frodo,

This is a very good idea!  I've been with the VA for several years and never seem to get my questions answered.  How often will the VA replace my mask?  How about my generator?  I have a big bulky Respironics that weighs 15 tons.  I was told I'm  lucky to have one.  I guess they are right.

snorechamp,
     Love the name btw.  I will be sending an email/calling to the VA  and TRICARE for this exact question and other replacement timelines.  Please let me know if you want me to ask anything else.

Frodo


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Successful Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction surgery?saline irrigation...continuing cpap trial for pressure settings...

I am an 8 yr  active duty sailor whom is currently undergoing the Navy's wonderful (sarcasm) disability evaluation system. After speaking with my JAG attourney I was informed that infact the VA claims for Obstructive airway Sleep Apnea (OSA) rates at about 50% or better if your on a CPAP more often then not. HOWEVER, I was also told that I should forget about OSA when it comes to Navy disability compensation because they do not consider OSA a disability despite the outline in the Veterans Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). Long story short they (the Navy) pretty much can pick and choose what and how much when it comes to disabilities. The only argument you can make with them is if you can prove a SIGNIFICANT work loss because of your symptoms of Daytime Hypersolmence. But then you run the risk of being diagnosed with f*@!in' narcolepsy and you lose again on the anti-pyramiding rules (see VASRD). Stupid all around! I didn't see them complaining when I gave eight years of service at the risk of taking a dirt nap before I hit the 20 yr retirement.  I got broken and have been deemed un-needed by the Navy - so I feel that for my service connected medical troubles, for cutting my career short, for making me start anew in a different job market, and for missing out on the full retirement I deserve compensation and am that I am rightfully disgusted at the stress and frustration I must endure to secure said benifits. Sorry just venting. I can't wait till this BS is done. wish me luck.

OK, I guess I have a few questions.  I have been in the Army for 14 years.  It will be 15 years on August 27th.  I was diagnosed with Severe OSA two years ago.  I have kept it under the table since I was diagnosed.  Currently I'm on my 3rd year as a Drill Sergeant and this OSA is kicking my butt.  Since my original diagnosis, my OSA has gotten worse.  I had to do another sleep study last year and they told me that im gettin worse.  I had to have my CPAP adjusted from"7" to "11".  I know that Severe OSA will get me 50% disability.  The thing is that I don't want to get out.  I would like to contine to serve my remaining 5 years and retire.  But I have a few questions......

1.  If I get a P3 profile now with 14 years and 8 months TIS, will they force a medical discharge on me?  I was told that I need to wait till I have 15 years TIS and then I will get a choice to get out or stay in.

2.  If I choose to get out I was told that I want to get "Medically Retired."  Does this mean that I get a portion of my retirement and 50% disability, or am I just gonna get 50% disability?

If I choose to stay in the Army and retire at 20 years, will I get my normal retirement of 50% + 50% disability, which equals 100%?  Or is there a catch to this as well?

I have a wife and four kids to support and I know that there is no way that I could do this with just 50% Disability which = to: Base Pay (3424.20)  50%= (1712.10) + 20545.20 annually.

3.  Also, how much would I get from VA for OSA?

threebrosracing wrote:

OK, I guess I have a few questions.  I have been in the Army for 14 years.  It will be 15 years on August 27th.  I was diagnosed with Severe OSA two years ago.  I have kept it under the table since I was diagnosed.  Currently I'm on my 3rd year as a Drill Sergeant and this OSA is kicking my butt.  Since my original diagnosis, my OSA has gotten worse.  I had to do another sleep study last year and they told me that im gettin worse.  I had to have my CPAP adjusted from"7" to "11".  I know that Severe OSA will get me 50% disability.  The thing is that I don't want to get out.  I would like to contine to serve my remaining 5 years and retire.  But I have a few questions......

1.  If I get a P3 profile now with 14 years and 8 months TIS, will they force a medical discharge on me?  I was told that I need to wait till I have 15 years TIS and then I will get a choice to get out or stay in.

2.  If I choose to get out I was told that I want to get "Medically Retired."  Does this mean that I get a portion of my retirement and 50% disability, or am I just gonna get 50% disability?

If I choose to stay in the Army and retire at 20 years, will I get my normal retirement of 50% + 50% disability, which equals 100%?  Or is there a catch to this as well?

