We need a relief and a quicker and fasyter process to getting what we deserve a fair chance in dealing with our claims and grant an approval with evidence when poresented. The more help, the better. They also are not publicized much but its a sure thing going to one of them.. Greetings to brother and sister veterans. My husband was in the USAF from 1986-1990. during that time he was stationed in the Phillipines. A spousal letter for sleep apnea, which documents what your spouse has witnessed over the years, and the approximate dates he/she noticed your sleep apnea symptoms began in-service IS lay evidence. You're not alone. ask for referrals to see other doctors if you need to. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Justice and fairness is all we want. This format was borrowed from a NOVA conference on VA disability compensation primarily for Veterans Law attorneys. . Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! I found the link below during a google search for VA comp attorneys. If you are having trouble obtaining service connection for PTSD or other conditions and you think a buddy statement from your wife or other friend or family member would help, you are welcome to contact us online or at 888.878.9350 to discussyourcase. I wrote a bunch about each thing I claimed. Hello fellow vets, First time posting and I had been denied by the VA since 2006 for reason the sleep apnea is not service connected. Also have them check the archives of medical records. After that, I packed a bag and moved into my parents house until John agreed to get help. Now why? One year for the whole claims process. I read that they can get claims decided a lot faster if you have a qualified medical professional MD, PhD etc,. You need to obtain a Medical Nexus Letter to help you win and service connect your VA disability claim. Va Spouse Letter Example for Sleep Apnea Not the form you are looking for? E-Mail: [emailprotected]. Sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing, or shallow breaths while you sleep. Did you know that sleep apnea, has been medically proven to be a secondary to PTSD? This system is their fault, because it is all about time and quantity rather than quality. Well also detail how to file a claim for the Recognizing and Addressing An Underrated Veteran Disability Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is sexual harassment and or sexual assault experienced by a military service member. The VA puts a lot of merit in statements from spouses, and remember what I mentioned early, these can also be used to establish a service connection. The diagnosis is a suspected genetic diesease that started with the symptoms while I was in the military. Now think about this.. since several compensation claims were filed,to cover assignments, ranging from , two years (24 months) in South Korea DMZ line next day after the 24th INF Division pushed the NK, back up north. One thing I found is my doctors never did Blood sugar tests on me in-service, My diabetes was diagnosed post discharge by the VA, but since I have diabetic family members, they said Non-service connected. Regardless of the cause of your sleep apnea, a signed and dated letter from your spouse can go a long way to assisting you in filing a winning claim for this disability. Sample letter for sleep apnea: Fill out & sign online | DocHub The use of medication to be put on bottle and VA requirement, but not enforced. It took them 9 months to approve my request and that ended up been $13,000 in one payment direct deposit into my bank account. It can also play a crucial role in firmly establishing service connection as well. Click to Read Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1167 (Fed. Good luck James and God bless. Unfortunately, the truth is VA works ardously to help vets, but the the C&P evaluators are the ONES who run the show. My name is Vincent Collins I was in South Da Nang Vietnam Province in1970 at the time Agent Orange was administered I aquired hepatitis as well as high blood pressure during that time. I have been asked to write a letter in support of Williams R's claim. Is designed for loss, and was not hold to be. I am 87 years and my principal, among others, malady is CS F rhinorrhoea which means that the brain containing sack was punctured in a fall and the fluid continues to flow every minute every day. Thats the way they play the game. What is the veterans reaction toward VA giving out 17 million dollars in free bonus during the year 2015. The reason for the length of my disability claims package was because of the Veterans Administrationsincompetence. There have been some very helpful information provided, You can get a free lawyer through your local legion rep.Mine va rep. is in our courthouse but your American legion can help you. Do I need a Spousal letter supporting Sleep Apnea? - VA Claims Insider Phone: 336-714-5955 Lay evidence is one type of evidence that must be considered, and that competent lay evidence can be sufficient in and of itself. Plan to utilize some of this info. That was in July 2010. I will say this,they were prompt and very nice in responses. Lay evidence simply means after the fact evidence and it must be competent and credible. Amen my sister. I served from 1968-70, my initial complaints which were backed by the Veterans Doctors, & my own Specialists for the following Diseases, they are as follows: PTSD, Agent Orange, Hepatitis B, after (41 yrs. Thanks. The entire disability claims package, including documentation, was approximately 70 pages. We attempted to resuscitate her but were unsuccessful. The doctor ordered a sleep study and he was granted to use a CPAP device. Rory R Jones I say only to defend you and your family because obviously this govenerment cares nothing about their Veterans, especially those that are senior citizens now. You must keep on top of your claim all the time. Additionally, watering daily with s, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our. Thats all I got to say about that! to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA for disability. A current co-workers statement in support of a claim describing the severity of your