VA qualifiers for CPAP use

K

KACNE

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Registered Member
My husband was diagnosed June 2011 with Bronchoalveolar cancer tied to Agent Orange. He had a wedge resection surgery to remove the nodule and didn't need any chemo or radiation followup do to catching it so early. He began to use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea in Oct. 2011. He is now rated at 30% for the cancer and they mentioned at the last Comp and Pen exam that the private sleep study and CPAP use had been entered into his medical records. My question is what is/are the qualifiers to obtain the VA 50% rating for CPAP use?
 
None further than using CPAP. If the condition is service connected, then the 50% rating is awarded for sleep apnea with use of CPAP.
 
Glad to hear that they were able to get it before it spread. They caught my thyroid cancer only because I went in for a chest MRI because I was having lung issues, and they scanned too high and caught the thyroid in the picture. One point to remember about the CPAP is that if your husband is unable to tolerate the constant pressure, have him inquire about a BPAP machine. So many people stop using the CPAP because the constant pressure on exhalation is too much for them to handle...the BPAP reduces the pressure to 3-4 on the exhalation to enable him to get his breath out. That is usually where people wake up feeling like they are suffocating because they are unable to empty their lungs. Also, remember that the VA uses "fuzzy" math to compute ratings and they have special rules for combining OSA with lung issues, that is one of the issues I'm concerned about with my siuation as well. The link is:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...&node=38:1.0.1.1.5&idno=38#38:1.0.1.1.5.2.102

scroll down to respiratory section and the first paragraph discusses sepcial rules.
 
Would need to know what your ratings are and for which diagnostic codes.
 
Thank you Jason, usafaviator and brownbrown for your responses. We will put forward a new claim for the CPAP use. He has done well with the CPAP. Resisted at first but uses it every night and at naps as well. Has no issues with it. Finding his cancer was also a fluke. He fell 14 ft onto concrete and in the trauma testing they found a small nodule that we watched for 4 months until it doubled in size. Had it out right away. As far as his ratings: 50% PTSD, 30% lung cancer, 30% type 2 diabetes, 20% back, plus several others at 10%. He is currently a total of 90%. If he is awarded 50% for the CPAP that hopefully would bring him to 100% even with the fuzzy math.
 
If any SA folks need some more information or advice on Sleep Apnea or their CPAP, they might want to visit:

www.apneaboard.com/
Apnea Board - Sleep Apnea discussion forum, online CPAP manuals, message board, advice for Sleep Apnea patients.

I actually found access to ResMed software for home use and now bring or email my printed report to my VA.

They also explain things in "non-medical" terms so that family members and SA patients can understand.
 
For those of you wondering what a sleep study is for Sleep Apnea, this video gives a very good explanation. There are 'usually' two studies done, a baseline study without a CPAP and then another at a later date with CPAP assist after a doctors' review of the baseline study.


This video is to help people understand the process that one typically goes through to get diagnosed with sleep apnea and also to find the pressure setting ideal for that patient. More videos can be seen at www.cpap.com.
 
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