I have a wife and four kids to support and I know that there is no way that I could do this with just 50% Disability which = to: Base Pay (3424.20)  50%= (1712.10) + 20545.20 annually.

3.  Also, how much would I get from VA for OSA?

There's good news and bad news.  You're probably not getting worse, you're probably just not getting any better. You didn't say what machine you're using. Is it a constant pressure machine? Does it have C-Flex or EPR? Is it a CPAP, APAP or BiPAP? Does it have a heated humidifier?

I can't answer number one. All I can suggest is to work with your doctor to prolong as long as you can. I have a injured back and knees. I was able to drag it out for about a year after they tried to retire me at 20 with no medical. I finally got 40% from the Air Force and the same from VA.

Number 2. There is a catch. If you can get medically retired at 50% disability you will recieve 50% of your base pay at the time you medically retire, regardless if you make 20. When less than 20 year retirement with a medical retirement of 50% you will receive 50% of you base pay, and all of it will be non taxable. That's worth a couple of grand a year.  If you make 20 and have a 50% Army medical retirement, you will get that same thing. You don't get 50% for 20 and another 50% for medical. But at 50% disability, all of your retired pay is non taxable by the Feds or state.

Number 3. The VA medical retirement is an offset and it's just that, it offsets your military retirement. It's important to get a VA medical eval for disability as soon as you can, probably as you're going through the military retirement process. Whatever the VA percentage is you'll get that much from VA. (It's usually only pennies compared to the military retirement pension.) Whatever the amount is, you'll get that from the VA. The amount the VA gives you will be subtracted from the military retirement so you come out with the same, regardless. If there's a difference, say the VA is greater disability percentage that the military, it will be a little bit more, but not much. It's about $12.50 for every 1 percent. It is not in addition to the military retirement. Bummer, huh?

The important thing with medical retirement is that once you are retired, the Army cannot change you disability percentage. The reason you want to get a VA retirement eval, too, is that if your disability gets worse, the VA disability rating can increase, but it needs to be documented that it is connected to the service -- either as a result of service or aggravated by the service. From what I hear, primarily from this forum, the VA disability rating of SA is also 50%.

One last thing. Try to get your doctor to prescribe an auto-titrating CPAP or APAP. These machines will adjust automatically and are much more effective that a fixed pressure CPAP. Also important is getting a machine that has an exhale pressure relief feature. It's call C-Flex on Respironics and EPR on ResMed. Only the Respironics has this feature on APAP machines. No other machine has it on their automatic systems. These features help with compliance. I'm currently working on getting Tricare to furnish me one. If Tricare won't buy it, with a doctors precription you can get one on the Internet for about $700 with heated humidifier. Tricare is reluctant to furnish these machines, but with your doctor's help you may be able to swing one. If I am able to get mine, I will come back and give you more details. See my entry above on my "Journey to find a good night's sleep".

Hope this answers some of your questions.

Ron

Ron and everyone else that has posted,
First of all, thank you for all the information that you wrote.  Very helpfull information please keep posting everybody :)

I am also trying to post links here to actual regulations that someone in this very situation can look up and use to their benefit.  It is a lot easier to go into an office (doc or legal) with some documentation instead of "I read this on the internet".  I know this very well as every time I go to see my doc or talk to "the boss" at the clinic, I try to explain that this is life threatining and I should have received my cpap (vpap) ASAP.  With no referances, it is fighting an uphill battle.  So if anyone has actual regulations and or links, please let me know and I will post them in the reserved sections.  

Even if you don't have links, please keep posting as all info is helpfull.  Lets take care of our own.

Thank you all,
Frodo


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Successful Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction surgery?saline irrigation...continuing cpap trial for pressure settings...

Thanks Ron, the only reason why I say I'm getting worse is on my last sllep study they told me that generally most people get better on the CPAP (this is what Im using)  but for some reason your condition is getting worse.  Thas what they told me.  I'm not sure of the prand, but I don't think it has all those fancy features, and I know it doesn't have a humidifier and I'm pretty sure it is a constant pressure machine.  I will check tonight.

Anonymous wrote:

Number 2. There is a catch. If you can get medically retired at 50% disability you will recieve 50% of your base pay at the time you medically retire, regardless if you make 20. When less than 20 year retirement with a medical retirement of 50% you will receive 50% of you base pay, and all of it will be non taxable. That's worth a couple of grand a year.  If you make 20 and have a 50% Army medical retirement, you will get that same thing.