current PTSD symptoms IS lay evidence. To have any and all claims looked at in an open and fair manner. When determining whether to obtain a buddy letter, consider the specifics of your case and the information needed to substantiate it. They arent in any hurry, either. On, "date if possible" I was with, "the veteran" while we were stationed on This section should include as much information as possible to readily highlight for VA the letters credibility, competency, and relevancy. Since PTSD often manifests many years after a traumatic event, spouses may be a more reliable lay witness than former servicemembers in situations where VA has already conceded the in-service stressor, as the spouse can more accurately testify about the veterans symptoms over time and their impact on his daily life. I cannot hire an attorney at this time due to needing my decision and no matter what, I am planning on suing for one million plus due to non disclosure. Also, the work arragement is all about processing claims and reducing volume-not about customer service. When John returned, he moved all his things out of our bedroom and into the basement. Knowing where to start . 3) Sleep Apnea Nexus Letter. all denied. Click HERE. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Click on Trace Your Claim Also, does the VA automatically rule against genetic diseases? I'm a board-certified sleep medicine physician. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. Any ideas. Draw your signature, type it, upload its image, or use your mobile device as a signature pad. May 17, 2018. Plus every time they asked fore clarification I would add another claim to my packet. It took three of his old high school friends to retrain him and help carry him home. It can also play a crucial role in firmly establishing service connection as well. I am 40% service connect thru the VA for loss of hearing, athuritis, + eczema. However, why do Vets mostly from that time, have to endure this? This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form. My doctor put in report that I complained she never answers my letters and that she does when in fact I have 19 unanswered letters and all these type things destroy your credibility and mine is very important to me. PDF Nexus Letter For Sleep Apnea - Plusfresc I served for almost 30 years and feel as though I have been put kick under a bus. I file a disability claim in 2003 for IBS and was granted 0%. Hope its over soon . Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims. I hope that helps push your claim along by greasing your wheels in at least one way to present your claim to a VA claims adjudicator. Some are slam dunks and I can generate the claimants award within 30 minutes of reviewing the folder; for othersamateur night, you can tell. All I have to say, you are ready to serve again? Since cutting back on his drinking, John slowly began to open up to me about what happened while he was deployed. i am disheartened reading many of your stories.. All I can add to the conversation is that I am service connected 100%+ for multiple gunshot wounds and PTSD, The VA has been very good to me over the course of my life and I domt have many complaints outside of the times I have seen people who I thought were deserving of compensation and unable to recieve the benefits they earned, often times in blood.. Good Luck to all of you and God Bless. The faster your start it the better it is, plus they will give you retroactive pay. A 100% rating yields $3332.06 per month. In your letter, you point out many references to daytime somnolence but there is no mention of OSA being observed by health care professionals. Their salaries range from $53,000 to $83,000 per year to turn us down. Its unfortunate that most of you have gone thru the HELL of VA. The Rep for whom failed to file what he told my wife and I he would do. The VA knows that spouses, pastors, friends and neighbors are biased. Many times a Vet will have a condition that there IS NO TREATMENT for thus they will not see doctors, but just put up with it. According to the law, service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. Afterwards Click on C & P Exam on the Here's what I mean - in BVA decision after BVA decision, I saw examples . The United States Government should take a long look at the way it has treated people throughout its history; Indians, blacks, and veteranshmm seems to be a pattern here. letters and electronic mail. Even though lay evidence can help you prove service connection, you still need competent medical evidence by a credentialed medical professional to help establish service connection. Spousal Letter Supporting Sleep Apnea. Click to Read Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F.3d 1372, 1377 (Fed. He isolated himself from everyone: me, his niece, his friends, and his siblings. Activist. I have a similar claim for PTSD and unemployability and have been denied even after the PTSD rules have been changed. I have letters from my doctors rating me at 100% . I have been trying for 41 years to get what is owed to me, as well as the rest of my brothers who served there country, during those dreadful years. We also connect veterans with independent medical professionals in our referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible independent medical opinions and nexus statements (medical nexus letters) for a wide range of disability conditions. I wonder if you could help me? She didnt want it. In this example, the brother of a veteran is writing on behalf of his brother with PTSD. Check and see what your doctors are saying about you.. Hi I dont know what the outcome will be nor do I have my hopes up. To that end, I usually try to have the latest copy of my records that I can get, just to use as a reference while writing my statement. Email: [hidden email], National Organization of Veterans Advocates. THANKS JORGE. Lewis Sanders Retired First Sergeant, I am a veteran that has continue to file claims for service connected disability and continues to be denied bases on not making my appointments with QTC here in the metro Atlanta office located on Peachtree Street downtown Atlanta. if they provide any salary compensation letter. U>S Army 1971-74. Most Veterans are not proving sleep apnea is service connected. I was unable to exercise and gains wait over 200 plus with a 69 inches height. I was so excited John was feeling social again, and that he seemed to be returning to the man Id married. What Makes a Good Buddy Statement? (Includes Example) I filed again with another advocate that someone at the VA told me about. 