Other Afflictions Secondary To Ptsd

[RC135Linguist]

I'm currently rated 70% service-connected due to PTSD. I have also filed a newer claim for sleep apnea secondary to my PTSD (my primary care doctor was nice enough to sign a nexus letter stating that "more likely than not his PTSD exacerbates his breathing while sleeping, which in turn causes interruptions in his sleep and leads to obstructive sleep apnea.") My VA rep feels pretty confident that this sleep apnea claim will add another 50% to my service-connection. The way they compute it, though, is 50% of the remaining 30% which will add 15% to my service connection and take it to 85% total. And then when they round that up (which they typically do) it will become 90%. (If anyone wants a lesson in how they calculate the combination of more than one service-connected percentages, let me know!)

A few months ago I was diagnosed with PACs, Atrial Fibrillation, and Atrial flutter (it all amounts to a form of arrhythmia.) I've been told that these heart conditions are caused either by a) genetics or b) stress. Has anyone here put in a claim for arrhythmia secondary to PTSD due to stress and successfully gotten a service connection for it?

I'm not sure if everyone is aware of it or not, but there are several physical ailments that can be claimed as secondary disabilities to PTSD.

Thanks for any input!

VAR

 

[Sarg]

Can't help you, Var. My VA P-doc wanted me to do a sleep study and I refused because I was a flaming drunk at the time. Couldn't give up my booze for one single night to do it. Plus, I wouldn't wear one of those masks if they threatened to shoot me. I wouldn't be able to sleep with one of those on.

I do know I snore loud enough to loosen the nails in the shingles. When I moved back up here to altitude, I snored my throat so raw I started bleeding. Freaked out when I coughed up blood one night, thinking I was bleeding internally.

If you're putting claims together, I highly recommend www. hadit.com. Ladies there know more about VA regs than the VA does. Might be able to get your rating higher than what you expect. Give them a try, cool people.

Sarg