Tips for Veterans Going In for a VA Disability Sleep Study

If you're a veteran seeking to establish a service connection for your sleep-related disorder, you'll likely need to undergo a VA sleep study. This study can be critical in determining whether you qualify for VA disability benefits for sleep apnea.

A VA sleep study is required before the sleep apnea exam. This is the first step in the VA sleep apnea process. First, you will need to get a consult for a VA sleep study from your VA doctor and you will have to pass the VA sleep apnea means test. With your consult in hand then you'll have to decide if you want a VA sleep study at home or at a VA sleep study center.

Personally, I would go to the VA sleep center because you will get medical evidence there and you will need that when you file your claim for Sleep Apnea. This video shows you how to pass your sleep apnea means test.

[JJazu]

If you think you might have sleep apnea while on active duty, get the sleep study done, and start using CPAP prior to separation. Makes this process much easier, thanks for all the great info Craig !

[livininmexico]

They finally caught you CC, giving awesome tips and tricks of positive information for all veterans. The VA doesn't like that so they threw the book at ya! Awesome video. Thanks CC!

[beardedbeastmetalmilitia]

I unfortunately have sleep apnea and was blessed to receive the 50% even after I was out several years! Been using a cpap for around 8 yrs now!

[donalddodson]

I have had VA provided CPAP-APAP machines since 2013. I participated in a VA sleep study studying the correlation between PTSD and sleep apnea, and exploring CPAP as a possible treatment modality. For me, it has been absolutely life changing! I am always sad when our brothers and sisters refuse to use the prescribed CPAP for more than a few nights. It took 5 masks and 3 adjustments to the pressure settings, but I just kept coming back and it has been fantastic since then. They even replaced my recalled Phillips machine within a couple of weeks of the recall notice.

[majikk]

I had to do two sleep studies at the VA. The first study I choked all night and they brought me back for the second study. This is when they told me I had complex sleep apnea, a mixture of central brain issues and obstructive issues. My C&P doc went into detail about this and asked more questions than I could think of which was amazing. I claimed this as a secondary to PTSD which made perfect sense. Waiting on the results any day now...

[damianrodriguez]

I wish I knew all this before getting out. Anyways learning a lot from you. Listen to this Man. I went from 30% to 90%. THANK YOU COMBAT CRAIG.

[scrapguy]

Yup. My mental health therapist suggested a sleep study. I received it through the VA. Found to stop breathing 26 times an hour. Was issued a CPAP. Still trying to get used to it. I seem to be sleeping better. That crazy costume is awesome man. Going to see about getting one for Halloween. If anyone asks who I am. I'm going to tell them "Convict Craig" and you know I can pass for it. LOL!! Take care brother.

[paull.]

Dude! The costume cracked me up...and then the intro to 'Convict Craig'...made my day!!

[soonermodels]

Finally got my 50% sleep apnea secondary to ptsd ..now im 100% P&T

[CENTURION]

I have sleep apnea and a c machine. The letter I received from the VA said they don't pay for sleep apnea and rated at 70%ptsd

[anitameyer]

Love the costume! Thank you CC for all your valuable information!

[larrybrown]

I learned 12 years after I retired I have sleep apnea. I fell sleep at the McDonals drive thru with my foot on the brake. I also snored and stopped breathing while I slept. If you think you have it get checked and worry about the VA after.

[txdave]

I had my sleep study at a VA sleep study center. After 2 hours they woke me up because they thought I was going to die. LOL. I ended up being diagnosed with complex sleep apnea. I was put on BIPAP with supplemental oxygen. My oxygen saturation level would drop dramatically without the oxygen. My sleep was a real train wreck. Sleeping much better now.

[BlackRVer]

That right CC! Preach it from your Prison bunker, LOL.
I am a sleep apnea patient also with a cpap machine. After the study they say I stop breathing 119 times in a night.
Have a fine Navy day CC!

[CSmithUSMC]

When I went in for my sleep study my insomnia kept me awake all night until the last three hours until discharged. I had to take my gabapintin and cyclobenzaprine and crash out. I did get my insomnia noted to secondary to my PTSD. I did this in 2015 but the V.A. only retro me for 2019. It's up at the BVA since 2020. Nice costume!

[tonyforrest]

I recently was awarded 50% for PTSD and have been trying to get my sleep apnea secondary. I've found that because I'm in the National Guard it seems to make it harder to tie things to service even though I have deployments. It seems I may not be able to say my OSA is caused by service so shooting for the PTSD aggravates my OSA. But as you said, finding the doctor to write the Nexus is the tricky part.

[clyderhoads]

I just got my Obstructive Sleep Apnea service connected last week, 8 years post-service. I got diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and prescribed a CPAP through the VA about a year ago. When applying I submitted 3 buddy letters as well as a letter from my wife and a personal statement. I had to do ANOTHER at-home sleep study and attend a CPAP, where the physician reviewed my current medical records, statements and study results. Weeks later OSA was crevice connected on its own, not secondary.

[charlesabbott]

I had a sleep study test done and the doctor at the VA Hospital told me that I am sever. A claim was put in and after 3 years I got a letter from DAV telling me that I should get 50%. Two months later I got a letter from the VA stating that I will be getting 20%.. This was back in 2019. This month I got with my DAV rep and filed to have my file look at. Since it was over 1 year, I had to submit another type of paper to have the claim looked at again. I hope that it will be up to 25% more.

[paulmorris]

YES!! Do the sleep study AT A SLEEP LAB!! I went there ONE night. It was worth EVERY SECOND! Got the 50%, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and am on a CPAP every night…with the 50% rating!! Don’t waste your time with an at-home test.

[horatiofox]

Great content! I was rated at 50%. I was diagnosed while on active duty.