5107; 38 C.F.R. The y gave me a few asprin or what ever and said go back to your unit. Layevidenceis generally afforded probative value if it is provided by a person who has knowledge of facts or circumstances and conveys matters that can be observed and described by alayperson. The claims adjudicator also completely ignored all my treatments for sinusitis. It requires several key components, This is where the spousal letter comes into play. See 38 C.F.R. You might want them to have it notarized. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. ***EXAMPLE BUDDY STATEMENT*** September 6, 2006 To Whom It May Concern: I served with, ''the veteran" in, "Military organization" during, "specific time frames". Statements from a spouse are rarely effective. Could you possibly e-mail me a good sample letter were my Dr. can fill in the necessary information. there are Disabilities SC and CR that are not evaluated yet The only thing I know is the way I feel and the way they aggravate it. As I tell all my clients, just having a condition does not merit a disability rating from the VA. Provide every medical complaint to the ships doctor or on base..seek your own records. These letters can describe the nature of a veterans observable symptomsincluding their onset, frequency, duration, and the extent to which they affect or interfere with the veterans lifeas well as the events that may have precipitated the disability at issue. I have processed several requests for upgrading my service connection percentage. I would go now if asked to defend her. Therefore, we are out in the middle of nowhere. I hate to hear of so many verterans having to go through so much red tape for help. Thanks a lot. thay gave me a rating of 10%. How is it the veteran takes less . I first filed back in 2008 and due to being homeless I missed one of the required appointments. If you want to understand how to increase your disability or managed the process, check out my post to increase your disability compensation rating. Try to keep the letter one page in length or shorter. Go to the website at http://www.vqlan.org They say that they reviewed my claim and did not review my military Medical files, because no-one knows where they are. Here is just one of them. 3.303(d). I have the exact same problem . Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. Remember this one thing: Your claim is not nearly as important to them as it is to you. 3. Everytime I deal with a VA shrink all they care to ask me about is my past. my claim is going on almost 2 years with a congressman backing me an nothing has happen. Tell me why. Regardless of the official diagnosis, all are considered a serious medical condition. *A medically untrained individual is not usuallycompetentto offer a medical opinion regarding the etiology of disorders and such an opinion is generally assigned little probative weight. I have no idea who to contact, the American Legion that I am involved, well they are all older and not sure they would know about this, maybe you can point me in the right direction thanks. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). This quick disability claim letter to VA Comp & Pension from my own claim for sinusitis, sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis should help get your claim going. They also had to clean the planes. This type of sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. Providing Training For Those Who Represent Americas Veterans and Their Dependents Since 1993. Good Luck keep in touch. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! It provides the step by step process of researching your claim. Well I was killing people in the South Mekong River Valley area with a group of ARVN Rangers and a small Spec ops team. The three main types are obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome. Tell them about your vet affliations. Buddy letters can therefore play an extremely valuable role in winning VA disability cases. His letters were lengthy, lighthearted, and reflective of the man Id always known. If a person/organization does not plan on honoring its agreements and commitments, then why bother putting them in place in the first place?! Eight different sessionsview them all! Then guess what? Cir. the military just release me and did not try to give me help with my situation. He would not return phone calls e-mails ext upon looking into this-I decided to enlist the help of Sen.Carl Levin from our great state of Michigan. The code on your DD Form 214 might be alerting your potential employers You're not alone. So we when went to QTC, and I already faxed his evidence that I gathered including the reckless driving speeding tickets, my documented proof of me trying to contact the base before he deployed, I wanted him to talk to somebody. Instead, it sounds like you are spreading the dysinfo many regional offices put out there to discourage veterans. Omb control no. In 1986, I thought COPD and asthma were one of the same, how ignorant I was. to this date, i submitted a claim in on feb 3, 2010 in for numerous illness, and have contacted my congressman john lewis for help. Veteran Secret Codes on DD Form 214. Went to all their doctors too. HI, BEN I READ ABOUT WESTLEY STONE SITUATION WITH DVA, I TRIED TO CONTACT HIM (HE WAS WITH ME IN THE ARMY), BUT I DID NOT GO THRU HIS EMAIL (DOUBLE CICK HIS NAME); COULD I HAVE A CHANCE FOR HIM TO READ THIS MEESAGE. A good man. They state that if I have an on-going chronic condition but havent been seen by a VA doctor about it, there is NO CHANCE it will be considered. