Where to find Independent Medical Opinion

[USMCVet]

I was wondering if anyone knows where to get an independent medical opinion on sleep apnea? I ask because I want an impartial opinion if it might be related or began in service roughly 10 years ago.

Basic reasons I wonder is because all around the same time I had roommate could complain of snoring, diagnosed with hypertension which as of this point has never been under complete control. Around same time gained 25 lbs in 5 months
Had throat collapse during tonsillectomy and had to be reintubated ( not in medical records), chest pains since that time which continue to today, elevated liver enzymes months after I got out of service. While on service I would always fall alseep while riding in vehicles but never complained of being tired. I'm sure I might be missing some things and alone might be coincidence but from what I have read those are all symptoms. Oh and after tonsillectomy I had to see speech therapist for food and liquid going up my nose.

Does it sound like sleep Apnea issues or am I just wrong?

[Julie]

Of course those are all issues/symptoms of apnea, whatever else might also be going on with you that only your doctor would have answers for, but I don't understand your starting this thread separate from your others (and making it difficult for us to find out what else has gone on), as if someone had challenged your having apnea. If you want second and/or third opinions your GP should be able to refer you to either a pulmunologist or neurologist trained in sleep medicine... at least that's the usual route.

[Jay Aitchsee]

Generally, for sleep apnea or other sleep related issues, one would want to seek out a doctor certified in sleep medicine. Most are pulmonologists, but others become certified as well; ENT, Neurologist, etc.
Your insurance could be a factor. Do you have health insurance other than the VA? Retired with Tricare? From Work? Other?
I'm not sure of your intent. Are you supposing your sleep apnea could be service related? I think that's a bit of a stretch. You may have had untreated sleep apnea in service, but I doubt it would be considered service related or connected (IMHO).

[USMCVet]

The reason why I started a new thread is because it's not a question of having sleep apnea that is a fact. I'm only asking because if it did start or caused by service then there are additional benefits I would receive. To get those I would need to figure out if it started in service or caused by it which I think there is a good chance but I'm obviously not a medical professional. If it was more likely then not caused or started in service then I would need a medical professional to say so.

[SewTired]

Unless you can show that the problem started substantially after your surgery, I don't think you could show this as service related. Snoring is an indication of sleep apnea, many people snore who do not have sleep apnea. My BIL's son was diagnosed with sleep apnea before he left the Navy, but they did not increase his pension to cover that. Tricare does cover everything - machine and supplies - but they did not cover a backup (which I helped him find on Craigslist).

[USMCVet]

That's why I need a medical opinion. The VA is tough. For example I have a large swelling on right forearm. It occurred at end of service and I had surgery on it before I got out as well. It was determined to be tenosynovitis but never showed up on MRI and wasn't as painful as you'd expect for tenosynovitis. So now it was just confirmed I have a huge hernia that they can't fix in forearm. VA denied connection because I broke that arm prior to service. That was determined my physician assistant. So I had a VA orthopedic surgeon write opinion that it was not likely caused by breaking of arm prior to service because there was a 10 year gap between breaking of arm and onset of symptoms in service. VA said they find the PA more credible then specialist lol.

[Julie]

Little secret (not ) - most of us have, over time, realized that we probably had apnea for a long time before knowing it, quite possibly even in childhood (so much of the etiology being anatomic), though maybe not severe enough to show up in everyday life and possibly only (for women) post menopause when many changes take place more obviously as well. It's very possible you've had it for ages, if not forever, and the likelihood it was 'caused' somehow by service I would think is pretty remote. I'm not sure how it would be, regardless of whatever you did in the service.

[Okie bipap]

In the unlikely event you can convince a doctor your sleep apnea is service connected, or caused by your military service, I doubt if it would be classified as a disability.

[SewTired]

OK, I see your point. I would think your best bet for an opinion would be a sleep doctor associated with a university or Mayo. That is, unless someone here can wing you a specific doc located near you with whom they have had good experience. If you can produce ANY record during your service that indicates you had these issues as well as confirmation from your former roommate about the snoring, you at least could show evidence that you likely had apnea while in the service.