So does this mean that if I get medically retired at 15 years with 50% disabillity, I will get 50% of my base pay and it is Tax Free?  Or are you saying that if I take a 15 year retirement option, and get medically discharged?retired it will be tax free?

Not sure what service you were in but there hasn't been a 15 year retirement option in the Army in probablly 10 or so years.

All, I just sent an email to the VA asking several questions, I hope to hear from them soon.

Ciao for now,
Frodo

Dear VA,
I am in the AF for over 18 years and I may be retiring soon.  I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and I have a few questions.  I also participate in the on-line support group at apneasupport.org and there are several vets that have similar problems/questions.  These answers would be both for me and fellow vets on the site.  

1.    Is there any documentation or medical examination I should get before I retire to ensure I get my full benefits?
2.    How does the compensation work for a retired vet with sleep apnea with a CPAP machine (50% disability)?
3.    How does the supplement affect retirement pay?
4.    Does the percentage of disability add up if there is more than one service connect illness (i.e. sleep apnea, migraine, hearing loss)?
5.    What is the difference between military disability retirement and VA disability compensation/supplement?
6.    How often will the VA replace the CPAP machine and support equipment (mask, hose, dehumidifier, water chamber, filters)?
7.    Would anyone at the VA that is versed in benefits, compensation, supplement pay and or sleep apnea, be willing to participate on the apneasupport.org forum?  There are a lot of vets with many question and they could use your help.  

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

Sincerely...


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Successful Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction surgery?saline irrigation...continuing cpap trial for pressure settings...

Hello, I'd like to ask a question about my upcoming c&p examination for the VA.

During my time in active duty, which was only two years, I began suffereing a lot of symptoms associated with sleep apnea (I didn't know this at the time).  I was basically sent to every specialist and none could give me a diagnosis.  The only thing the military doctors found was during a sleep test in which my oxygen levels dropped below 80% multiple times.  I was given an honorable discharge and told to pursue medical complaints through the VA.  So I continued going to the doctors at the VA, and about six months later I had another sleep study done.  This time it showed I had mild obstructive sleep apnea.  I have since been given a cpap (remstar auto w/ c-flex) and have been feeling a little better.  

I'm worried that during the compensation and pension exam, the VA may try to say my disablility is not connected to my service since I was only in for such a short time.  I can't explain it, but when I entered I didn't have any the symptoms, nor did I have sleep apnea.  I suspect that these symptoms may even be a result from some other illness that the Military or VA cannot find.  Nonetheless, I have been fighting to get a diagnosis for 3 years, and now that I have one, I would like to at least get some kind medical compensation.  I guess I'm asking if there is anything I should know to increase my chances that my claim for sleep apnea won't be denied on the basis that it isn't service connected.  All I can say is that the symptoms of sleep apnea began while I was active duty for that short time.  Thanks for any advice.

Howdy all,

FYI -- I've made this topic a sticky so that it stays at the top of the list.  Please feel free to continue to use this particular topic, I'm sure it will be most useful for those in the military.



Linda


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Click here for link to FAQ and topics
Click here for link to section on machines and masks

Linda wrote:

Howdy all,

FYI -- I've made this topic a sticky so that it stays at the top of the list.  Please feel free to continue to use this particular topic, I'm sure it will be most useful for those in the military.



Linda

Thank you so much Linda,  this is a big help to all of us vets.     I will have a glass of wine in your honor tonight  


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Successful Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction surgery?saline irrigation...continuing cpap trial for pressure settings...

Linda wrote:

Howdy all,

FYI -- I've made this topic a sticky so that it stays at the top of the list.  Please feel free to continue to use this particular topic, I'm sure it will be most useful for those in the military.

Linda

Linda,

Is there any way that you would instead make a separate forum for issues associated with military and/or VA apnea? A single long sticky is just too difficult to use as it doesn't separate transient issues such as this question or individuals' temporary personal issues from broader topics making it difficult to follow the responses associated with military /veterans issues.

JohnP


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JohnP
I am not a doctor but play one in these forums.
Member of the U.S. Socialized Medicine Experimental Team - Known as the VA