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Well, I wish I had seen this before I sent in my application. Below is wife statement, please comment if it is good to go. I was told that he will be approved. Cir. We went through it and she wrote down some notes on the side of something. What ever that means. [font=&]My name is XXXXX. OTC performs 2900-0776 respondent burden: 15 minutes expiration date: 11/30/2017 diabetes mellitus disability benefits questionnaire important - the department of veterans affairs (va) will not pay or reimburse any expenses or cost incurred in. My medication co-payments equal my VA compensation. Things were going great until some fireworks went off unexpectedly, which sent John into a frenzied rage. I used a layperson statement in my own disability claim on numerous occasions and successfully fought VA on my own case before I became a lawyer. For lay persons, personal knowledge denotes facts and information the author came to know through the use of the sensesthat which is seen, heard, felt, smelled, or tasted. Thanks In Advance. I was a kid (like most of us) and what did I know about orders except to follow them. Va Form 21 4138 Sleep Apnea - signNow I was diagnose OSA two years after I got out in 2000 and prescribe with CPAP and have been using them since. If youve heard anything about the VA Claim process before, you know that youll need outside evidence to get what you deserve for your VA claim. Claims for disability compensation based on service connection of PTSD are one of the most commonly filed claims, but such claims are not without pitfalls. The 4 Parts of a Buddy Letter - Military Disability Made Easy Please share any info you can so we all can get what we deserve. Fortunately, the VA offers sleep studies to veterans who may be suffering Top 5 Reasons for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Claim Denials (Plus OSA Service Connection Tips) Was your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) VA claim denied? It gives a step by step guide to follow in completing that important introductory information. We are the disability experts. Sleep Apnea Buddy Letter(2).edited.docx - Romalis Thomas However, he went back to sleep and the pattern started new. Good Luck, DT. VQLANS HEADQUARTERS. Before asking a buddy to write on your behalf, be sure to think through the information you need them to provide to maximize the accuracy and effectiveness of their response. I am a retired Army veteran wh0 retired in 1986. Join our premier education-based membership program, VA Claims Insider Elite, connect with an expert-level Veteran Coach (VC) within minutes, and finally get the rating you deserve. Never, ever give up! *A non-combat Veteranslaystatements may be acceptable for establishing service incurrence or aggravation but must be weighed against otherevidencein the claims folder including the absence of military records documenting or supporting the statements. E-Mail: [emailprotected] I took this and all my records to the DAV to get assistance filing. NEXUS Letter - Military Benefits Share with: Link: Copy link. You have to respond specifically to the reason for denial and, if possible, provide additional evidence to counter it. They make so many mistakes and if the info was in, and it wasnt reviewed properly and a erroneous disability determination was determined, that is a mistake they made. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Would appreciate any advice you can give. I have also been diagnosed through an MRI of the brain with focal seizures. They range from 85 years old to 21 years. what a joke. Contacting us does . I have working with the VFW, however, they have had quite a bit of turnover, and the person helping me, more or less files the forms and really doesnt give me any guidance. Lay persons are competent to provide evidence regarding things they have personally observed, including symptoms that are capable of lay observation and when those symptoms occurred. Stan download the va disability question are for respiratory ailments at va.gov website. I started reevaluation in Dec 09. VA Buddy Letter Example. I am also trying to put a VA Claim together for COPD. It was initially thought that Blane Horton was the breeder for Rebel Starfighter Prime but this has been proven incorrect. Then in the spouses own words, talk about the change noticed in the veteran. i had 0s all the way down the list on mobility. Take to dr and get a review. Im not ready to give up yet. 100 North Main St. A credible Medical Nexus Opinion from a private provider IN ADDITION to any lay evidence provided in support of your VA claim. When we returned home, John hardly kept in touch. I would like to know if some one can advise me on how to proceed. about private issueswho knows! On the other hand, knowledge acquired through specialized training, education, or expertisesuch as the knowledge required to render a medical diagnosis or attribute symptoms to a particular diagnosis or eventis not personally observable and is therefore outside the realm of competent lay testimony. He received his Bachelors from Northwestern University and Law Degree from the University of Minnesota, both using VA Veteran Readiness and Employment. VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. 471 (1994). Sleep apnea wife statement - Veterans Benefits Network The VA is a large beaucratic system where it is easier to say No than to do anything else. On the other hand, buddy letters corroborating the severity of your disability will not demonstrate a nexus between your present disability and your military service in a claim for service connection. The help that I received came from VETERANS QUALITY of LIFE ACCESS NETWORK INC., located in New York City, NY. Maybe an email from you with subject: Dont Tread on Me may encourage me: kelleykents (at)(gee)mail(dot)com Thanks for caring. (development). How To Write A VA Buddy Letter - Military Benefits It is much more Can I Use Lay Evidence to Win My VA Claim? Proving service connection for these is very hard, because the doctors never diagnosed, or documented. I am in the process of obtaining evidence for an appeal that I submitted. Depending on the evidence and contentions of record in a particular case, lay evidence can be competent and sufficient to establish a diagnosis and medical etiology of a condition.