I haven't read your other post, but even if you developed the apnea after your discharge, the VA still covers apnea associated equipment. My BIL didn't have apnea until 20 years after he left the service and they were happy to give him one if he wanted. An alternative solution of raising head of bed has resolved his issues for now.

Yes, I totally understand how hard it is to get stuff through VA. My late uncle had a lot of hassle getting even partial disability and he had tons of evidence that his severe arthritis was service related (he was in the hospital for 4 months after a base vehicle crash).

[USMCVet]

Everything in my OP here is in my military medical records. So I can easily prove all of what I said.

Obviously this isn't in my records and getting them to write it out is unlikely but I made comments to nurses and PA that if did end up having sleep apnea that it would explain a lot of my medical issues since service. They shook their heads up and down.

But seriously the VA is rediculous. Years back I was complaining of hearing loss in a ear. I went to audiologist who said I should file claim for tinnitus based on my history. That was first time I heard of making claims. It was denied because I had tubes as child even though I had no scaring on eardrums until halfway through service. Sorry to vent . Honestly I should probably just find a lawyer to deal with all of it for me because it is stressful dealing with their bureaucracy.

[LSAT]

Everything in my OP here is in my military medical records. So I can easily prove all of what I said.

Obviously this isn't in my records and getting them to write it out is unlikely but I made comments to nurses and PA that if did end up having sleep apnea that it would explain a lot of my medical issues since service. They shook their heads up and down.

But seriously the VA is rediculous. Years back I was complaining of hearing loss in a ear. I went to audiologist who said I should file claim for tinnitus based on my history. That was first time I heard of making claims. It was denied because I had tubes as child even though I had no scaring on eardrums until halfway through service. Sorry to vent . Honestly I should probably just find a lawyer to deal with all of it for me because it is stressful dealing with their bureaucracy.

Filing a claim for tinnitus? Hundreds of thousands of people have non-service related tinnitus. My doctor said it could have come from the power lawnmower.

[palerider]

The reason why I started a new thread is because it's not a question of having sleep apnea that is a fact. I'm only asking because if it did start or caused by service then there are additional benefits I would receive. To get those I would need to figure out if it started in service or caused by it which I think there is a good chance but I'm obviously not a medical professional. If it was more likely then not caused or started in service then I would need a medical professional to say so.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, it's caused by *genetics*.

[Julie]

And as far as apnea goes, you may have had it for a long time but never knew anything different until you were put in an environment (fighting) that made it clear you couldn't cope there as you could get away with otherwise... you finally had to pay attention, but that doesn't mean it was caused by war, just not up to it.

[USMCVet]

Everything in my OP here is in my military medical records. So I can easily prove all of what I said.

Obviously this isn't in my records and getting them to write it out is unlikely but I made comments to nurses and PA that if did end up having sleep apnea that it would explain a lot of my medical issues since service. They shook their heads up and down.

But seriously the VA is rediculous. Years back I was complaining of hearing loss in a ear. I went to audiologist who said I should file claim for tinnitus based on my history. That was first time I heard of making claims. It was denied because I had tubes as child even though I had no scaring on eardrums until halfway through service. Sorry to vent . Honestly I should probably just find a lawyer to deal with all of it for me because it is stressful dealing with their bureaucracy.

Filing a claim for tinnitus? Hundreds of thousands of people have non-service related tinnitus. My doctor said it could have come from the power lawnmower.

That's a VA audiologist said to do. Besides scaring on ear drums in service I also had incident with lots of gun fire with hearing protection which is when I began hearing the ringing and being around 25 mm guns that when they fire you feel the concussion and being in infantry MOS doesn't help. They conceded noise exposure but latched on to tubes as child.

Again I'm not a medical professional and I assume most here are not as well which is why I'm looking for Independent opinion.

[Goofproof]

Unless you are a Super Soldier, created by genetic manipulation (X Files) or (Military), I have to blame heredity (Genes). As we age we wear out. Jim