First of all, it matters if you are still active in-service in your military branch. If you are, then good for you because you will be eligible to be treated for OSA and allowed to remain active in your MOS if you are not in harm’s way / deployed / hazardous duty, etc.

If you’re active and diagnosed. We’ll be talking about mainly treatment of sleep disorders after you retire. Sleep apnea benefits are excellent if you are still active. Basically, the military is responsible for treating you like any other illness. The problem is when you leave service…​

Sometimes sleep apnea is diagnosed during a soldier’s active duty or sometimes it is a secondary issue to other war-service-related problem.

Either way, next to truckers, the veterans group is one of the highest groups of sleep apnea sufferers.

So diagnosis is vital.

Service-related obstructive sleep apnea sometimes comes after a moderate sleep apnea diagnosis after retiring from service.

This is difficult to prove, but it’s the VA’s responsibility to help the retired service-member diagnose, treatment, and file a disability claim on behalf of the member.

If your diagnosis is “service-connected, then you may be eligibility for disability compensation through the VA.

But don’t jump for joy yet! Proving a service-connected disability like sleep apnea is extremely difficult.

So… Here’s how the VA diagnoses sleep apnea according to specialty law firm, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick of Providence, RI:

“To begin, let’s first discuss what makes a sleep apnea diagnosis valid in the eyes of the VA. In order to confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis for compensation rating purposes, VA requires that a sleep study be conducted.

If you have been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea, but have not undergone a sleep study, VA will not consider that sole diagnosis enough evidence to verify eligibility for compensation.

Those who are already service-connected for sleep apnea, but did not undergo a sleep study, will likely be required to have one conducted in order to confirm the diagnosis for benefit purposes.

There is, however, an exception to this rule; those who have been service-connected for sleep apnea for at least 10 years do not need to undergo a sleep study to maintain their rating.

Note:  VA has a duty to assist veterans in obtaining necessary evidence to prove their claim. This means that if no sleep study has been conducted to confirm your diagnosis, VA has a duty to assist you in scheduling an examination.”

The next step in the process for military sleep apnea sufferers who seek disability benefits is to get a sleep study and and have you condition “rated for disability”.

PTSD is by far the biggest secondary connector to sleep apnea for veterans, according to recent VA statistics.

PTSD affects, sleep, mental health, libido, diabetes, GERD, and cardiovascular health.

That’s why it’s vital to consult with a sleep doctor either while you’re in-service or recently separated from service.

All service-members are eligible for excellent benefits and very often some type of sleep apnea disability benefits.

So here’s the deal…

You must prove that you sleep apnea is caused by your military service, not an easy task.

However, there are several recent military sleep apnea disability cases that have wonder their way through the courts successfully.

You can read about on of the successful appeals from 2018 that won the plaintiff serious sleep apnea disability benefits here.

You should also keep in mind the systems listed on the VA sleep apnea info-graphic below.

Keep the chart handy and refer to it if you have questions about symptoms.