Help with VA rating

[josh]

I have been granted service connection with the VA for OSA after a long battle, and now I am faced with another battle of getting the proper rating.

These are the ratings by the VA for sleep apnea (in percentages):

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

Where do you think I would fall, considering that I had:
UPPP, tonsillectomy, septoplasty and turbinate reduction
MMA with genioglosus advancement due to congenital marked decreased airway size
Somnodent oral appliance
Septoplasty, bilateral turbinate reduction, and sinus surgery
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation to address retrolingual airway narrowing

In short, I have 5 plates, 22 screws, a pacemaker like device, and so on. I have not had a tracheostomy, but boy it feels close per the VA rating scale.

Should I be 100? I have no idea. But should I be above 50?

Thanks

[chunkyfrog]

Ask your doctor.

[josh]

Thanks Chunky, unfortunately its not a doctor question...and no one has been down this path before.

[chunkyfrog]

Then ask the VA.
It's their party.

[josh]

Hahaha...ask the VA...no its a fight with the VA all the time. And even they don't know the answer! So I'm just looking for if you were me, based on what I said in the post, where would you rate yourself? Way more complicated to say "hey doc, would I require tracheostomy", since it is so outdated. The VA will likely look at me and say "oh you aren't on cpap, so 0%". SMH

[palerider]

Thanks Chunky, unfortunately its not a doctor question...and no one has been down this path before.

Yes, it is, and yes they have.

[ChicagoGranny]

You are telling us what was done to you medically,

UPPP, tonsillectomy, septoplasty and turbinate reduction
MMA with genioglosus advancement due to congenital marked decreased airway size
Somnodent oral appliance
Septoplasty, bilateral turbinate reduction, and sinus surgery
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation to address retrolingual airway narrowing

but, the ratings are based on conditions and symptons:

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

What is your current condition or symptoms?

[ChicagoGranny]

Here is part of your post from May 2:

Hi,

Been a while, but I have this so-called hypoglossal nerve stimulator, and it works great most of the time. When it doesn't work, i.e. I turn it off in my sleep, I feel the effects of not using it for a full 3 days (headaches/irritbility). So I guess that is how I know it actually works.

josh

Based on that, you are symptom free when you use the device as intended. Is it a safe assumption that the VA has no rating for a hyperglossal nerve stimulator? BTW, is yours the Inspire brand?

[josh]

I'm not technically allowed to talk about the brand that I have lol.

But a person gets a 50% rating if they are on CPAP, and have no symptoms while off of it.

They do not address surgery. Like the MMA/GA I had done, where they cut off and advanced both of my jaws 1/2", pulled my chin out rotated it to move my tongue forward, inserted 22 screws into 5 plates, and now I have permanent nerve damage in my lower lip/chin (i.e. loss of feeling), also when I dive into water (or dunk my head under water), I feel such enormous pressure that it feels like it is ripping my jaw apart.

With HNS, I feel like I'm doing great with it. However, when I wake up at night, I feel, and hear, the shocks. It makes me depressed. I have the inadvertent ability to shut it off at night, and when that happens, I get severe headaches, and extreme irritability for days. Not to mention I have a visible scar in my neck, and one on my chest. The chest scar itches. And not to mention I have a lithium-ion battery inside of me.

But yes when I use the device I am "symptom free", but so is a veteran that uses CPAP and receives a 50% rating.

[lamar2217]

It seems that our forum members have forgotten to thank you for your service defending our country. I salute a veteran.

[djensen9367]

You have the hardest part done, that is getting it service connected, I have been trying to get mine service connected for awhile and it is an uphill battle.

You really need to wait until they give you a rating based on all the information you have submitted to the VA. If you don't get the rating you feel you deserve then you appeal, at that time get your personal Doctors opinion and anything else you can get your hands on to back up your claim. I personally think if you are not on CPAP you will probably get the 0% you are fearful of. From my experience the VA does not make ratings outside of the set guideline, if you are lucky they could give you 50% at most but not being on CPAP that might not be possible as they will not make a special rating for you. Is there anything else your problems might fall under, I am only familiar with the health problems I have applied for as they will not make suggestions and I have had to dig deep on the internet to see what I have that might qualify. Being a Vietnam Vet and under agent orange guidelines there are quite a few presumptive (automatic) things that I qualify for.

I don't know who your VSO is but DAV has been valuable to me in resolving issues I have run up against, thanks for serving and good luck in your quest,

[Goofproof]

How did military service cause your airway to collapse. I was poisoned by Agent Orange, something that can never be corrected, I also have Sleep Apnea, I never applied for a disability for it because !. It's not the Armys or Governments fault I have it, however them ruining my health by Spraying Agent Orange, with human poisons in it to save money, and make more profit for the companies selling it to them is.

I get 25% from them for Agent Orange Poisoning, something that gets worse daily, I 'd give back the money double if they would take back the health damage it causes daily. I wouldn't take a dime for Sleep Apnea, I'd use the treatment that works and correct the problem. Jim

[chunkyfrog]

A word to the wise: since cpap is the only recognized treatment,
anything else is not.

[smith972]

I just want to say to the vets thank you for your service.

My dad is a Vietnam Vet and was recently given his 100% due to Agent Orange. He served two tours. My parents have been asking me to look into first born children being tainted because of agent orange and think that some of my health conditions might be linked to it.....but i have just not taken the time to look into it.

[palerider]

It seems that our forum members have forgotten to thank you for your service defending our country. I salute a veteran.

Is there anything where you won't stick your unwanted face in and make some derogatory remark?