collaborative post | Sleep apnea is one of the most common conditions veterans receive disability benefits for. It is rated as obstructive or central and can be a symptom of other medical conditions.
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Some veterans may qualify for a secondary service connection for sleep apnea by establishing that it is the result of their military service. The link between a veteran’s sleep apnea and their service must be found with a medical opinion.
Blast Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI can occur when an external force impacts part of the brain. TBIs can be caused by falls, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and shock wave blasts from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or rocket-propelled grenades. Blast-related TBIs are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries among active service members in war zones.
Sleep disturbances are common and debilitating for many people with TBI. A recent study found that people who had experienced a TBI were 41% more likely to have developed a sleep disorder at some point in their lives than people who hadn’t suffered a TBI.
Researchers studied the effects of TBI on Veterans. They found that people who had a TBI were more likely to have PTSD and less likely to have sound sleep than people who didn’t have a TBI. TBI also appeared to reduce white matter integrity.
Moreover, VA compensation for sleep apnea can be granted to eligible veterans whose condition is linked to or aggravated by their military service, providing financial support based on the severity and impact of the sleep disorder on their overall health and daily life.
Stress
Stress is a common factor in sleep apnea. But it’s not the cause; it’s just one factor that can worsen symptoms.
Service members may also have access to free health care, a form of managed care. They can choose from four plans, depending on where they live. These plans cover a variety of medical services, from routine checkups to surgeries.
On base, service members can find a wide range of dining options—from cafeteria-style facilities to name-brand restaurants in most cities and towns. Many floors offer food delivery and even food trucks.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the muscles that control your throat relax during sleep and narrow or close the airway. This usually occurs dozens of times an hour, and you may not remember waking up for a moment or two each time. It is more common in people who are overweight, and it may be caused by a thicker neck (“pectoralis major”), enlarged tonsils, or a deviated septum. Health problems like endocrine disorders and heart failure may also increase the risk of OSA.
The most apparent symptom is snoring. Some people may also have shortness of breath that wakes them up in the middle of the night. Other symptoms include pauses in breathing that others notice (or can hear) while you are sleeping or excessive daytime drowsiness that affects your ability to work, drive, or pay attention.
A pulmonologist or a sleep specialist can diagnose obstructive sleep apnea using an overnight in-laboratory polysomnography test and a lateral neck X-ray. Treatment options may include weight loss; position changes while you sleep, and special pillows that keep your head raised so the throat is not compressed.
Heart Disease
The repeated pauses in breathing that characterize sleep apnea can damage the heart. They may also increase blood pressure and force the heart to work harder to pump enough oxygenated blood for the body’s needs, increasing the risk of a heart attack. Heart failure, high cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and metabolic syndrome are also more common in people with sleep apnea.
Those with sleep apnea may also be more likely to develop a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to poor blood flow, stroke, and high blood pressure. This is because of the way that sleep disturbances can raise levels of a hormone called adrenaline.
People in the uniformed services are immediately eligible for full military health benefits as soon as they begin their service, and those benefits continue until retirement or separation from the military. That includes other options, including managed care with no out-of-pocket charges for active duty and enrolled National Guard/Reserve members.
